Dr Saba Raja examines the role of psychodermatology in how psychological factors affect skin physiology and treatment outcomes
Psychodermatology is the study of the complex, bidirectional relationship between psychological processes and skin health.1-4 It examines how psychological states such as stress, anxiety, self-esteem and body image influence cutaneous function, while also recognising how skin conditions can profoundly affect emotional wellbeing.1,4
In medical aesthetics – where patients seek visible change often closely linked to personal identity – this relationship is particularly significant. Many patients pursue aesthetic treatments not only to alter their appearance, but to improve confidence, self-perception and emotional comfort. This is further supported by research, with studies involving several hundred to over 1,000 participants indicating that approximately 60-70% of aesthetic patients pursue treatment primarily for psychological reasons, such as enhanced self-esteem and social confidence.5,6…
