Psychosocial Aspects of Skin Conditions and Diseases

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Background

There is a growing recognition of the interplay between psychosocial factors and skin disease in relation to disease onset, flare-up, adaptation, and management. Many skin conditions are complex systemic diseases which are influenced by psychophysiological factors, and which in turn have the potential to trigger psychological distress. Further, it is well established that skin conditions ranging from acne and alopecia to psoriasis and vitiligo can be associated with considerable psychosocial burden, stigmatisation, and outright discrimination. Unfortunately, despite recent advances in medical treatments for a number of skin conditions, evidence based psychological interventions specifically targeting distress associated with skin conditions remain in short supply.

There have been recent calls for further research in this area from disease specific research priority setting partnerships and from professional and charitable bodies. Consequently the goal of this Research Topic is to attract both reviews and new empirical studies that report developments within the often understudied field of psychodermatology. We are interested in receiving submissions from a range of different academic disciplines. The focus is on both primary dermatological diseases but also on primary psychological and psychiatric conditions that typically present to dermatology services such as delusional parasitosis and dermatitis artefacta.

The scope of interest is on any psychosocial aspect of skin or hair conditions, and includes studies not only focused on individuals living with skin conditions but also those that report on broader societal issues which can be associated with skin diseases, such as discrimination and stigmatisation. We are also interested in empirical work that investigates common transdiagnostic physical symptoms associated with skin conditions such as itch, and common cross cutting psychological reactions such as shame. In addition to seeking quantitative studies, we actively invite submission of qualitative studies that explicitly investigate the experience of living with rare dermatological conditions or/and which examine nuanced psychosocial aspects of skin conditions. Further, we wish to receive studies that have investigated the development and use of psychological interventions or therapies aimed at facilitating adjustment, self-management, or which seek to enhance wellbeing or reduce societal prejudice associated with skin conditions.

Keywords: Psychodermatology, Dermatology, Stigmatisation, Stress, Skin, Hair

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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