Even your emotions can hurt skin health

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Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. Mumbai's Nilay Kadam, a 35-year-old businessman, has been going through a stressful time. He had a two-year-old history of psoriasis, which was managed, but a recent increase in personal and professional life issues aggravated his condition and red patches and rashes reappeared on the skin.

While his psoriasis is under control now with the help of medication and phototherapy, he is been advised to pick up a hobby, and de-stress by with yoga and meditation. Consistently going through emotional turmoil followed by stress, anxiety, irritation and depression can flare up your skin problems, says Shareefa Chause, dermatologist and cosmetologist, Shareefa's Skin Care Clinic, Mumbai. “I get many patients with conditions like melasma, psoriasis, acne, seborrhoeic dermatitis, where stress plays an important role.

You don’t just need medicines for stress-induced conditions, but also need to follow mindful practices, which has helped prevent relapses in many patients," says Dr Chause. Our emotions have a significant influence on the appearance of our skin. “When you are feeling stressed, anxious, or depressed it can sometimes show up on your skin in the form of acne or breakouts or aggravate psoriasis and eczema.

Psychodermatology is a connecting bridge between your skin and your endless thoughts. Your body releases cortisol (also known as stress hormone) when stressed, which can also lead to itching, burning sensation or inflammation," says Rinky Kapoor, consultant dermatologist, cosmetic dermatologist and dermato-surgeon, The Esthetic Clinics, Mumbai. Like psychosomatic issues, where physical illness or conditions are caused or aggravated by conflict or stress, psychodermatology states that