Cortisol - Nothing Helps Regulate Cortisol Better than Sleep, So Get Your Rest ...

Cortisol (hydrocortisone) is a powerful hormone manufactured by the adrenal gland.  When it is within normal levels it helps individuals cope with normal everyday stress.  When  manufactured in large amounts or found at elevated levels as a result of chronic stress, cortisol becomes a killer, affecting practically all cells, tissues and organs in the human body.   Elevated levels of cortisol have been reported in the literature with regards to eczema. 1

In stress there is a vigorous release of corticotrophin releasing hormone (CRH), which leads to the release of cortisol.  CRH stimulates the mast cells to secret chemicals, including histamine and interleukins.  Histamine widens blood vessels, causing them to become more permeable, thus allowing white blood cells to leak through. The interleukin then attracts the blood cells toward the skin tissue.  The white cells then settle in areas under the skin, and together with other mast cell secretions cause symptoms, including skin inflammation, scales, and itch.

Cycle of Stress

When stress causes an organism to secrete glucocorticoids repeatedly, the regulation of the system stops working as well, and the organism starts to hypersecrete glucocorticoids even under nonstressful circumstances.  If stress can influence immune function (and it does), then the brain must be able to influence the immune system, since stressors are first perceived in the brain.  Most scientists now know accept the power of psychological variables to modulate stress physiology. 2

Train Yourself to Focus on the Good for Better Health

You may see "How stress and thoughts and feelings affect the immune and hormonal systems of the body" by visiting The Institute of HeartMath.

See, also, The Anti-Stress Coping Skills Web Page.