From Psyche to Skin: A Call for Interdisciplinary Care in the Management of Psychodermatologic Conditions.

Abstract

Despite increasing academic discourse surrounding psychodermatology, few dermatologists or psychiatrists demonstrate a clear understanding of the field. Barriers to physician awareness are double-edged, stemming from both inadequate educational opportunities and patient non-disclosure of psychodermatologic symptoms during clinical encounters. It is crucial that medical practitioners, especially in the field of dermatology, become accustomed to recognizing, diagnosing, and treating psychocutaneous disorders, which disproportionately affect members of historically marginalized populations. In this commentary, we propose recommendations for pedagogic supplements to be implemented throughout medical, post-graduate, and post-residency education to build familiarity with this subdiscipline and confidence in managing its associated conditions. In particular, we endorse the integration of components of psychiatry education into dermatology residency training and current practice, as skin symptoms tend to be more openly disclosed than mental health struggles, so dermatologists are often the first physicians to encounter many of these conditions. We also advocate for interdisciplinary collaboration to bridge the gap between the uniformity of standard specialty training and the complexity of psychocutaneous disease.