We're all very aware of how connected the mind is to the body (and vice versa). Meditating is likely just as important for your heart as physical exercise. The food we put into our body can determine our mood.
And stress can rear its ugly head on the surface of our skin, by
causing breakouts — which, in turn, could cause further stress.
But it's not just stress that causes skin problems; anxiety, depression, and other psychological conditions do, too. The American Psychological Association (APA) says
that a relatively new (and growing) field called psychodermatology aims
to understand the relationship between our mental health and skin.
New research
in this field suggests that many of the standard ways psychologists
treat psychological conditions — like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
and meditation — might help remedy dermatological conditions, as well.
"The skin is the most noticeable part of our body that could be
impacted by psychological factors, yet very few psychologists are
studying it," Kristina G. Gorbatenko-Roth, a psychology professor at the
University of Wisconsin-Stout, told the APA. "It's classic health psychology, just in a different area."
So if you have a skin condition — acne, rosacea, psoriasis, eczema,
whatever it may be — and nothing seems to be working, it might be time
to consider a psychological treatment. Who knows? Maybe someday doctors
will be prescribing a daily dose of meditation more readily than a
topical cream.
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