How does stress play a role in inflammatory skin conditions?
Granstein said research linking the nervous system and the skin has long
been understood.
"If you interrupt the nerves' path to an area of a patient's skin affected by psoriasis, the psoriasis improves," said Granstein.
"In addition, the condition improves if you inject local anesthetic into psoriasis patches. This information strongly suggests that nerves play a role in how psoriasis operates."
Granstein notes that animal studies have demonstrated that stress can make inflammatory skin conditions worse.
In a Japanese study, mice genetically prone to develop a rash similar to the inflammatory skin condition atopic dermatitis did so when stressed, while mice that were not exposed to stress did not develop the rash.
Granstein said experimental data support the idea that the nervous system and stress affect inflammatory skin conditions in humans.
Many types of cells in the skin, including immune cells and endothelial cells (cells that line blood vessels), can be regulated by neuropeptides and neurotransmitters, which are chemicals released by the skin's nerve endings. Stress can result in the skin's nerve endings releasing an increased level of these chemicals.
When this occurs, it can affect how and at what level our body responds to many important functions, such as sensation and control of blood flow, and can contribute to the symptoms of stress that we feel. In addition, the release of these chemicals can lead to inflammation of the skin.
"If we could block specific steps in certain pathways between the nervous system and the skin—without impacting the whole body—we would likely have new ways to prevent or treat some skin disorders," said Granstein.
"We're gaining a greater understanding of the mechanisms underlying many skin conditions, which will help us develop new therapies."
Has stress been shown to impact the skin in other ways? While commonly believed, Granstein said research has not proven that stress causes skin aging.
When combined with exposure to ultraviolet rays, Granstein noted that animal studies have shown that stress could have an impact on the development of skin cancer.
"When exposed to ultraviolet radiation, stressed mice developed skin cancers more quickly than mice that were not exposed to stress," he said. continue reading
"If you interrupt the nerves' path to an area of a patient's skin affected by psoriasis, the psoriasis improves," said Granstein.
"In addition, the condition improves if you inject local anesthetic into psoriasis patches. This information strongly suggests that nerves play a role in how psoriasis operates."
Granstein notes that animal studies have demonstrated that stress can make inflammatory skin conditions worse.
In a Japanese study, mice genetically prone to develop a rash similar to the inflammatory skin condition atopic dermatitis did so when stressed, while mice that were not exposed to stress did not develop the rash.
Granstein said experimental data support the idea that the nervous system and stress affect inflammatory skin conditions in humans.
Many types of cells in the skin, including immune cells and endothelial cells (cells that line blood vessels), can be regulated by neuropeptides and neurotransmitters, which are chemicals released by the skin's nerve endings. Stress can result in the skin's nerve endings releasing an increased level of these chemicals.
When this occurs, it can affect how and at what level our body responds to many important functions, such as sensation and control of blood flow, and can contribute to the symptoms of stress that we feel. In addition, the release of these chemicals can lead to inflammation of the skin.
"If we could block specific steps in certain pathways between the nervous system and the skin—without impacting the whole body—we would likely have new ways to prevent or treat some skin disorders," said Granstein.
"We're gaining a greater understanding of the mechanisms underlying many skin conditions, which will help us develop new therapies."
Has stress been shown to impact the skin in other ways? While commonly believed, Granstein said research has not proven that stress causes skin aging.
When combined with exposure to ultraviolet rays, Granstein noted that animal studies have shown that stress could have an impact on the development of skin cancer.
"When exposed to ultraviolet radiation, stressed mice developed skin cancers more quickly than mice that were not exposed to stress," he said. continue reading
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