Psychodermatology & Me: Results of new British Skin Foundation survey revealed

In a recent survey from the British Skin Foundation, supported by Psoriasis UK, nearly four in five people with psoriasis said flare-ups leave them feeling anxious or depressed.

We were pleased to help with recruiting respondents for The British Skin Foundation’s Psychodermatology & Me survey. It provided a valuable opportunity for our members and psoriasis community to have their say on the emotional toll of having a skin condition.

The results of the survey, which was completed by more than 1,100 people across the UK living with a wide range of skin conditions, were released in June at the British Association of Dermatologists' 106th Annual Conference.

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Despite the profound emotional impact, over half of participants with psoriasis said they had never accessed mental health support to deal with the impact of their condition.

For many survey respondents with psoriasis, the impact extends far beyond physical symptoms, affecting confidence, relationships and everyday life. Almost two-thirds (63%) said their skin condition affects their mental health every day, while 52% said their condition affects their personal or romantic relationships.

At a glance - key takeaways from psoriasis survey respondents

Of the people with psoriasis that answered the survey:

• 74% say they feel more anxious or depressed when their skin condition flares up.
• Nearly two-thirds (63%) say their skin condition affects their mental health daily.
• 58% use social media to connect online with others who have psoriasis and/or other skin conditions.
• 54% found social media to be a helpful resource when navigating their skin condition/s.
• 69% believe there is not enough free or accessible mental health support.
• 52% say their skin condition affects their personal or romantic relationships.

British Skin Foundation Spokesperson and Clinical Psychologist, Professor Andrew Thompson of Cardiff University said:

"We need greater awareness of psychodermatology services, better integration of mental health support into skin care pathways, and more recognition that treating a skin condition means caring for the whole person, not just their symptoms."

Amy Ball, Communications and Engagement Lead at Psoriasis UK, added:

“The link between psoriasis and mental health is something that we fully recognise and understand. Living with psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis can often bring feelings of loneliness, isolation and low self-esteem, and the stress of this may trigger flares, or make existing psoriasis worse. It’s important to consider the emotional burden of any skin condition as well as the physical symptoms.”

Psoriasis UK operates a free, confidential helpline service Monday to Friday, 9am – 4pm:

Call: 01604 251 620
Email: mail@psoriasisuk.org.uk
WhatsApp: 07387 716 439