EXPERT COLUMN. Psychology and skin

Personal boundaries, psychological barriers, repressed emotions – what does all this have to do with the condition of the skin? Turns out it’s straight. Psychotherapist Alisa Tugusheva explains.

How are mental state and skin condition related? How significant is their mutual influence?

The condition of the skin can sometimes tell more about the psychological difficulties of a person than he himself. People who are able to verbally express and comprehend their experiences are less likely to have psychosomatic disorders, including many skin problems. For example, itchy forms with scratching may be related to repressed anger and the turning of aggression on oneself. And rashes, irritations, redness and other skin lesions can cause even more anxiety associated with appearance, forming a vicious circle.

How does psychological stress affect the skin?

Freud wrote that our I, first of all, is bodily. A newborn perceives the world through the skin, he does not yet know the words, but he can distinguish between pleasant and unpleasant sensations. The first contact with the world occurs through the relationship with the mother, through her touches, strokes, or, conversely, their lack. The earliest interaction with the mother leaves a mark on the psyche even before the infant has a way to express his wants and needs. Psychoanalysts have linked skin diseases to either understimulation or overstimulation in infancy, that is, a lack or excess of maternal attention. Such studies were conducted by Rene Spitz, he also relied on data obtained by dermatologists. The French psychoanalyst Didier Anzieu conceptualized the connection between the psyche and the skin in the book I-Skin.

One of the first and most important sensations in a person’s life is tactile contact with the mother, “skin to skin”.

It can be considered that the manifestation of skin diseases is also a way of the psyche to report the stress that a person is experiencing. Not all experiences can be realized and processed, so they find their way out through the body, through the skin. Often, even doctors associate the deterioration of the skin of patients with stress. In some cases, skin problems caused, for example, by scratching or other self-harm, as I said, can be associated with aggression that a person directs at himself due to the inability to express it outwardly. And sometimes it is a way to literally outline and feel the boundaries of your body.

Itching, dry skin, associated discomfort can often be associated with psychological experiences. The skin can be irritated and “nervous” along with us.

Dullness and decreased skin turgor are associated with stress and sleep disturbance. Also, depression often leads to the fact that a person ceases to take care of himself – of course, this is reflected in the condition of the skin.

Can you tell us more about the connection between the skin barrier and personal boundaries? What is it expressed in?

The skin is the first boundary between the Self and the world, between the Self and other people. For example, a person may want attention and fear it at the same time. A skin manifestation just attracts attention and at the same time repels others. When it is difficult for a person to express that the actions of other people bring him discomfort or even suffering, these experiences often find a way out in skin symptoms.

The skin is our first natural boundary, and the comfort or discomfort of interacting with people can affect its condition.

Are personal vulnerability, resentment and skin condition related?

Yes, some people express a connection between inner experiences and bodily manifestations. Suffering and worries, as well as anger at the offender, affect the skin.

How do various psychological conditions affect the skin condition? Can a psychologist learn something about a person by the condition of his skin?

Each person is unique, his experiences and their manifestations, too, so a psychologist, of course, cannot judge a person by the condition of his skin. But skin manifestations for a psychologist are a symptom, and what it signals, the specialist finds out in collaboration with the patient.

What skin care advice can a psychologist give? What needs to be changed inside?

Psychologists do not give advice, no matter what they concern – especially skin care. But a psychologist can help the patient explore the inner world and discover the experiences that lie behind the physical manifestations. If a person does not have the opportunity to turn to a psychologist or is not yet ready for it, alternative ways of expressing their experiences can be recommended, for example, drawing, dancing or singing. This usually brings situational relief, but in order to solve the problem, it is necessary to become aware of the experiences, and this can only be done in contact with a psychologist, just as an infant came to know himself through another person, through his mother.

Healthy-Food expresses its gratitude to the online psychotherapy service Zigmund.Online

Healthy-Food Conclusions

Long cloudy autumn evenings are very conducive to reflection. And if internal experiences mean so much for the condition of the skin, it can be assumed (and life practice confirms this) that, by and large, skin care, careful, attentive, respectful attitude towards it = careful, attentive, respectful attitude towards oneself. Why not start (or continue) this path to inner harmony with beauty therapy? Isn’t this the road to realizing and strengthening your own boundaries in the literal sense of the word? If you consciously choose and use cosmetics, perhaps this can become a certain contribution to peace of mind. Moreover, there has been so much talk about the skin protective barrier lately. And in late autumn and winter, we feel its vulnerability more than ever.

Beauty therapy is a very valuable few minutes a day that help put thoughts and emotions in order, learn to accept yourself.

You can use any suitable usual skin care cream. But let’s be consistent. If we talk about awareness and strengthening of personal boundaries, as well as a protective skin barrier, then cosmetics should be chosen appropriately. Psychologists do not give advice, but we, the editors of Healthy-Food, can afford it. For us, the strengthening of the skin barrier is associated with cosmetics containing ceramides, which make up about half of this very barrier and are largely responsible for its reliability.

And indeed, according to our observations, they are increasingly appearing in the composition of creams from various manufacturers. The new product Cera Repair, Biotherm attracted attention. If you love the cosmetics of this manufacturer as much as we love it, then you will surely appreciate it. In addition to skin-friendly bioceramides, the composition includes the famous thermal plankton extract. This is a very natural, from our point of view, approach to strengthening and restoring the skin barrier (it is not for nothing that the name of the cream contains the word Repair – translated from English. “repair”, “repair”).

It is very pleasant and important that the formula consists of 94% components of natural origin. In this way, we receive reliable hydration and ensure the protection of the skin, our main boundary between Self and the world. For some colleagues from the editorial staff, this cream has become the No. 1 choice for the coming winter.

By the way, until December 4, 2021, everyone has a chance to win this new cream in our My Favorite Care contest.

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