People suffering from chronic skin conditions should be offered mental health supports to deal with potential ‘psychological scarring,’ according to a leading dermatologist.
It comes after the UK National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) urged doctors to offer mental health supports to people suffering from severe acne.
It said supports are especially important for people with a current or past history of depression, anxiety, body dysmorphic disorder, suicidal ideation, and self-harm.
On Newstalk Breakfast this morning, Professor Caitriona Ryan, Consultant Dermatologist at the Institute of Dermatologists said the supports will only be needed for a small number of patients.
“When patients are – and we see this in a very small proportion of patients – but when they are suffering from extreme depression and anxiety due to their appearance, I think we can’t neglect that side of things,” she said.
“I think NICE have made these guidelines more to remind us as doctors to ask these patients, are they feeling low because of it? Are they depressed? Have they had thoughts of suicidal ideation?
“We have seen in studies in acne, psoriasis and in eczema about high levels of this in our patients and it is very important that we acknowledge this and talk about it.”
Chronic skin conditions
She said it all depends on the severity of the condition and how it is affecting the patient.
“It is not just acne,” she said. “A lot of different skin chronic conditions, particularly when they are involving visible places like their face, can really impact young people – particularly teenagers and young adults in their formative years.
“It can impact on them psychologically. People can definitely have big issues with self-esteem and it can really affect social interactions – even when it comes to career choices and other important things at that time in their life.
“So, when acne or other skin conditions are affecting young people in that way, I think it is so important not to neglect the mental health side of things.
“Obviously, these conditions can cause scarring and whatnot but they can also cause psychological scarring in lots of ways as well.”
Treatments
Professor Ryan said there are “great treatments” available for most skin conditions.
“The great thing is – and we see this day after day – when these kids come in and they are barely making eye contact to be begin with and within a month or two, you are treating these kids with whatever treatment it is, you see kids transform, teenagers transform and even young adults transform,” she said.
“So absolutely at that point there is no need. But there are patients whose skin conditions can be really impactful.”
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