It’s not uncommon for people to experience skin breakouts when under a lot of stress, which inevitably leads to more stress about the breakout. Then there’s our reaction to nerves or embarrassment with excessive sweating and blushing. But even with other conditions like psoriasis, eczema or rosacea, there can be a complex correlation between the skin and mental health.
The connection between our mind and body is strong in many ways, and the connection between our psychological health and our skin health is more connected than some may have previously thought.
This is where psychodermatology comes in.
The connection between our skin and our psychology is biologically connected from the time we are in the womb.
“After the sperm and egg come together, three germ layers form at 5 to 8 weeks,” says Dr. Josie Howard, M.D., a clinical instructor in the psychiatry and dermatology departments at University of California, San Francisco, and a member of the Simple Skincare Advisory Board. She explained to TotalBeauty.com that the ectoderm splits to form both the nervous system and the skin, which explains why fight-or-flight responses often show up physically with sweating or turning red.
The American Psychological Association pointed to the work of Rick Fried, MD, PhD on the subject and his suggestions for alternative treatments that could address both the mental and physical symptoms:
In a paper published in 2013 in Seminars in Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery, Fried reviewed the evidence for nonpharmacological management of psychodermatalogical conditions. Proven interventions — typically used as complements to traditional dermatological approaches — include hypnosis, support groups, biofeedback, meditation, guided imagery, progressive muscle relaxation, cognitive-behavioral therapy and other forms of psychotherapy.
Having skin conditions doesn’t necessarily imply there is an underlying mental health issue, though, and the same is true for the reverse situation, which may seem obvious. It’s not a black and white correlation.
“We can never presume that the so-called objective severity of a dermatological disorder correlates with the psychological impact,” says Fried. “I’ve see people who have nodulocystic acne who aren’t happy but really aren’t psychologically distraught; I’ve also seen patients with one zit on their chin who have attempted suicide.”
But for patients who do have a combination of skin conditions and mental health, this new area of combined medicine could make a much bigger impact on improvement. Right now, it can be challenging to find a healthcare professional that crosses both fields, which is why references could be an invaluable addition to consultations.
“Dermatologists and other health-care providers are out there doing the best they can for patients, but they’re frustrated, because they see their patients’ emotional distress but typically have neither the time nor the tools to fully address it,” Kristina G. Gorbatenko-Roth, PhD, a psychology professor at the University of Wisconsin–Stout, told APA. “This is a great role for psychologists.”
[Photo from Flickr user Anne Helmond]
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