Skin Conditions
Due to my dermatological knowledge from working as a nurse in this area for over 10 years I have a keen interest in how emotions affect the skin. Research has shown a clear link between skin diseases and psychological factors. Taking data from a number of studies an average of 70% of patients with chronic conditions, like psoriasis, acne, eczema and rosacea, had emotional triggers. Stress is also a known trigger or can be a worsening factor for fever blisters, psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis and has even been shown to impair skin barrier function and dehydrate the skin – allowing more irritants, allergens, and infectious agents to penetrate the skin and cause problems.
This is why hypnosis is so effective at treating skin conditions. I look at what could be triggering or exacerbating the presenting condition and deal with it in order for you to feel better about yourself which will help to reduce or clear your skin!
What is Psychodermatology?
When you’re mentally worn out from a tough week at work, a disagreement with a friend or just a long day, there are probably some steps you’ll take to relax. You might have a bubble bath, talk to a friend or take a day off from your job. However, what if your skin is trying to tell you that it needs a break. A pesky breakout or itchy rash may be a sign that your skin is also fed up with whatever is stressing you out. Irritated skin usually sends people running to the chemist for quick relief, but a rising trend has some heading to therapists who specialise in psychodermatology — therapists for your skin.
Psychodermatology is an approach to treating skin conditions that addresses the connection between mind and body and, in doing so, examines disorders that are exacerbated by psychological or emotional stress. The field’s practitioners study the external stressors that often trigger skin conditions or inhibit the body’s healing process. With these stressors in mind, a therapist creates a treatment plan that can involve anything from yoga to self-hypnosis, often in tandem with more traditional dermatology therapies, such as antibiotics. Although psychodermatology has been growing in popularity, it may be more effective for conditions that aren’t responding well to medical treatment than for conditions that do.
Research has shown clear links between skin diseases and psychological factors. In one study, 50 to 90% of patients with chronic conditions, like psoriasis, acne, eczema, and rosacea, had emotional triggers. This evidence is one of the psychodermatologists’ major arguments. They believe that these emotional stressors can make traditional medicines less effective, so removing the stressors has to be part of a patient’s treatment. The American Academy of Dermatology concluded that when dermatologists treat both skin and the source of stress, the skin clears more quickly as stress decreases.
