Psychodermatology studies the relationship between skin and mind. The important starting point in most of the chronic skin conditions is the psychological factor. Acute adverse events are classic triggers for these diseases. Chronic distress plays an important role, especially in time of public professional and financial instability, combined with the characteristics of the personal profile of the individual. Patients suffering from chronic skin dermatoses are tense, anxious, and unable to relax. This article reviews the neuro-endocrine pathways in the genesis of psychodermatological conditions. The paradigm: chronic skin conditions, stress and psyche is discussed. The review is based on the data from English language literature using MEDLINE and PubMed.
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