Relação entre doenças psicossomáticas e disfunções dermatológicas

Abstract

Stress is a natural response of the body that occurs when we experience situations of danger or threat. This mechanism puts us in a state of alert, causing physical and emotional changes. It has been demonstrated that stress, in addition to altering genetic material, also leads to changes in the skin barrier, resulting in symptoms such as dehydration, increased exfoliation, dryness, and the formation of wrinkles. It is widely known that both physical and emotional stress can impact immune cells and intensify inflammatory processes, leading to dermatological disorders, referred to as psychodermatoses, such as atopic dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis, alopecia, psoriasis, melasma, acne vulgaris, rosacea, urticaria, herpes simplex, and vitiligo. Considering the potential relationship between psychosomatic diseases and dermatological dysfunctions, this study aimed to evaluate the consequences of stress on the skin, its impact on patients' lifestyle and quality of life, and the main aesthetic procedures used. This is a descriptive narrative literature review. The electronic databases PubMed, Portal de Periódicos da Capes, and Google Scholar were used to search for studies in both Portuguese and English. The following Health Science Descriptors were used: psychological stress, hydrocortisone, dermatoses, oxidative stress. The time frame for the research was from 2003 to 2023. Only studies with full texts available on virtual platforms were included, while duplicated studies, those published before 2003, those not available in full in virtual databases, and those whose content was not related to the proposed objectives were excluded. The reviewed articles demonstrated a strong connection between psychosomatic diseases and dermatological dysfunctions. High cortisol levels can affect various bodily functions, with the skin being one of the most affected organs. Dermatological manifestations can cause a range of discomfort and psychological suffering, further exacerbating the symptoms of the disease. Therefore, in addition to medicinal and therapeutic treatments, it is important to incorporate aesthetic procedures such as physical and chemical peels, intradermotherapy, micro-needling, and phototherapy. As psychodermatoses are visible and have an impact on the patient's environment and daily life, they may even be subject to prejudice. In the face of discomfort, aesthetic procedures are effective and contribute to the skin's recovery and self-esteem. It is worth noting that the success of aesthetic treatment occurs when psychotherapeutic intervention is carried out in parallel, with the aim of addressing psychodermatoses in their full complexity. Keywords: Psychosomatic diseases, cortisol, stress, skin health, aesthetic procedures