PSYCHOSOCIAL IMPACT OF CHRONIC SKIN DISORDERS: A QUALITATIVE EXPLORATION

Abstract

Long term skin issues bring a huge emotional load that is often greater than the clinical manifestations of the disease.  It is a qualitative study that explored the lived experiences of individuals who are diagnosed with chronic dermatologic conditions, with a focus on emotional distress, social functioning, self-perception and coping strategies.  The information was collected using semi-structured interviews that were thoroughly carried out with the selected sample of participants of different age groups and categories of conditions.  The thematic analysis found four major dimensions of psychosocial impact.  First, the respondents reported that they were experiencing persistent emotional issues, including anxiety, despair, humiliations, and feeling more self-conscious, which tend to be exacerbated by symptoms exacerbations.  Second, social interactions were also of significant problems. Most of the participants reported that they were socially isolated and feared judgment and that they were discriminated or stigmatized in the community, and at work.  Third, the research demonstrated that physical symptoms may cause chronic psychological disorders, including severe body-image difficulties, low self-esteem, and difficulties in intimate relationships.  And finally, the findings indicated that there was a wide disparity in coping strategies. Others were useful such as seeking peer support groups and starting self-care routines, whilst others were not useful such as avoiding people and being alone.  Overall, the findings indicate that psychosocial impacts of chronic skin diseases are complicated, highly individual, and highly influenced by societal attitudes and beliefs about them.  The research highlights the paramount importance of combining dermatological and mental health care strategies to address the emotional and social components of chronic skin disease to better the treatment outcomes and quality of life in patients.