Category: Health

Psychological health and mental health have become a major concern in recent times. A groundbreaking study has revealed that individuals who accept their negative emotions enjoy better psychological health in the long term. Contrary to the widely held belief that maintaining an upbeat outlook is essential for well-being, this research suggests that the key to mental resilience may lie in embracing life’s darker moments. The study highlights that pressure to constantly feel positive can actually have the opposite effect, increasing psychological stress, whereas allowing negative emotions to run their natural course leads to improved emotional balance.

Psychological Health, The Link To Negative Emotions

The research examined the relationship between emotional acceptance and psychological health in over 1,300 adults from diverse regions, including urban and suburban areas. The findings suggest that resisting negative emotions or judging them harshly often results in greater psychological distress. By contrast, those who take a more compassionate approach to emotions like sadness, frustration, and disappointment report lower levels of stress and better mental well-being over time. This acceptance-oriented approach appears to reduce the risk of mood disorders, highlighting the potential of emotional self-acceptance as a tool for resilience.

Psychological Health, Attitudes

To understand this phenomenon further, three comprehensive studies were conducted. The first involved over 1,000 participants who completed surveys measuring their attitudes toward their own emotions. Participants responded to statements like, “I tell myself I shouldn’t be feeling the way that I’m feeling.” The data revealed that individuals who regularly accepted their emotions, rather than resisting or criticizing them, demonstrated significantly higher levels of psychological health. These findings challenge the tendency to “fight” negative emotions, showing that acceptance can serve as a healthier and more sustainable coping mechanism.

Psychological Health, Irritating Tasks

The second study took place in a controlled laboratory setting, where over 150 participants were asked to deliver a three-minute videotaped speech as part of a simulated job interview. With only two minutes to prepare, the task was designed to provoke stress and discomfort. After completing the activity, participants were asked to evaluate their emotional responses. Those who habitually avoided negative feelings reported experiencing greater distress during the task, while their more accepting counterparts displayed better emotional resilience, recovering more quickly from the ordeal.

Psychological Health, Mood Disorders

A third component of the research tracked more than 200 participants over six months. They were asked to journal about their most challenging life experiences for a two-week period. At the end of the six months, participants completed a follow-up survey assessing their psychological health. The results showed that individuals who were more accepting of their emotions during their journaling sessions reported fewer symptoms of mood disorders. On the other hand, those who avoided or harshly judged their emotions experienced greater psychological difficulties over time. These findings provide compelling evidence that accepting negative emotions can contribute to long-term emotional stability.

Psychological Health, Accepting Negative Emotions

The researchers speculate that one reason for this positive effect may be that accepting negative emotions reduces the amount of mental energy spent on fighting or suppressing them. When people allow emotions to exist without resistance, they may give these feelings less attention, allowing them to dissipate naturally. In contrast, constant judgment or suppression of emotions can amplify their intensity, creating a cycle of emotional stress that compounds over time.

Psychological Health, Upbringing, and Cultural Influences

This study also raises questions about the role of upbringing and cultural influences on emotional acceptance. Early environments may shape how individuals respond to their emotions, with some people learning to accept emotional fluctuations more naturally than others. By examining how parents approach their children’s emotional experiences, future research could provide insights into how these attitudes are passed down and their long-term effects on mental health. Understanding these patterns could be key to developing interventions that promote healthier emotional regulation from a young age.

READ ALSO: Middle Children: Why They Are More Cooperative

The Values of Emotional Self-awareness and Acceptance

The findings underscore the value of emotional self-awareness and acceptance in today’s fast-paced and often demanding world. While society frequently encourages individuals to adopt a relentlessly positive mindset, this research shows that giving ourselves permission to feel sadness, disappointment, or anger can be profoundly healing. It suggests that mental well-being is not about eliminating negative emotions but about responding to them with understanding and compassion.

Psychological Health, Stigmatizing Vulnerability

Learning to accept emotions may not come naturally to everyone, especially in cultures that stigmatize vulnerability. However, the study suggests that emotional acceptance is a skill that can be cultivated. Practices like mindfulness, journaling, or therapy can help individuals develop a more accepting attitude toward their emotions. This fosters resilience and reduces psychological stress.

Emotional Health is About Balance, Not Perfection.

Ultimately, this research offers a powerful reminder: emotional health is about balance, not perfection. By embracing life’s full emotional spectrum, including its darker moments, individuals can create a foundation for lasting psychological well-being. The journey toward self-acceptance may not always be easy. However, the rewards—a calmer mind and a more resilient spirit—are well worth the effort.

Have you ever stepped out of the shower feeling like you’ve just taken a dip in a pool of itching powder? Well, you’re not alone! Let’s dive into the world of post-bath itches, where every scratch tells a story. Whether it’s the mysteriously dry towel, the soap that smells like paradise but feels like sandpaper, or the water that’s got a vendetta against your epidermis, we’re here to decode why your skin is staging a rebellion right after you get squeaky clean. So, grab your magnifying glass and join us as we play detective in the case of the post-bath itches—because no one should feel like they bathed in a cactus garden.

The most common cause of itchy skin after a shower is dry skin. The natural oils that protect, moisturize, and soften your skin are washed away by soap and hot shower water. This causes your skin to feel tight and itchy, especially in the winter when there is less humidity.

Usually, post-shower itching subsides in a matter of minutes. Using a hydrating lotion can help prevent and relieve post-shower skin irritation. Post-shower itching, however, can occasionally indicate a medical issue.

Feeling Itchy After Bathing? It Might Just Be a Winter Itch

Winter itch is the season’s way of telling you that, despite your love of warm cocoa and cozy sweaters, your skin has different ideas. Imagine feeling as though you’ve rolled around in a field of itching powder after leaving a warm, soothing bath. Your skin turns into a desert as the cold, dry winter air and hot showers conspire to remove all remaining moisture. It is like a practical joke from Mother Nature: “Do you like the cold? Have a little itching to go with this.” You find yourself trying to relieve your dry skin by performing the itchy dance. But don’t worry. You can take on winter itch head-on and resume enjoying the season with a good moisturizer and a little humor.

Xerosis

Sometimes referred to as “winter itch,” xerosis happens when environmental factors reduce the amount of sebum—an oily, waxy substance—that your skin produces. The production of sebum by the skin’s sebaceous glands creates a barrier of defense that keeps the skin hydrated.

The symptoms of xerosis include: Very dry, flaky, itchy, and red skin

On the hands and feet, xerosis can also result in excruciating skin cracks. This skin ailment is prevalent in arid, cold regions. Although anyone can get it, older people are more likely to have it.
Among the causes of xerosis are the following:

During the winter, the skin may lose sebum due to dry, warm indoor air.
Skin drying out can result from exposure to wind and sun.
Some people who use topical acne treatments get xerosis.
The issue is exacerbated by lengthy, hot baths or showers. Although xerosis usually only occurs in the winter, it can affect some people all year long. The condition’s chronic form is known as asteatotic.

Treatment

Other than at-home skin care techniques, winter itch typically doesn’t require therapy.

To alleviate your symptoms, you can also try over-the-counter (OTC) remedies like menthol-containing lotions, calamine lotions, and corticosteroid creams.

Feeling Itchy After Bathing, Polycythemia Vera

The overzealous production of red blood cells in polycythemia vera (PV) is similar to a Sunday morning bakery, but instead of fresh bread, you get thick, sluggish blood. Usually striking people over 60, this uncommon blood malignancy makes patients feel as though they have a personal heater running, complete with headaches, lightheadedness, and skin itching worse than a mosquito bite after a summer bath.
Itchy skin is a common symptom of PV, particularly after a hot shower or bath. The body’s increased production of histamine-producing immune cells is one explanation for this. Allergic responses are associated with this substance.

A basic blood test known as a hematocrit level is used to diagnose PV. This test calculates the percentage of red blood cells in a given blood volume. Further research is ordered if this is abnormal.

READ ALSO: Middle Children: Why They Are More Cooperative

Treatment

Although PV cannot be cured, its symptoms are typically controllable. Reducing the danger of blood clots is the primary objective of treatment. This can entail taking low-dose aspirin and occasionally having blood taken. Red blood cell counts can also be decreased by using certain prescription drugs, including:
Medications such as ruxolitinib, hydroxyurea, and busulfan
Immunomodulatory medications such as interferon-alpha. The slight itching that PV patients experience can usually be relieved by avoiding triggers such as prolonged hot showers or heated settings. Medication may be required to address itching that is more severe or that does not improve with home cures. One option is an antihistamine that is available over the counter (without a prescription), like cetirizine.

Feeling Itchy after Bathing, Hodgkin Lymphoma

Hodgkin lymphoma is a lymph node cancer. It results in the growth of lymph nodes in the chest, groin, armpits, and neck.

One of the primary signs of Hodgkin lymphoma may be itching. To combat cancer, the immune system produces cells called cytokines. Itching may result from these cells entering the skin’s nerves.

Itching episodes can be brought on by specific activities, such as taking a shower or drinking alcohol. One of the side effects of some drugs used to treat Hodgkin lymphoma is itching.
One important indicator of Hodgkin lymphoma is enlarged lymph nodes, which can be seen on CT and/or X-ray scans. Taking a tissue sample from the node and testing it is necessary to diagnose Hodgkin lymphoma.

Treatment

Usually, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and stem cell therapies are used to treat Hodgkin lymphoma. The itching brought on by Hodgkin lymphoma can be reduced with the use of natural remedies.

Cholinergic Urticaria

A type of hive called cholinergic urticaria is brought on by an increase in body temperature. Exercise, spicy meals, hot showers, and sleeping with too many blankets at night can all raise body temperature. Cholinergic urticaria sufferers may also experience hives due to strong emotions. Cholinergic urticaria causes hives that are smaller than a mosquito bite. They can cluster together to form a large hive, even though each one is only the size of a pinpoint.

READ ALSO: Alcohol Consumption Hikes Cancer Risk

Treatment

Certain oral antihistamines are frequently used to treat cholinergic urticaria. Non-sedating antihistamines are antihistamines that do not cause fatigue.

Idiopathic Aquagenic Pruritus

A rare disorder known as idiopathic aquagenic pruritus (IAP) makes a person’s skin itch whenever they come into contact with water. IAP itching, however, does not result in a rash like AU does.
Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center, National Institutes of Health. pruritus caused by water. IAP most likely occurs as a result of the nervous system being activated when skin nerves that have come into contact with water release chemicals.

Treatment

It may take some trial and error to figure out the best management strategies for IAP.

Among the potential therapies are: The corticosteroid triamcinolone
Antihistamines(non-sedating)
Topical  cream
Beta-blockers
Supplements containing the amino acid B-alanine

Feeling Itchy After Bathing, Aquagenic Urticaria

A rare type of hive is called Aquagenic urticaria (AU). Water coming into contact with the skin causes the condition.

After a few minutes of water contact, people with AU develop hives. This response is not limited to hot water; it occurs regardless of the temperature of the water. It is unknown what causes aquagenic urticaria. According to some researchers, a substance that causes an allergic reaction is created when water and sebum in the skin combine. To diagnose AU, a drop of room-temperature water is applied to the patient’s skin. If a hive appears in a matter of minutes, the individual has AU.

Treatment

Non-sedative antihistamines are frequently effective in treating AU. Additional options for treatment include:

Ointments or creams that aid in “waterproofing” the skin, such as baby oil and products containing petroleum
Phototherapy, or ultraviolet light therapy
The FDA-approved medication Xolair (omalizumab) is used to treat refractory chronic urticaria or hives.

Feeling Itchy after Bathing, Conclusion

So there you have it, people—taking a bath shouldn’t be a nightmare of itching! You can finally take back your showers by knowing the causes of post-bath itching, whether it’s an overzealous loofah, the cruel joke of winter, or your water’s enigmatic grudge. If all else fails, seek advice from professionals (or just blame the cat) and remember to moisturize as if your skin’s social life depended on it. Armed with this understanding, take pleasure in baths without the unwanted scratching melody. May your showers always be calming, stay smooth, and avoid itching.

Introduction

Alcohol consumption is never beneficial for the body; this has always been recognized. However, recent studies have highlighted the possible risks.
According to the American Association for Cancer Research’s (AACR) Cancer Progress Report 2024, alcohol use contributes to about 5% of cancer cases worldwide.
After obesity (7.6% of cases) and cigarette smoking (19.3%), alcohol is the third most important modifiable risk factor for cancer.
According to Rajarshi Sengupta, PhD, lead author of the AACR Cancer Progress Report 2024, excessive alcohol consumption raises the risk for six different types of cancer, including some types of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, head and neck cancer, breast, and stomach cancers
liver, and colorectal.

READ MORE: Drinking Alcohol: The Best Foods To Eat Before

Alcohol Consumption, Addiction Risks

According to addiction psychiatrist Dr. Adam Scioli of Caron Treatment Centers in Pennsylvania, there has been a “roller coaster of information” over whether alcohol is detrimental.
Scioli, who is unaffiliated with AACR, told Fox News Digital, “We know now that alcohol ingestion is one of the modifiable risk factors for cancer. There have even been reports for years that it could be beneficial for one’s health.”
According to Scioli, about 75,000 Americans get a cancer diagnosis each year that is somehow related to alcohol consumption.

He cautioned that the risk increases with one’s level and frequency of drinking.

Alcohol Consumption, Safe Amount

For women, moderate alcohol consumption is one drink or fewer per day. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends two drinks or less per day for males.

Scioli emphasized that there can definitely be no added health benefit to the ingestion of alcohol.
He argued that the line between safety and danger is debatable, and is different for each person.
Sengupta claims that whereas risk factors such as tobacco usage are well established, there is still a lack of public knowledge regarding the connection between alcohol use and cancer.

Alcohol Consumption, Awareness

According to AACR research, the majority of Americans (51%) are unaware that alcohol raises cancer risk.

“It’s been flying under the radar for far too long,” Scioli stated. ” Especially given the number of “Americans who have met the criteria for alcohol use disorder, which is around 29 million Americans in 2023,” he added

The public must be made considerably more aware of the dangers of drinking. Especially moderate to excessive drinking, according to Scioli.

Additionally, we must inform the public about the resources available to them for assistance if they are unable to control their drinking or stop on their own. Sengupta of the AACR advocated for public awareness initiatives, adding that they may include “such as cancer-specific warning labels displayed on alcoholic beverages.”