Stress Breaks Down the Skin's Defenses
Psychodermatology, a fairly new specialty, explores the connection

(HealthDay News) -- The effects of stress extend even to the skin, making it more susceptible to infection.

And researchers have discovered just how that occurs.

"What happens is, stress down-regulates the expression of two key families of antimicrobial peptides," study author Dr. Peter Elias, a professor of dermatology at the University of California, San Francisco, and the VA Medical Center, San Francisco, told HealthDay .

The skin is the largest organ of the body, both in terms of weight and surface area. Skin infections are common and may be caused by bacteria, fungi or viruses. Breaks in the skin can cause or exacerbate skin infections.

Elias and his team compared mice subjected to psychological stress with mice not under stress. The stressed mice showed a decrease in the expression of antimicrobial peptides by the skin's epidermis (outer layer).

Dr. Andrzej Slominski, of the University of Tennessee , said that the study provides "what I believe to be the first mechanistic link between psychological stress and increased susceptibility to microbial infection." The research may one day lead to new clinical treatments, he added.

In the meantime, there is much more to be learned. Research on the mind-skin connection has given way to a relatively new discipline known as "psychodermatology." Psychodermatologic disorders are skin problems that can be aggravated by stress and other emotional factors, reports Harvard Women's Health Watch .

An article in American Family Physician describes three major categories of psychodermatologic disorders. One type, known as "psychophysiologic" disorders, are skin problems frequently caused or exacerbated by emotional stress, such as eczema or psoriasis.

Treatment, the authors explain, includes psychotropic medication, stress management courses and referral to a psychiatrist.

Patients who experience stress-related skin problems might even try hypnosis or "mindfulness meditation," according to the American Academy of Dermatology.

To curb the effects of stress, the academy suggests following the advice of Dr. Flor A. Mayoral, a voluntary assistant professor in the Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery at the University of Miami 's Miller School of Medicine:

• Identify the underlying problem that is triggering symptoms and develop skills to help minimize the stress.
• Exercise: It helps release endorphins in the body that can reduce stress.

On the Web

To learn more about stress and the skin, visit the American Academy of Dermatology.

SOURCES: HealthDay News ; Peter Elias, M.D., professor of dermatology, University of California, San Francisco, and VA Medical Center, San Francisco; November 2007, Journal of Clinical Investigation ; National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, Md.; November 2006, Harvard Women's Health Watch ; May 15, 1998, and Dec. 1, 2001, American Family Physician ; American Academy of Dermatology, Nov. 8, 2007, news release
Author: Karen Pallarito
Publication Date: Nov. 30, 2008
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