

Skin is the boundary between who we are internally and the outside world, a barrier that protects us but also lets our emotions show through. Try to think of the redness when we are embarrassed or the pallor when we fear something. The skin is closely connected with our emotions and our well-being. This is precisely why, in cases of excessive stress and anxiety, it can send out warning signals by triggering psychosomatic dermatitis. Find out what it is and how to spot it in this article.

What is psychosomatic dermatitis
Psychosomatic dermatitis is also known as stress dermatitis or psychogenic dermatitis. It is a skin condition in which stress, anxiety and other psychological factors play a significant role in triggering or aggravating skin symptoms. In other words, it is a skin condition in which emotional and psychological factors can affect skin health.
As you can read in our article on neurocosmetics, skin and mind are closely linked: mental well-being and emotions can affect the health of the dermis, and vice versa. So, negative emotions, stress and anxiety can lead to eczema, dermatitis and premature aging.
We speak of psychosomatic dermatitis when we cannot identify the organic causes (bacteria, parasites or other) that led to it. Certainly, however, it represents a wake-up call indicating that our body and well-being is in trouble.
Is psychosomatic dermatitis atopic dermatitis?
Psychosomatic dermatitis is often thought to be atopic dermatitis, but this is not exactly correct. In fact, atopic dermatitis can be triggered by several reasons:
▪️ Genetic
▪️ Environmental
▪️ Psychosomatic
In infants and infants, for example, the cause is not stress or anxiety, but the fact that their immune system is not yet well formed. However, usually individuals with atopic dermatitis present an exaggerated reaction of the body's defense system to certain external irritants and emotional stresses.
So, it may be that the trigger is not stress, but this may aggravate the state of atopic dermatitis leading it to become a psychosomatic dermatitis as well. In fact, as several studies show, so-called "stress hormones" (such as cortisol) have the power to further stimulate the immune response to irritation worsening the dermatitis situation.
Symptoms: how does psychosomatic dermatitis manifest itself?
Psychosomatic dermatitis can manifest with a variety of skin symptoms influenced by emotional and psychological factors. These symptoms may vary from person to person, but generally include:
▪️ Skin rashes: redness or areas of inflamed skin may occur. These rashes can vary in shape and size and can appear on different parts of the body.
▪️ Intense itching: Itching can be a predominant symptom in psychosomatic dermatitis. It can be so intense as to cause significant discomfort and lead to scratching that can worsen the condition.
▪️ Dryness and flaking: skin can become dry, scaly and appear cracked. This can cause the skin to look dull.
▪️ Blister or pustule formation: in some cases, psychosomatic dermatitis can lead to the formation of small blisters or pustules on the surface of the skin.
▪️ Increased skin sensitivity: the skin may become more sensitive to touch or contact with everyday substances, such as soap or detergents, due to the increased reactivity of the immune system.
▪️ Aree di iperpigmentazione o depigmentazione: in alcune circostanze, la dermatite psicosomatica può causare cambiamenti nella pigmentazione, portando a macchie sulla pelle più scure o più chiare rispetto al tono della pelle circostante.
The most common skin diseases of psychosomatic nature
In psychosomatic medicine, skin diseases are closely linked to factors such as stress, anxiety and negative emotions. Behind a psychosomatic dermatitis or other skin disease may lie fears, discomfort, stressful events, relationship problems and more.
All these emotions lead the body to increase the production of stress hormones that result in increased dryness and sensitivity of the skin.
The most common psychosomatic skin diseases are:
▪️ Psychosomatic dermatitis
▪️ Atopic dermatitis
▪️ Itching
▪️ Urticaria
▪️ Acne
▪️ Chronic irritations
▪️ Herpes
▪️ Psoriasis
▪️ Atopic eczema
▪️ Hyperhidrosis: excessive secretion of sweat
▪️ Alopecia areata
▪️ Warts.
Scientific evidence on the link between mind and skin
Psychosomatic dermatitis peaked in the Covid and post-Covid period. This was not only because people did not go to be checked by dermatologists for fear of encountering the virus, but also because stress and anxiety worsened the situations of eczema, dermatitis, and psoriasis in people.
Un recente sondaggio della National Eczema Association ha rivelato che a più del 30% delle persone con dermatite atopica è stata diagnosticata depressione e/o ansia.
Conferma lo stretto legame tra pelle e mente anche un altro sondaggio su 403 giovani donne e 120 operatori sanitari in Cina e Giappone. Infatti, è stato riscontrato che le manifestazioni cutanee più riportate (occhiaie, pori dilatati/dilatati, la pelle secca, pelle opaca, pelle ruvida) erano significativamente più alti nelle donne con stress da lieve a estremamente grave rispetto alle donne che riportavano livelli di stress normali.
Anche la NCBI conferma che la pelle è sia un rilevatore immediato sia un bersaglio delle risposte dello stress mettendo in evidenza gli attori chiave nella mediazione della risposta sia dal sistema nervoso centrale che dalle cellule epiteliali. Questo significa che non solo i fattori di stress psicologico possono contribuire alla dermatite psicosomatica, ma che anche i fattori di stress ambientale, attraverso la pelle, possono contribuire allo stress psicologico, perpetuando questo circolo vizioso (Harvard).
How to treat psychosomatic dermatitis
It is important to clarify that psychosomatic is not synonymous with imaginal. To be able to treat and improve psychosomatic dermatitis, it is necessary to intervene in both the psychological and physical aspects. So, usually creams are recommended for dermatitis and a course with the psychologist is proposed to be able to understand the triggers.
There is no real cure that applies to all people because psychosomatic skin diseases can arise due to different situations, events or moods.

Use of neurocosmetics for psychosomatic skin diseases
As we have seen, the basic principle of neurocosmetics is the link between mind and skin. Neurocosmetics are able to improve the appearance of the skin and have a positive impact on a person's emotional state due to the presence of certain active ingredients, contributing to greater self-confidence and improved psychological well-being.
Infatti, i cosmetici Luce di Sorrento sono particolarmente indicati anche in caso di dermatite psicosomatica. Infatti, sono formulati secondi i principi farmaceutici per pelli secche e sensibili anche in caso di eczemi, dermatiti ed eritemi. Gli ingredienti naturali selezionati come il nostro Olio Extra Vergine d'Oliva di Sorrento, i 5 acidi ialuronici, la Vitamina E e la Vitamina C permettono di ripristinare in modo naturale il film idrolipidico e la luminosità della pelle.
Inoltre, l’olio essenziale di Limone di Sorrento lavora in sinergia con questi ingredienti infondendo un senso di benessere e calma combattendo lo stress e l’ansia, principali cause del peggioramento delle malattie della pelle psicosomatiche.
These characteristics also make our neurocosmetics ideal for women who are being treated for oncological issues . In fact, they will be able to find a double ally in our products being able to take care of their more sensitive skin due to treatments and help them cope with this sensitive period by improving their state of stress and anxiety.
If you need advice on our skin care products, you can contact us and we will be on hand to suggest the best sensory beauty routine for your needs. We are waiting for you in our e-commerce to discover all our neurocosmetics!