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Two of our consultants made videos separately. They cover key conditions, although the importance both gave to psychosocial factors is more than coincidental.
A dermatologist treats your skin but in reality they treat far more. Our skin has an aesthetic value and is a significant factor in how we feel about ourselves, impacting on our personal, or social lives.
That people with visible conditions on their face, or hands have greater psychological issues is no surprise. Although symptoms elsewhere can have a downside, bringing sexual, or relationship issues, or withdrawal from activities.
There can be cases where separate, pyschodermatology treatment makes sense. In the majority of cases, professional awareness of the distress skin conditions can bring and individually tailored care make a real difference.
Breaking The Circle
Stress and skin conditions hold an unwanted duality. The condition causes stress, which worsens the condition and then creates higher stress levels, a quite real, rather than psychosomatic outcome.
Stress releases hormones which inhibit improvement, or bring inflammation. Extra adrenaline can decrease skin blood flow, or alter immune, or inflammatory functions, other chemical changes may affect nerve function, or wound healing.
The entire cycle could begin with stress. Unwanted events in life are factors in the onset of conditions such as dermatitis, acne, or psoriasis.
Part of good treatment is trying to break the bidirectional link. This comes from professional understanding, patient confidence in high standards of care and shared expectations which can be met.
The Reverse Process
Listening to you and creating an effective, individual treatment plan is possible for almost all skin conditions. Recently developed technology and treatment options have added much to dermatology.
The increased self confidence this brings improves the effects thoughts and feelings have on your physical condition. You feel like exercising more, or socialising, you start to sleep better, appetite normalises, life becomes more of a pleasure.
All of these further reduce stress, you feel less anxious about how others see you, positive about yourself, your condition is helped to improve further. Rather than a viscious circle, you have a virtuous circle.
Part of this could be accepting that some skin conditions can’t be permanently cured, or old scarring couldn’t be made absolutely perfect. Acknowledging this reality through proven professional opinion can be quite liberating.
This is why our consultants, who at times achieve miracles, also help you to understand the true position. Honesty is the essence of good treatment.
Moving Forward
Complete cure is always a target and in every case, dedicated care helps you to pursue the life you wish, which in itself improves a medical condition.
Once the best treatment for you has been identified, this can be completed, or longer term support organised. You and your consultant get to know each other, treatment and individual support become positive factors.
Every member of our staff works to ensure you have the patient experience you should. Alongside treatment, this could include discussing ways you can adopt health promoting behaviours and enjoy them.
Being stressed by a skin condition, or feeling isolated, or down on yourself are not wrong, they’re normal. Our Hertfordshire Dermatology understand this and work with you to create a better outcome.