Last update: July 06, 2016
They say that the eyes are "the mirror of the soul", but there is also another part of the body that is equally important and that has the virtue of reflecting everything that happens inside us. We are talking about the skin, the largest organ in our body, a shell that defends us from the outside and that it is intimately linked to our nervous system and to the functioning of other organs.
The skin informs us, it is our external barrier and with it we connect to what surrounds us. The skin is the surface on which all internal organs are reflected, the aesthetic signs that appear on it reveal some information to diagnose physical and psychological diseases.
"The skin is not just an aesthetic decoration: it is also a reflection of our health condition, of what happens in our body"
The skin as an organ of expression
Diseases find their main way of expression in the epidermis, most skin reactions, such as excessive sweating, paleness and redness, express anxiety, stress, fear and tension.
From a psychosomatic point of view, the skin becomes dull in situations of sadness or disappointment, studies show that 80% of skin diseases have a psychological origin. Beyond the physical or chemical causes, dermatologists relate skin lesions to the inability to express emotions.
Below we indicate the psychological factors in relation to the skin externalization of the following diseases:
- Urticaria has to do with depression and one can observe in this skin lesion the emotional externalization of abandonment, and irritation towards life.
- Psoriasis manifests delusion, the epidermis that flakes progressively expresses pain, the scales cover us like an armor.
- Late acne indicates situations of fatigue and stress.
- Itching indicates anxiety and distress.
- Alopecia, in many cases, responds to bereavement or severe emotional loss.
The appearance of our skin is often the mirror of our physical and emotional health.
The skin: the organ that reflects emotions
The skin also speaks to us through the symptoms that precede diseases. Symptoms tell us that something is happening in our body, both by the nature of the same and by the effects they have and the changes they imply. The skin acts as a protective shield in front of a world in which we are continuously exposed, is our alarm bell.
"Behind the symptoms are the diseases"
-Manuel Barroso-
From an emotional point of life, the skin connects us with the outside world, it represents the image that the human being has of himself. It helps to establish contact with other people, but it can also be a means of isolating oneself, for example, through shame and its characteristic redness which on many occasions paralyzes or penalizes us.
The skin evaluates our interactions with the environment and with others, instantly reflecting our emotions. In situations of anger it turns red, in circumstances of pain it turns pale, when we are afraid it produces an excess of sweating.
Its protective function is evident, but its sensitivity is no less important, it protects us with a suit made to measure for us that reflects our feelings in every moment.
"Even if we spend many years living in our bodies, when something goes wrong, we have the impression of living inside a stranger"
-Deb Shapiro-
Maintaining a positive disposition, learning to reduce anxiety and eliminate excess stress are necessary strategies to improve the health of our skin. Listening to our emotions, recognizing them instead of denying them, and learning to manage them improves our well-being and directly affects the appearance of our skin.
