The medical field has discovered ways to examine how a patient’s mind could affect their body.
Studies also show that patients who suffer from depression are more prone to physical illnesses.
Enter Psychodermatology, a field in psychosomatic medicine that addresses the connection between the patient’s skin diseases and their psychological health. According to Wikipedia, the practice is based on the complex connection between neurological, immunological, cutaneous, and endocrine systems, or the NICE network.
While there has been no strong scientific support, psychodermatology suggests that there is evidence that behavioral treatments may be effective in the management of chronic skin disorders.
𝐏𝐬𝐲𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬
There are three kinds of disorders that Psychodermatology is treating:
Psychophysiological disorders are skin diseases where stress triggers their progression. Stress could also create an “itch-scratch cycle” that could flare up an existing skin condition. These include acne, eczema, and psoriasis.
Primary psychological disorders do not display any skin diseases. However, skin lesions could be self-inflicted, with patients displaying signs of mental illness. Conditions include delusions of parasitosis (patients believe that an organism has infested the skin); dermatitis artefacta (self-inflicted lesions to satisfy emotional needs) and trichotillomania (an urge to pull out hair). Patients with eating disorders and those who take psychiatric medications also exhibit signs and symptoms in their skin.
Secondary psychological disorders display skin diseases that could have an impact on one’s emotional health and well-being. A patient may develop psychological distress, including depression. Conditions may include autoimmune disorders such as vitiligo and alopecia areata.
𝐓𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓
Before diagnosing a psychodermatological disorder, doctors should evaluate their patients and how their skin disease affects their lives through assessment tools. They should also assess if outside stressors worsen the skin condition.
A tool that doctors use in their diagnosis is the Dermatology Life Quality Index, a simple questionnaire that measures the quality of life of an adult patient suffering from skin disease.
Doctors should also assess a patient’s situation, including their frustrations when they handle their skin condition. It should foster a safe environment for them to identify the issue and work towards diagnosing it.
The doctors then offer options to treat the psychodermatological disorder in their patients.
𝐏𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐌𝐀𝐂𝐎𝐋𝐎𝐆𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐋 𝐎𝐏𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒
Patients who agree to use this option will undergo medical treatments for their psychodermatological disorders.
Aside from topical skin ointments and creams, doctors can also recommend psychotropic drugs in their medications. These may include anti-anxiety agents, antipsychotics, antihistamines, and antidepressants, depending on the nature of their mental condition.
If a patient needs a psychiatric referral, it should also be discussed in a supportive way so that they can accept these drugs as part of their continuous dermatologic therapy.
𝐍𝐎𝐍-𝐏𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐌𝐀𝐂𝐎𝐋𝐎𝐆𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐋 𝐎𝐏𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒
Doctors will suggest non-pharmaceutical treatments which will include several activities such as yoga, massages and music therapy, as well as complementary therapies like aromatherapy. These could help patients manage their stress and help them recover from the skin problems connected to it.
Hypnosis and similar methods like electromyography and blood flow training could also control the symptoms and reduce the pain. However, it should not be the primary method for treating skin diseases.
Skin diseases are not just a cosmetic issue. They could also be associated with one’s mental health. Psychodermatology offers ways to understand the connection between skin disorders and mental health. You should consult your dermatologist if you are experiencing skin issues connected to your mental situation or looking for treatment options.
