Caring for yourself with the same gentleness you would offer a cherished individual can yield advantages for both your physical and mental well-being. Techniques such as meditation and self-compassion have the potential to alleviate cycles of itch-scratching and support individuals in adhering to their medical regimens.
Even though atopic dermatitis, commonly referred to as eczema, primarily manifests as a skin ailment, its impact can extend to a person’s psychological state. The persistent inflammatory skin condition can intensify based on stress levels and emotional health, as highlighted by the National Eczema Association.
Building on this connection, a recent study has unearthed that psychological interventions centered around mindfulness and self-kindness led to a reduction in atopic dermatitis symptoms, notably itching, facilitated consistent adherence to proper skincare treatments, and notably elevated day-to-day quality of life.
“Integrating mindfulness and self-compassion into usual dermatological care could help people with eczema’s quality of life, symptoms, and psychological well-being,” said lead study author Sanae Kishimoto, MHS, MPH. She’s a clinical psychologist at Kyoto University’s School of Public Health in Japan.
“We did not direct participants to use any medical treatment during intervention sessions, but by learning how to be kind and nice to themselves, they built wise and compassionate behavior [including better adherence to their medical treatments],” Dr. Kishimoto said.
Caring for yourself with the same gentleness you would offer a cherished individual can yield advantages for both your physical and mental well-being. Techniques such as meditation and self-compassion have the potential to alleviate cycles of itch-scratching and support individuals in adhering to their medical regimens.
Even though atopic dermatitis, commonly referred to as eczema, primarily manifests as a skin ailment, its impact can extend to a person’s psychological state. The persistent inflammatory skin condition can intensify based on stress levels and emotional health, as highlighted by the National Eczema Association.
Building on this connection, a recent study has unearthed that psychological interventions centered around mindfulness and self-kindness led to a reduction in atopic dermatitis symptoms, notably itching, facilitated consistent adherence to proper skincare treatments, and notably elevated day-to-day quality of life.
“Integrating mindfulness and self-compassion into usual dermatological care could help people with eczema’s quality of life, symptoms, and psychological well-being,” said lead study author Sanae Kishimoto, MHS, MPH. She’s a clinical psychologist at Kyoto University’s School of Public Health in Japan.
“We did not direct participants to use any medical treatment during intervention sessions, but by learning how to be kind and nice to themselves, they built wise and compassionate behavior [including better adherence to their medical treatments],” Dr. Kishimoto said. “So I am very confident that mindfulness and self-compassion approaches and medical standard care can work together nicely.”
Modest Amounts of Therapy Provides Significant Benefits
In a study published on May 10 in the journal JAMA Dermatology, Kishimoto and his team enrolled 107 adult patients with moderate to severe eczema from Japan for their analysis. Out of these participants, 51 individuals were assigned to a control group, which did not partake in the psychological intervention. The remaining 56 participants underwent a specialized training regimen comprising the following components:
- Weekly interactive online sessions lasting 90 minutes, conducted over a span of eight weeks.
- An optional silent meditation retreat lasting five and a half hours.
- An optional booster session via video conferencing lasting 120 minutes.
Both groups continued to receive their regular dermatological care throughout the study.
The sessions for the intervention group encompassed meditation as well as discussions and activities aimed at fostering self-care with wisdom and kindness. Notably, the emphasis on self-compassion was a distinctive feature of this research.
“Self-compassion is essentially helping people learn to treat themselves the same way that they typically treat dear friends when they suffer, fail, or fall short,” said study coauthor Steven Hickman, PsyD. He is a clinical psychologist and founding director of the University of California San Diego Center for Mindfulness.
“It involves [practicing mindfulness by] recognizing that we are struggling or suffering, reminding ourselves that these struggles are a part of any imperfect human life, and then [practicing self-kindness by] responding to the question ‘What do I need in this moment?’”
By teaching the different strategies, Dr. Hickman said, “We are essentially helping people to be willing to encounter difficult feelings and remain present, rather than reacting and going into self-criticism, shame, and self-blame, which is more typical for many people.”
Even though the therapy sessions concluded after eight weeks, the evaluation of patients persisted for 13 weeks. To gauge the impact of psychological and behavioral therapy, participants were tasked with completing the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), a straightforward self-assessment encompassing physical symptoms (like itchiness and soreness), emotional repercussions (such as embarrassment and self-consciousness), social interactions, and the ability to perform daily tasks. Scores on the questionnaire range from 0 to 30, with higher scores indicating a lower quality of life.
Within the intervention group, the initial average DLQI score was 14.75, which significantly decreased by over half to approximately 6 by the 13th week.
On the other hand, individuals not undergoing therapy began with an average score of 12.75 and concluded at week 13 with a score of 11.
In comparison to the control group, those who received psychological and behavioral training exhibited substantial enhancements in the severity of itching, intensity of scratching, level of itch discomfort, feelings of anxiety, depression, shame, self-esteem, and self-compassion.
“Even just 60 to 90 minutes per week of regular contemplative training can yield measurably improved outcomes,” Hickman explained.
A Widespread Problem: More Than Skin Deep
Approximately 10% of the American population experiences various manifestations of this chronic inflammatory ailment, leading to symptoms such as itchiness, dry skin, rashes, scaly patches, blisters, and skin infections, as stated by the National Eczema Association.
Dr. Golara Honari, a clinical associate professor of dermatology at Stanford Health Care, finds these findings to validate the significance of the intricate relationship between the mind and body in the context of eczema. The research highlights how psychological stress has the potential to impact the skin, while concurrently, the skin’s condition can contribute to emotional distress.
“Eczema is way more than just that itchy, dry skin — it’s a multifactorial disease that can be really debilitating,” said Dr. Honari. She was not part of this research. “A lot of psychological comorbidities have been associated with atopic dermatitis, such as ADHD [attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder], depression, and anxiety. This study emphasizes a holistic approach to patient care, which I think is important.”
However, she pointed out that the study did not incorporate “objective” gauges of eczema severity; instead, it depended on self-reported information about the condition of the skin. She emphasized the need for upcoming research to take this aspect into account.
Regarding individuals dealing with eczema, Dr. Hickman proposed that the study affirms the tangible advantages of introspection.
“Being able to be present and aware of one’s struggles, in any form, and able to meet oneself with the same kindness we extend to others when they struggle, can lead to marked improvement in our quality of life, mood, outlook, and capacity to cope with the bumps and hiccups of daily life,” he said.
“This is true of atopic dermatitis the same way it is true with chronic pain, cancer, general stress, and many other conditions.”
Modest Amounts of Therapy Provides Significant Benefits
In a study published on May 10 in the journal JAMA Dermatology, Kishimoto and his team enrolled 107 adult patients with moderate to severe eczema from Japan for their analysis. Out of these participants, 51 individuals were assigned to a control group, which did not partake in the psychological intervention. The remaining 56 participants underwent a specialized training regimen comprising the following components:
- Weekly interactive online sessions lasting 90 minutes, conducted over a span of eight weeks.
- An optional silent meditation retreat lasting five and a half hours.
- An optional booster session via video conferencing lasting 120 minutes.
Both groups continued to receive their regular dermatological care throughout the study.
The sessions for the intervention group encompassed meditation as well as discussions and activities aimed at fostering self-care with wisdom and kindness. Notably, the emphasis on self-compassion was a distinctive feature of this research.
“Self-compassion is essentially helping people learn to treat themselves the same way that they typically treat dear friends when they suffer, fail, or fall short,” said study coauthor Steven Hickman, PsyD. He is a clinical psychologist and founding director of the University of California San Diego Center for Mindfulness.
“It involves [practicing mindfulness by] recognizing that we are struggling or suffering, reminding ourselves that these struggles are a part of any imperfect human life, and then [practicing self-kindness by] responding to the question ‘What do I need in this moment?’”
By teaching the different strategies, Dr. Hickman said, “We are essentially helping people to be willing to encounter difficult feelings and remain present, rather than reacting and going into self-criticism, shame, and self-blame, which is more typical for many people.”
Even though the therapy sessions concluded after eight weeks, the evaluation of patients persisted for 13 weeks. To gauge the impact of psychological and behavioral therapy, participants were tasked with completing the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), a straightforward self-assessment encompassing physical symptoms (like itchiness and soreness), emotional repercussions (such as embarrassment and self-consciousness), social interactions, and the ability to perform daily tasks. Scores on the questionnaire range from 0 to 30, with higher scores indicating a lower quality of life.
Within the intervention group, the initial average DLQI score was 14.75, which significantly decreased by over half to approximately 6 by the 13th week.
On the other hand, individuals not undergoing therapy began with an average score of 12.75 and concluded at week 13 with a score of 11.
In comparison to the control group, those who received psychological and behavioral training exhibited substantial enhancements in the severity of itching, intensity of scratching, level of itch discomfort, feelings of anxiety, depression, shame, self-esteem, and self-compassion.
“Even just 60 to 90 minutes per week of regular contemplative training can yield measurably improved outcomes,” Hickman explained.
A Widespread Problem: More Than Skin Deep
Approximately 10% of the American population experiences various manifestations of this chronic inflammatory ailment, leading to symptoms such as itchiness, dry skin, rashes, scaly patches, blisters, and skin infections, as stated by the National Eczema Association.
Dr. Golara Honari, a clinical associate professor of dermatology at Stanford Health Care, finds these findings to validate the significance of the intricate relationship between the mind and body in the context of eczema. The research highlights how psychological stress has the potential to impact the skin, while concurrently, the skin’s condition can contribute to emotional distress.
“Eczema is way more than just that itchy, dry skin — it’s a multifactorial disease that can be really debilitating,” said Dr. Honari. She was not part of this research. “A lot of psychological comorbidities have been associated with atopic dermatitis, such as ADHD [attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder], depression, and anxiety. This study emphasizes a holistic approach to patient care, which I think is important.”
However, she pointed out that the study did not incorporate “objective” gauges of eczema severity; instead, it depended on self-reported information about the condition of the skin. She emphasized the need for upcoming research to take this aspect into account.
Regarding individuals dealing with eczema, Dr. Hickman proposed that the study affirms the tangible advantages of introspection.
“Being able to be present and aware of one’s struggles, in any form, and able to meet oneself with the same kindness we extend to others when they struggle, can lead to marked improvement in our quality of life, mood, outlook, and capacity to cope with the bumps and hiccups of daily life,” he said.
“This is true of atopic dermatitis the same way it is true with chronic pain, cancer, general stress, and many other conditions.”
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