Dermatologists have been giving this warning for a long time: our skin reflects our health. This is what a new study has shown, carried out by the Aragon Institute for Health Sciences, which highlights the need to perform holistic treatment on dermatological patients.
The Psycho-dermatological Research Group at the Aragon Institute of Health Sciences has studied the influence of social relationships on the quality of life of dermatological patients.
The FIS Project (Health Research Fund), which ran from 2012 to 2015, analysed the sociotype in Psycho-dermatology from 159 patients and 58 healthy subjects in Alcañiz.
Preliminary findings indicate that patients suffering from dermatological diseases are more socially isolated. They recommend the use of holistic care, focusing on patient concerns, and emphasise the need to implement multi-disciplinary working groups in coordination with dermatology, mental health, nursing and social care, and, in particular, with primary health care.
The skin and the central nervous system are closely linked. They share hormones, neurotransmitters and receptors, meaning that occasionally the skin can be an indicator that something in our bodies is not working correctly. According to the World Health Organisation, 80% of skin diseases have a somatic origin.
In the case of vitiligo, 3 out of 4 people diagnosed suffer from psychological problems caused by the aesthetic alteration associated with this skin condition. These issues originate from self-esteem issues, difficulties in social relationships, and anxiety about the uncertainty regarding the evolution and treatment of vitiligo.
