Spring Break
Good skin care a psychodermatologist away
Janay Wilson/Contributing Writer
Issue date: 5/7/07 Section: Health
Georgetown resident Cassie Hulen never really started having problems with her skin until she had her first child at 25. "I noticed when I first became pregnant my skin would have these periods where it would break out really badly, leaving scars on my face," she said. "After my first child was born, I had a myriad of dark scars on my face caused by acne."
When she talked to her doctor about it, he said it was a mixture of hormones and the stress of having a baby. He prescribed some creams, but they only solved the problem temporarily. When she had her second child at 27, the acne spread to her arms, back and chest. That's when she could not stand it anymore. Her doctor recommended her to see a psychodermatologist. "I never knew there was such a thing," said Hulen.
Psychodermatology is therapy for the skin and consists of different methods. Psychotherapy is the most common treatment, but meditation, hypnosis, biofeedback, and an assortment of relaxation are also standard treatments.
Dr. Charles Cooper, a dermatologist at Kaiser Permanente, said human skin may have reactions such as acne, hives or psoriasis caused by stress, mood disorders and hormones.
"Many times when my patients come in, we will initially treat their skin problem but then try and see what is causing the skin to have a certain type of reaction," he said. "From there, I can diagnose if they can continue treatment with me or if they may need a psychodermotologist."
When medications are not enough to heal a skin problem patients may then be sent to specialists like Dr. William B. Lawson, professor and chairman of the psychiatry department at Howard University Hospital. Lawson, a psychodermatologist, said most of his patients have depression disorders.
Patients who use psychodermotolgy treatments see a 70 to 90 percent improvement in their overall appearance; 30 to 50 percent have complete remission, said Lawson. "When I find that depression is the reason for my patient having negative skin reactions, sometimes I give them hypnosis treatment, but usually I give them relaxation exercises like non-verbal meditation," he said.
When she talked to her doctor about it, he said it was a mixture of hormones and the stress of having a baby. He prescribed some creams, but they only solved the problem temporarily. When she had her second child at 27, the acne spread to her arms, back and chest. That's when she could not stand it anymore. Her doctor recommended her to see a psychodermatologist. "I never knew there was such a thing," said Hulen.
Psychodermatology is therapy for the skin and consists of different methods. Psychotherapy is the most common treatment, but meditation, hypnosis, biofeedback, and an assortment of relaxation are also standard treatments.
Dr. Charles Cooper, a dermatologist at Kaiser Permanente, said human skin may have reactions such as acne, hives or psoriasis caused by stress, mood disorders and hormones.
"Many times when my patients come in, we will initially treat their skin problem but then try and see what is causing the skin to have a certain type of reaction," he said. "From there, I can diagnose if they can continue treatment with me or if they may need a psychodermotologist."
When medications are not enough to heal a skin problem patients may then be sent to specialists like Dr. William B. Lawson, professor and chairman of the psychiatry department at Howard University Hospital. Lawson, a psychodermatologist, said most of his patients have depression disorders.
Patients who use psychodermotolgy treatments see a 70 to 90 percent improvement in their overall appearance; 30 to 50 percent have complete remission, said Lawson. "When I find that depression is the reason for my patient having negative skin reactions, sometimes I give them hypnosis treatment, but usually I give them relaxation exercises like non-verbal meditation," he said.
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