Skin Issues Go More Than Skin Deep - Notes from a San Francisco Bay Area Dermatologist

As highlighted in Dermatology Times, people with skin problems of all kinds are most likely to also experience depression, anxiety or psychosis, according to a study presented at the annual Society for Investigative Dermatology meeting.

The study, conducted by the National Health Interview Survey, found that 30 percent of people with skin diseases reported depression versus 15 percent without skin problems.

I am so glad the devastating mental and physical effects of skin diseases are finally being recognized.  I often see depression in patients with skin problems, especially those with scarring acne conditions.  The medical community is now viewing acne as a potentially life-altering disorder, not just a phase to get through during puberty.  Teens and adults alike do not need to put up with acne, but should seek care from a dermatologist.  The best course is immediate treatment and a long-term plan to reduce the acne and prevent scarring.  Proper treatment can also help alleviate the psychological effects acne can have on a person’s well being and keep their self-esteem up!

Tags: Acne, depression, psychological, skin disease

This entry was posted on Tuesday, June 30th, 2009 at 10:31 am and is filed under Acne, Skin Health. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.