Do you know your skin is like a crystal ball? Our skin is a window to your inner health, immunity, and psychology.
Emerging research is demonstrating that meditation and mindfulness practices can improve emotional, spiritual and mental wellness. The skin is the largest organ of the body, and the research is revealing the complexity of the biological process of the skin is a gateway to the mind-skin-body connection.
It makes senses. Using a system thinking approach, we can see that our skin is connected to emotional, intellectual, and mental wellness. When you feel ‘stress,’ do you notice a cold sore, a pimple, or dry skin? Or when you are feeling under the weather, does your skin feel ‘warm’? Or do you have a habit of pulling hair, picking at dry nails, and scratching an itch? Mind-Skin connection is probably more real than we had expected. Nowadays, public health professionals, health providers, and wellness managers are working together to develop and support wellness programs for patients with dermatologic conditions. With this integrative approach, we can examine a type of skin-related disorders, biologic factors, environmental (external) factors, epigenetic biochemical changes, and demographic factors.
This is the beginning of a new conceptual framework to explore how our skin is connected to our mind-body-soul using complementary, integrative health practices. Instead of focusing on the best cream for skin care, focus on providing nutrients through food, positive thoughts, and mindfulness to your body, which then can provide care for your skin.
Kee Chan, PhD, MBA 