Senin, 28 Mei 2012

Could a skin shrink cure your spots?

Could a skin shrink cure your spots?

By Katie Mulloy

PUBLISHED: 16:00 EST, 27 May 2012 | UPDATED: 17:02 EST, 28 May 2012

Over the past ten years I have tried everything - and I mean everything - to beat my adult acne.

I have spent more money than I’d like to admit on seeing doctors, dermatologists, herbalists, homeopaths and nutritionists.

I have tried every skincare regime, medication and diet going. Some have helped but none has cured me.

Psychodermatology believes our emotions affect our skin more than we realise and that acne sufferers could benefit from seeing a psychotherapist

Psychodermatology believes our emotions affect our skin more than we realise and that acne sufferers could benefit from seeing a psychotherapist

Now I’ve resorted to therapy. Yes, I’m seeing a ‘skin shrink’. We all know that stress and acne are linked - but an emerging field of  study called psychodermatology believes our emotions affect our skin more than we realise and that people with chronic adult acne could benefit as much  from seeing a psychotherapist as seeing a dermatologist.

Enter Dr Ted Grossbart, a clinical psychologist based in Boston in the U.S., who treats patients with skin problems around the world via Skype therapy sessions.

‘It may be that your acne is 50 per cent due to hereditary factors,  30 per cent due to lifestyle and only 20 per cent is due to psychological factors. But if you tackle the emotional stuff, you might just push balance back in favour of health.’

Clinical psychologist Dr Ted Grossbart

Clinical psychologist Dr Ted Grossbart

Dr Grossbart asks me to create a timeline of my life comparing it with fluctuations in my skin. It shows that my skin exploded in my early 20s when I was in the depths of grief.

Both of my parents had been diagnosed with cancer in the same year and one had not survived it. I finished university, broke up with my childhood sweetheart and started a new, never-quite-right relationship.

It improved for a while when I broke off that relationship but the most recent flare-up happened when I met my current boyfriend. Why am I breaking out when I’m happy?

Dr Grossbart sees a pattern: ‘It’s possible that your skin is acting as a protector, trying to tell you things that you w on’t admit to yourself. In the past your skin was at its worse when you were in a relationship you knew wasn’t right.

‘Then you meet someone you really like but are bound to be hesitant about â€" your skin listens to the doubts and reverts to its previous defence mechanism.’

He suggests two meditation exercises - the first where I imagine myself in a serene, healing state and then another where I imagine my body fighting the acne on a cellular level. He recommends I do this for 15 minutes a day . . . for ever.

A month after seeing Dr Grossbart things are looking clearer, in every sense. My skin is not perfect but I can see a real improvement. My break-outs are fewer and when I do get them I feel less stressed by it, which hopefully means that never-ending stress-spot cycle may be breaking. 

Find out more at grossbart.com

Here's what other readers have said. Why not add your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards.

The comments below have not been moderated.

  • Newest
  • Oldest
  • Best rated
  • Worst rated

For every person starting to struggle with adult acne I just wish they learned from a very early stage that all promises made by the cosmetic industry are lies. A lot of money, disappointment and frustration could be saved.

Report abuse

Try Agnus Castus - your testosterone levels are probably out of kilter with your female hormones. This supplement brings it back in line. You'll get it at any health shop.

Report abuse

I have been suffering from adult acne for five years now and sometimes it leaves me questions like what else can i do to stop it, what else out there should i try, why me, what have i done wrong, why cant i have normal skin like other women. Im not asking for an extravagant celebrity like skin! I just want to be normal! Im dreading to wake up one morning to see my old nice skin back. Tears sometimes are there, i cant help it. It really does taking the whole of me: money, confidence, planning the future... Sometimes the money i spent on medications etc are more than enough money to send myself to a holiday. Even tried to go to church for my skin to be prayed-over. Sometimes children stare at me as my face can be very red at times. If children cant help from doing that what more the adult community is thinking of me and how about the opposite sex. I think next to cancer, ACNE is one of the most life affecting conditions that stays for an unthinkable amount of time.

Report abuse

I have a friend who suffers from terrible adult acne. She is a wonderful lady, lives an active, healthy lifestyle and is a vegetarian, so bad diet, etc, cannot be blamed. It's such a shame how disfiguring this illness can be. I'll certainly be sending her a link to this article.

Report abuse

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

Diposting oleh di

Tidak ada komentar:

Posting Komentar

Langganan: Posting Komentar (Atom)