The mind-body connection

The skin and mind are more interlinked than you may think. Recent estimates suggest that the human brain contains around 86-100 billion nerves, connecting to every inch of your body, both inside and out.¹ To put that number into perspective, that’s roughly the same as the number of stars in our galaxy.² With 2,500 of these nerves connecting your mind to each square centimeter of your skin, it is no wonder that up to 40% of people with skin conditions experience emotional or mental impact alongside their usual physical symptoms.^3,4

The mind-body connection is a dynamic and diverse phenomenon which is sometimes thought to be more fiction than fact. However, some evidence suggests otherwise, so let’s take a look at the psychology and biology behind the connection, and how you can use this to your advantage.

“It is no wonder that up to 40% of people with skin conditions experience emotional or mental impact.”

The psychology

Psychologists have been asking questions about the mind-body connection for years; are the mind and body separate or united? And how do they interact?

A key debate between psychologists questions the very existence of the mind-body connection. Some believe that the mind and body are essentially the same thing; this is called monism.⁵ Others take a different stance, and believe that the mind and body are separate, but can interact and work together. They observe that thinking (the mind) can influence muscle movement (the body), supporting the idea of body-mind synergy; an idea called Cartesian dualism.⁵

The explanation of the interaction between mind and body is a simple one. Through the natural course of daily life, physical and psychological phenomena influence one another, and so an interaction must take place.⁶ For example, your thoughts and emotions influence your speech and behavior, and some kind of interaction must exist for this to occur.

The biology

Various chemicals within the body have also been identified by scientists as mediators of the mind-body connection. One such mediator is the body's collection of hormones, from adrenaline to insulin and growth hormone. You may also have heard of oestrogen and testosterone – these are both hormones which travel in the blood, carrying messages around and between the body and brain.⁷

Some hormones can have a significant impact on your skin, with either too much or too little causing dryness, wrinkling and other blemishes.⁸ Oestrogen, for example, is present in both men and women and affects skin thickness and moisture.⁸ Testosterone also contributes to skin health by encouraging the production of sebum, which keeps the skin moist and prevents cracking.⁸ These same hormones can also affect your mind – testosterone has been shown to regulate mood, while research suggests that oestrogen can influence the part of the brain that controls emotions.^9,10

This is just one example of the way in which hormones can affect both body and mind, demonstrating how they could be contributing to the psychological impact of chronic skin conditions. There are however many more hormones at play, providing a variety of chemical connections between body and mind.

A constructive connection

The relationship between mind and body is reciprocal; it works both ways. This idea has been supported by recent research, showing that a positive attitude can improve physical health and life expectancy.¹¹ Likewise, maintaining a healthy lifestyle could support you in overcoming the mental challenges posed by your skin condition. Whether it's quitting smoking, taking up meditation, heading to the gym or simply eating more healthily, if you look after your physical health, your emotional wellbeing may follow suit.

If you have recognized a connection between your own skin and mind, and you need some extra support to manage it, then speak to your doctor. They may be able to direct you towards specialist doctors, nurses or psychologists who focus on managing emotional wellbeing. Researching the mind-body connection for yourself could also offer support, and provide insights into activities and practices, such as meditation or yoga, that could help you to manage the psychological aspect of your skin condition.

The connections between body and mind are both plentiful and diverse. We hope that armed with this knowledge, you can better understand your condition, and use it for your benefit to make your skin work for you.