According to Peter Goodwin, chairman of the Association Of Stress Management, 80 per cent of patients who visit the doctor's surgery are suffering from stress and related illnesses.
Most of us are aware of how stress can affect our health - from an increased risk of heart disease, depression and insomnia to loss of sex drive, phobias and even the possibility of triggering breast cancer - but few of us realise how it can affect our skin.
Dr Nicholas Lowe, consultant dermatologist at the Cranley Clinic in London, explains: 'If you have a genetic tendency to suffer from skin conditions such as acne, psoriasis and eczema, stress will definitely make them worse.
'It's important to recognise the part stress plays, and to be aware of the benefits of relaxation and psychotherapy, especially in problems like adult eczema.'
Dr Lowe often refers patients with skin conditions that are being exacerbated by stress for psychotherapy. This involves a clinical psychologist evaluating what is triggering the stress, and working out how the patient can cope more readily.
'These types of complementary treatments can actually help conventional medicine,' says Dr Lowe. 'In fact, in the United States there is a new sub-speciality division in dermatology called psycho-dermatology, where dermatologists focus on the role that stress, worry and anxiety can have on skin disorders.' ( dailymail.co.uk )
No comments:
Post a Comment