Although cause and effect can be challenging to nail down, there is no denying an intimate and intricate brain-skin connection. Aside from being derived from the same embryologic tissue, the ectoderm, the bond between the brain and skin is complex, fascinating, and is the focus of areas in both dermatology and medicine—known as psychodermatology and psychoneuroimmunology: the interplay between the mind, skin, and our immune system. The brain and the nervous system influence the skin’s immune cells through various chemical messengers and receptors, which respond to stress. We all know that stress is an inevitable part of life and arises when we are under mental, physical, or emotional pressure that we perceive exceeds our ability to adapt to it. Our brain plays a major role in the stress response, which exerts its effect on the skin mainly through the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. When this response is activated, stress hormones such as corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), glucocorticoids, and epinephrine are released. This results in a wide range of physiologic and immune reactions that can trigger or exacerbate skin conditions. It makes sense then, that a two-way communication between the brain and skin can cause issues for both what shows up on skin and how we respond to it. The field of psychodermatology breaks up disorders into three general and sometimes overlapping categories: When feelings of anxiety and depression are taking over, here are some mind-body strategies to consider: The world of psychodermatology is still developing, and there’s a lot we don’t know, but knowing about the mind-skin connection can help us be more aware of how our mental and emotional health might be showing up on our skin—and vice versa!
