Psychodermatology

Hey Everyone,

 

Let me ask you... When you are upset or anxious, do you also itch? I know I do. And because I suffer from eczema, the smallest touch of anxiety and I itch like crazy. Generally, I can use topical cremes from the dermatologist to soothe it, but when I'm upset, nothing helps... And I have always wondered why... Well now the study of just this particular condition has a name... Psychodermatology - You knew someone would give bad nerves and itchy skin a formal name :)

Psychodermatogy is a field that addresses the impact of an individual's emotion as it relates to the skin.

"The mind and skin are connected on many different levels," Mallin tells WebMD. "A lot of nerve endings are connected to the skin, which wraps around the organs, so as emotions are played out neurologically, they can be expressed through the skin just as stress can be expressed through gastrointestinal symptoms, increased anxiety, or hypertension."

So when you begin to itch uncontrollably, take a second to evaluate your emotions. If you find that things are a little chaotic, take a minute to find a quiet area and collect your thoughts. It should make you feel a little better.