Treatment of acne vulgaris by biofeedback relaxation and cognitive imagery

“…Conventional acne treatments can help control the acne, reducing the patient’s stress about having the acne. Stress may also be lessened with relaxation training 16 or another of the above-mentioned methods.…”

Section: Skin Disorders With Psychophysiologic Aspectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Psychological interventions in the management of common skin conditions

Shenefelt¹

2010

PRBM

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The nervous system and the skin develop next to each other in the embryo and remain intimately interconnected and interactive throughout life. The nervous system can influence skin conditions through psychoneuroimmunoendocrine mechanisms and through behaviors. Understanding the pathophysiology aids in selection of treatment plans for correcting the negative effects of the psyche on specific skin conditions. Medication options include standard psychotropic medications and alternative herbs and supplements. Other options include biofeedback, cognitive-behavioral methods, hypnosis, meditation, progressive relaxation, the placebo effect, and suggestion. When simple measures fail, combining medications with other therapeutic options may produce better results. Skin conditions that have strong psychophysiologic aspects may respond well to techniques such as biofeedback, cognitive-behavioral methods, hypnosis, meditation, or progressive relaxation that help to counteract stress. Treatment of primary psychiatric disorders that negatively influence skin conditions often results in improvement of those skin conditions. Abnormal conditions of the skin, hair, and nails can also influence the psyche negatively. Treatment of secondary psychiatric disorders such as anxiety or depression that are triggered or exacerbated by the appearance of these skin conditions or the associated discomfort may also be required.

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“…Compared to a parallel control group, Hughes et al [1983] showed significant improvement in skin changes in 30 acne patients after application of a biofeedback-supported relaxation technique with a visualization procedure against the 'clogging' of sebaceous glands. Hypnosis has rarely been applied in acne patients and the success has not been systematically examined [Friedrichs, 1985;Shenefelt, 2001].…”

Section: Acne and Psychotherapymentioning

confidence: 99%

Acne Is Not a Trivial Disease! Psychosomatic Aspects in Routine Therapy

Niemeier¹,

Kupfer²,

Gieler³

2002

Dermatol Psychosom

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Patients with acne may develop psychological problems as a consequence of their condition – often independent of the severity of their skin condition. Emotional problems due to the disease should be taken seriously and included in the treatment plan. A purely dermatological therapy may not achieve its purpose. Even mild to moderate disease can be associated with significant depression and suicidal ideation, and psychologic change does not necessarily correlate with disease severity. Acne patients suffer particularly under social limitations and reduced quality of life. Psychic comorbidities in acne are probably greater than generally assumed. Attention should be paid to psychosomatic aspects especially if there is suspicion of depressive-anxious disorders, particularly with evidence of suicidal tendencies, body dysmorphic disorders, or also of disrupted compliance. Therefore, patients who report particularly high emotional distress or dysmorphic tendencies due to the disease should be treated adequately, if possible, by interdisciplinary therapy. The dermatologist must have some knowledge of the basics of psychotherapy and psychopharmacology, which sometimes must be coupled with systemic and topical treatments of acne in conjunction with socalled psychosomatic basic treatment.

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Treatment of acne vulgaris by biofeedback relaxation and cognitive imagery

Cited by 55 publications

References 9 publications

Guidelines of care for acne vulgaris management

Guidelines of care for acne vulgaris management

Psychological interventions in the management of common skin conditions

Acne Is Not a Trivial Disease! Psychosomatic Aspects in Routine Therapy

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