Psychodermatology: From historic concepts to contemporary clinical practice

Psychodermatology is an interdisciplinary field of medicine that examines the interrelationships between mental state and skin function. This contribution presents the biologic and theoretic foundations of these relationships, with particular emphasis on the role of stress, the brain-skin axis, and neuroimmunologic mechanisms. The historic development of psychodermatology is discussed, including the evolution of terminology and classification of disorders, as well as the emergence of structures facilitating interdisciplinary collaboration. Attention is drawn to the clinical and psychosocial consequences of chronic skin diseases, including reduced quality of life, anxiety and depressive symptoms, and patient stigmatization. Current challenges facing psychodermatology include the lack of diagnostic standardization and the need for further development of integrated models of care. Psychodermatology is presented as an essential component of a holistic approach to the treatment of skin diseases.