The first time I got a rash creeping across my back, I was swamped with work deadlines. Then, initially, I thought of it as an allergic reaction to something I ate. But as the patches spread to my arm and other parts of the body, I had to go see a doctor where I understood that it wasn't just my skin, but it was my body signaling me that the level of stress I was enduring was not good for it.

Stress is not only psychological, but it also impacts your skin. For most, it can lead to physical manifestations, such as hives or rashes, for extended periods or acutely. These reactions are known as "stress rashes," resulting from your body's exaggerated response to emotional stress.

What Is a Stress Rash?

Stress rashes often look like hives, which are also referred to as urticaria. They can be in a variety of sizes and be anywhere on the body. These itchy, swollen welts may resemble mosquito bites or larger splotches. Appearance of hives can greatly differ depending on your skin color. On black or brown skin, it manifests in raised patches, often almost similar in color or slightly darker than natural color and hence not easily recognized initially.

On lighter skin, however, hives characteristically present as red or pink patches, which appear to be more obvious than their black counterparts. These variations reveal that knowledge about how the conditions appear in different skin types will enable one to receive correct diagnoses and proper care.

Hives tend to feel warm to the touch, sometimes even itching or tingling. At worst, multiple patches can fuse to cover large portions of the body.

How Stress Causes Rashes on Skin

The body activates the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis when it is stressed. This process releases stress hormones like cortisol and increases mast cells that produce histamine-a chemical causing itching and irritation symptomatic of hives.

This has been studied in a 2021 Dermatology Practical and Conceptual paper where it was shown how the release of histamine due to stress results in inflammation that could flare up or even start skin conditions. Not only can stress cause hives, but it can also exacerbate eczema-like other skin conditions.

Do Your Rash Symptoms Stem From Stress?

If you have been experiencing mysterious rashes during periods of extreme tension, you are not alone. A 2018 publication in Advances in Dermatology and Allergology found significant evidence of a relationship between chronic itchiness and stress. The research showed that under stress, your threshold for scratching may decrease, so even the mildest provocations become unbearable. Among the signs that your rash is caused by stress are its sudden appearance during emotionally taxing times.

- Temporary nature (lasting less than 6 weeks)

- Correlation with other stress symptoms like headaches or fatigue

Should You See a Doctor For Treating A Stress Rash

In most cases, stress rashes are not cause for alarm and can be managed at home. However, if your symptoms persist for longer than six weeks, it may signal chronic hives, which often require medical intervention. A dermatologist can evaluate your condition and recommend treatments like antihistamines or corticosteroids.

Seek medical attention right away if your rash is accompanied by swelling, difficulty breathing, or other signs of an allergic reaction.

Natural Remedies for Stress Rashes at Home

Most stress rashes heal with proper care. Some natural remedies to soothe the skin and alleviate symptoms are as follows:

Cool Compress: Apply a cold compress to the affected areas to reduce swelling and irritation.

Lukewarm Bath: Soak in oatmeal or a milk bath for soothing of the skin.

Fragrance-free lotions: The lotions should be fragrance free, colorless, and free from other allergens to avoid irritation.

Staying Hydrated: Drinking plenty of water helps keep the entire body healthy, including your skin.

Avoid Triggers: Limit alcohol, caffeine, and high humidity/heat exposure as these might trigger hives.

Wear Loose Clothes: Avoid tight or coarse fabrics that might irritate your rash.

Manage Stress for Long-Term Remedy

While managing the physical manifestations of a stress rash is important, it is the root cause—stress—that needs to be addressed for long-term relief. Introducing some stress management techniques into one's daily life can decrease flare-ups and improve the general well-being:

• Talking to a therapist or joining a support group can provide tools to better manage stress.
• Meditation, yoga, and deep breathing exercises are proven ways to lower your stress levels.
• Exercise releases endorphins which act as natural stress releasers. Choose exercise options that won't exacerbate your hives, such as swimming or gentle yoga. Do things you love. It might be baking, dancing, painting, or kickboxing.
• Eating nutritious meals and getting enough sleep are fundamental to maintaining your body’s resilience against stress.

Cipla, a global name in inhalation therapies, has announced the launch of Afrezza, the world’s only rapid-acting inhaled insulin, in India. The drug is approved for adults with type 1 and type 2 diabetes to help manage high blood sugar levels and represents a notable change in how insulin can be delivered in a country facing a growing diabetes crisis.

For many patients, injecting insulin during long workdays or in public spaces can be uncomfortable or inconvenient. While insulin injections are widely used, awareness around inhaled insulin remains limited. Below, we explain how inhaled insulin works and what it means for people living with diabetes.

What Is Inhaled Insulin?

Inhaled insulin is a fast-acting form of insulin that is taken as a fine powder through an inhaler. Instead of being injected, it is breathed into the lungs, where it is quickly absorbed into the bloodstream to manage blood sugar spikes that occur after meals. This makes it a needle-free option for adults with type 1 or type 2 diabetes.

It begins working very rapidly, often just before or at the start of a meal, and exits the body sooner than injectable insulin. Because of this, it may lower the risk of insulin stacking and offers greater flexibility around mealtimes. Afrezza is currently the main FDA-approved inhaled insulin available.

How To Use Inhaled Insulin?

The insulin comes as a dry powder and is taken using a small, discreet inhaler with single-use cartridges available in 4, 8, and 12-unit doses. It has been approved by the FDA for adults with type 1 and type 2 diabetes to help control blood sugar rises after meals. “Its absorption into the bloodstream is faster than injectable rapid-acting insulins such as lispro or aspart,” said Dr Hetashvi Gondaliya, as reported by The Indian Express.

How Does Inhaled Insulin Work For Diabetic People?

Before starting inhaled insulin, patients are required to undergo lung function tests. The insulin itself is identical to the insulin used in injections. What differs is the way it enters the body.

In simple terms, the insulin is not new, only the method of delivery is. Once inhaled, it is absorbed through the lungs, passes into the bloodstream, and helps control the rise in blood sugar levels that happens after eating.

Is Inhaled Insulin Better Than Injectable Insulin?

Inhaled insulin is not necessarily better for everyone, but it offers an alternative to injections. It works faster to control post-meal blood sugar levels and may appeal to people who dislike needles. However, it is less efficient than injected insulin, requires a specific inhaler, and is not suitable for all patients.

Studies show that blood sugar control is similar to injectable insulin, but inhaled insulin must still be used along with long-acting basal insulin. It is best viewed as an option rather than a replacement.

Is Inhaled Insulin Suitable For All Diabetic Patients?

According to the National Institutes of Health, inhaled insulin is not appropriate for everyone. It may be considered for adults with type 1 or type 2 diabetes who want a needle-free option or need rapid control of blood sugar after meals.

However, it is not recommended for people who smoke or have smoked in the past six months, or for those with lung conditions such as asthma, COPD, or bronchitis. It is also not approved for children or pregnant women. Lung health and ongoing insulin needs must be carefully evaluated before starting this treatment.

Always consult your doctor before switching to or starting inhaled insulin. Your healthcare provider can help determine whether it is safe and suitable for you based on your medical history and lung health.

People should be aware of a rare and unpredictable condition called SCAD. Spontaneous coronary artery dissection occurs when the inner layers of a coronary artery split away from the outer wall. When this happens, blood can leak into the space between the layers, leading to clot formation. If these clots grow large enough, they can block blood flow to the heart and cause a heart attack.

Doctors are still struggling to fully understand this condition. The cause remains unknown, and it often strikes suddenly in people who do not have the usual risk factors linked to heart disease. SCAD is most commonly seen in women between the ages of 45 and 53, although it can affect people of any age or gender.

What Is Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection?

SCAD is an acronym that can refer to different things, but it is most widely used to describe Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection. This is a serious heart condition in which a tear forms in one of the arteries supplying blood to the heart, potentially triggering a heart attack. SCAD is also the name of the Savannah College of Art and Design, a well-known creative university in the United States, and an Indian NGO working in the field of social change and development.

According to the British Heart Foundation, SCAD is a condition that “can’t currently be predicted or prevented.” The charity stresses the importance of seeking medical help if symptoms appear, so the condition can be identified as early as possible. Many of the warning signs are similar to those of angina or a heart attack, which can make it difficult to recognise.

Symptoms Of Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection

The symptoms of SCAD often resemble those associated with angina or a heart attack. These may include:

• Chest pain
• Pain or tightness in the arms, neck, jaw, back or stomach
• Feeling dizzy or lightheaded
• Shortness of breath or unusual tiredness
• Nausea
• Cold sweats or clammy skin

The British Heart Foundation advises anyone experiencing chest pain or these symptoms to call 999 straight away. One of the dangers of SCAD is that people may dismiss the symptoms, believing they are not at risk of a heart attack. Experts say the condition cannot be predicted or prevented.

How Is Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection Related To Neck Pain?

Neck pain can sometimes be linked to arterial dissections, which involve a tear in blood vessels supplying vital organs. In such cases, the pain is often sudden, severe, and felt on one side of the neck. It may appear on its own or develop before more serious symptoms, such as those associated with a stroke or heart-related event.

The pain occurs due to damage to the artery wall and should always be treated as a medical emergency. While neck pain is commonly associated with muscle strain, experts warn that, in rare cases, it can signal a much more serious underlying problem.

According to the American Heart Association, neck pain related to arterial dissection may present in the following ways:

• Location: Pain is usually felt on the same side of the head or neck as the affected artery.
• Type: The pain may be sudden, intense, throbbing, or feel like pressure, and is often different from a typical headache.
• Warning sign: Neck pain can be an early symptom of an arterial tear, sometimes appearing before other serious complications.
• Vertebral artery dissection: Often causes pain at the back of the neck and head.
• Carotid artery dissection: More commonly linked to pain at the front of the neck and head.

SCAD And Women

Around 80 percent of people diagnosed with SCAD are women, and the condition is known to occur during pregnancy or shortly after childbirth. Because it develops without warning, SCAD is often discovered only after a major medical event, such as a heart attack.

Treatment depends on the severity of the condition. Some patients are managed with medication to reduce the risk of blood clots, while others may require stents to keep the artery open. In rare cases, coronary artery bypass surgery is needed to restore blood flow.

The British Heart Foundation notes that receiving a SCAD diagnosis can be deeply unsettling, especially when it follows an emergency. Many patients report feeling isolated, largely because the condition is so rare and not widely understood.

Flu cases are on the rise and as of the January 3, 2026 data by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 120,000 cases have been detected in clinical laboratories, apart from those detected in home tests. About 40,000 influenza cases were admitted to the hospital in the prior week and 17 influenza-related deaths reported in children, this season. Physicians across the US are constantly telling everyone, especially the vulnerable population to keep an eye on the symptoms. They have time and again also urged people to get vaccinated against the flu. The country is also seeing an overload of flu cases, with many calling it the 'worst flu season' ever.

Also Read: Delhi Isn't Just Breathing Toxic Air, But Also A Superbug That Resists Antibiotics

The 2025-2026 flu season's main culprit is the influenza A (H3N2) subclade K, or the superflu. This variant is a mutated strain of H3N2 virus and has a history of being most contagious, staying longer on surface, which is why it is driving the most numbers of hospitalization this season.

Jesse Pines, Chief of Clinical Innovation for US Acute Care Solutions and a practising physician for over 20 years of experiences writes for Forbes the 5 must-know things about the flu.

5 Must-Know Things About Flu, From An ER Doctor

Identify the Symptoms

It is important to know what symptoms you have to know about the illness. This flu starts with high fever, cough, fatigue, muscle aches, sore throat and a headache. However, not everyone can have the similar symptoms. Children could experience gastrointestinal symptoms, which include nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Older adults may have atypical symptoms, which may include not feeling hungry, dizziness, or weakness.

Read: Face Masks Are 'Inadequate', Says WHO, Must Be Swapped For Respirators

Vaccine Is A Must

While the flu vaccine for this season was made at least 7 to 8 months before, like usually it happens, which means the subclade K strain may not be this vaccine's target. However, data shows that despite this mismatch, it has a 72 to 75% effective rate in preventing emergency department visits and hospital admissions in children and adolescents, and 32 to 39% effectiveness in adults.

What To Do If You Have Flu Symptoms

The first response should be to contact your healthcare provider for prescription. Pines note that "Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and baloxavir (Xofluza) are primary options". These are used to reduce the symptom duration, and prevent any further complications like pneumonia. It is most effective if started with in the 48 hours of symptoms.

Should You Seek Higher-Level Medical Care With Flu?

While many people recover at home, if you see your symptoms are not showing any signs of reduction beyond 4 to 5 days, you may need a higher levels of medical care for your flu. This could also be applied if your symptoms worsen suddenly after a few days.

How to Manage Post Flu Weakness?

While everyone is talking about flu and its treatment, not much attention is paid on what to do afterwards. Even after the treatment, one might feel the weakness during their recovery period. This has a scientific name, known as 'post-viral' syndrome, which means a lingering cough and fatigue for 2 to 3 weeks after the illness. This is the time when you gradually return to normal activities, but ensure to maintain adequate hydration, sufficient calorie and protein intake in your diet and adequate sleep.