Take care of your skin, put make-up on, do your hair… gestures perhaps not as futile as you might imagine. Indeed, we know better and better the very close relations between the skin and the nervous system, between the health of the epidermis and the psychological balance. With a logical consequence: cosmetics contribute to improving the state of health of a patient, as to preserving that of a healthy good. This is shown by the Thesis for the State Diploma of Doctor of Pharmacy, by Ms Manon Mathieu (University of Nantes - Faculty of Pharmacy) on which this article is based.
4 October 2009
The World Health Organization no longer defines health as the absence of disease, but as"a complete state of physical, psychological and social well-being". This evolution underscores the extent to which these various factors (which can be grouped under the term"quality of life") are complementary and interdependent.
With sick skin, suffering mind… and vice versa!
In this global consideration of the state of health, the skin plays an essential role. It is first of all the heaviest organ (4 kg on average) and the most extensive of our organism, constituting a natural barrier which protects it from external aggressions, while ensuring the functions of exchange with the world which surrounds us (sensory perception, thermoregulation, metabolic exchanges, self-image returned to others…).
It is also very closely related to the nervous system with which it is confused until the second week of embryonic life, then remaining the organ with the densest innervation: there are 12 nerves per cm² of skin, and even the most superficial layers!
And several studies have shown the reciprocal influence between skin condition and health status.
Skin disease aggravates psychological distress
We already suspected that the fact of not having pretty skin does nothing to strengthen …
