Skin Care: First Impressions Matter.
There is such a thing as first impressions lasting long. What one sees usually sticks with them long enough.
The skin is the largest organ of the body, with its own multiple sense organs which help it communicate with the world. This is a two-way street. The skin can sense what is around it. Touch is an important part of communication; feeling helps connect with or to others and gives emotional stability. The skin, as well, can say what it feels through appearance.
In a research study, it was found that 72 percent of consumers felt that cosmetics and personal care products improved their quality of life, while 80 percent felt they were important in building self-esteem.
The impact of skin disorders on an individual can be far-reaching, affecting many areas of their life. There is often a perceived stigma among people suffering from visible skin disorders. In one study, 26 percent of patients reported an incident where someone tried not to touch them. In addition, skin disease can impact relationships with others, both of a romantic and friendly nature.
The skin is the most noticeable part of our body that psychological factors could impact, yet very few psychologists study it.
Several mental health issues can occur alongside skin disorders, including depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, social anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, body dysmorphic disorder, somatoform disorders, and delusional disorders.
Having a skin problem can prompt intense distress. In a 2014 National Rosacea Society survey of 1,675 patients with rosacea — a condition that causes facial redness and related symptoms — 90 percent of respondents reported lowered self-esteem and self-confidence, 54 percent reported anxiety and helplessness, and 43 percent reported depression, for example. More than half said they avoided face-to-face contact.
In a vicious circle, stress, depression, and other psychological problems can exacerbate skin problems. The common dermatological issues that have been documented to be made worse by stress include acne, rosacea, psoriasis, itching, eczema, pain, and hives, to name a few.
Related: Skincare Tips For Warm Weather
To better understand this, we will use two scenarios - sports and the army. The skin is a line of defense. In a game of basketball between two teams, the good defense will keep repelling the other team’s attacks, and the crowd will shout with drum rolls, “defense!!! Defense!!!. A good military defense will be lauded and praised, while a weak one will always be under attack.
The skin is part of our first line of defense from the outside world, and it is important in our feelings of self-worth and mental wellbeing. Therefore, we can say that healthy skin is important for a healthy body and mind and reflects our overall health and wellbeing.