Skin disorders
Many skin disorders have a psychosomatic component and this lends itself very nicely to hypnotherapy treatment. People may be surprised that hypnotherapy can treat skin diseases but there's a lot of positive research in this area now. Creating peace and changing negative mindsets that aggravate the condition as well as releasing any kind of shame, embarrassment or the feeling of being 'uncomfortable in one's skin' can improve life immensely.
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From the research below...
"This study has shown highly significant results in reducing skin sensitivity to histamine using a cognitive-hypnotic technique, which indicates some promise for extending this work into the clinical area". (Laidlaw)
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"Twenty children with severe, resistant atopic dermatitis were treated by hypnosis. All but one showed immediate improvement, which was maintained at the following two clinic appointments. In 12 children, replies to a questionnaire at up to 18 months after treatment, showed that 10 had maintained improvement in itching and scratching, nine in sleep disturbance, and seven maintained improvement in mood". (Stewart)
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Shenefelt, Philip D. (Oct 2007). Psycho-cutaneous Hypnoanalysis:
Detection and Deactivation of Emotional and Mental Root Factors
in Psychosomatic Skin Disorders. American Journal of Clinical
Hypnosis, Vol 50(2), 131-136.
Many skin disorders have a significant psychosomatic component. Focused history-taking
coupled with hypnoanalysis using ideomotor finger signals to detect positive
responses to one or more of 7 common triggering or exacerbating factors permits
systematic diagnosis of the presence or absence of a significant psychosomatic
component. If no factor is positive, a psychosomatic component to the skin disorder
can likely be excluded. If one or two of the 7 factors are positive and it is possible
to identify the initiating event, treatment by reframing with suggestions in hypnosis
may succeed in defusing the associated negative emotional impact associated with
the psychosomatic component of the skin disorder. This may be sufficient to uproot
and weed out the problem. However, if a multiple of the 7 factors are positive as in
the included case report, referral to an appropriate psychotherapist is recommended.
Shenefelt, Philip D. (2006). Nondrug Psychotherapeutic Options for
Skin Disorders. In Abelian, M. E. (Ed), Trends in Psychotherapy
Research, (pp. 33-51). Hauppauge, NY: Nova Science Publishers.
There is a significant psychosomatic or behavioural component to many skin
disorders. This interaction permits nondrug psychotherapeutic interventions that
have positive impacts on many cutaneous diseases. Cognitive-behavioural techniques
that address dysfunctional cognitions (thought patterns) or behaviours (actions) can
be useful for skin disorders with a significant psychosomatic or behavioural
component, such as the picking component of acne excoriee, scratching in atopic
dermatitis, habits such as lip licking or biting, hyperhidrosis, lichen simplex
chronicus, neurotic excoriations, onychotillomania, trichotillomania, and
psychosomatic triggering or exacerbation of urticaria. Cognitive-behavioural
methods can also desensitize individuals with needle phobia. Hypnosis has been
found useful to treat a number of skin disorders including acne excoriee, alopecia
areata, atopic dermatitis, congenital ichthyosiform erythroderma, dyshidrotic
dermatitis, erythromelalgia, furuncles, glossodynia, herpes simplex, hyperhidrosis,
ichthyosis vulgaris, lichen planus, neurodermatitis, nummular dermatitis,
postherpetic neuralgia, pruritus, psoriasis, rosacea, trichotillomania, urticaria,
verruca vulgaris, and vitiligo. Hypnosis can also help individuals feel more
comfortable about having their skin diseases. Hypnotic relaxation utilizing self-guided
imagery reduces anxiety and discomfort during dermatologic procedures.
For resistant skin disorders, hypnoanalysis using ideomotor signalling and the affect
bridge technique can often identify original incidents and promote healing.
Hollingworth, Anne. (Nov 2001). I’ve Got You Under My Skin:
Hypnosis for Dermatitis and Unrequited Love. Australian Journal of
Clinical & Experimental Hypnosis, Vol 29(2), 131-146.
This study details the use of hypnosis in relieving symptoms of dermatitis in a
female in her early thirties. Ongoing therapy then focused on feelings of discontent
and joylessness, resulting from unrequited love. It is concluded that the client’s rash
was more readily amenable to psychotherapy than were the underlying existential
dilemmas.
Laidlaw, T. M., Booth, R. J., Large, R. G. (1996). Reduction in Skin
Reactions to Histamine After a Hypnotic Procedure. Psychosomatic
Medicine, Vol. 58, 242-8.
This study sought to test whether a cognitive-hypnotic intervention could be used to
decrease skin reactivity to histamine. Thirty eight subjects undertook three
individual laboratory sessions; a pre-test session to determine sensitivity to
histamine, a control session, and an intervention session during which the subject
experienced a cognitive-hypnotic procedure involving imagination and
visualization. Compared with the control session, most subjects (32 of 38)
decreased the size of their weals measured during the intervention session, and the
differences between the weal sizes produced in the two sessions were highly
significant (N = 38; t = 4.90; p < .0001). Mood and physiological variables but not
hypnotisability scores proved to be effective in explaining the skin test variance and
in predicting weal size change. Feelings of irritability and tension and higher blood
pressure readings were associated with less change in weal size (i.e., a continuation
of reactivity similar to that found in the control session without the cognitive-hypnotic
intervention), and peacefulness and a lower blood pressure were
associated with less skin reactivity during the intervention. This study has shown
highly significant results in reducing skin sensitivity to histamine using a cognitive-hypnotic
technique, which indicates some promise for extending this work into the clinical area.
Zachariae, R., Oster, H., Bjerring, P., Kragballe, K. (1996). Effects of
Psychologic Intervention on Psoriasis: A Preliminary Report.
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, Vol. 34, 1008-15.
BACKGROUND: Case reports have indicated that psychologic treatments may
have a beneficial effect on psoriasis activity. METHODS: Fifty-one patients with
psoriasis vulgaris were randomly assigned to a treatment or a control group.
Patients in the treatment group participated in seven individual psychotherapy
sessions in 12 weeks. Intervention techniques included stress management, guided
imagery, and relaxation. RESULTS: Slight, but significant, changes in Total Sign
Score and Laser Doppler Skin Blood Flow were found in the treatment group but
not in the control group. When analyses were performed for both groups separately,
the treatment group displayed significant reductions for all three psoriasis activity
measures, whereas no changes were seen in the control group. CONCLUSION: Our
preliminary results suggest that psychologic intervention may have a moderate
beneficial effect on psoriasis activity.
Stewart, A. C., Thomas, S. E. (1995). Hypnotherapy as a Treatment
for Atopic Dermatitis in Adults and Children. British Journal of
Dermatology, Vol. 132, 778-83.
Eighteen adults with extensive atopic dermatitis, resistant to conventional treatment,
were treated by hypnotherapy, with statistically significant benefit (P < 0.01)
measured both subjectively and objectively, which was maintained at up to 2 years
where results were available. Twenty children with severe, resistant atopic
dermatitis were treated by hypnosis. All but one showed immediate improvement,
which was maintained at the following two clinic appointments. In 12 children,
replies to a questionnaire at up to 18 months after treatment, showed that 10 had
maintained improvement in itching and scratching, nine in sleep disturbance, and
seven maintained improvement in itching and scratching, nine in sleep disturbance,
and seven maintained improvement in mood.
Hajek, P., Jakoubek, B., Radil, T. (1990). Gradual Increase in
Cutaneous Threshold Induced by Repeated Hypnosis of Healthy
Individuals and Patients with Atopic Eczema. Perceptual and Motor
Skills, Vol. 70, 549-50.
Gradual increase in cutaneous pain threshold was found in healthy subjects and
patients with atopic eczema during repeated hypnotic sessions with specific
suggestions. This increase was less in the former than in the latter group. Repeated
threshold measurements did not influence the threshold. The analgesic effect
outlasted the hypnotic sessions by several months. It could be, however, suddenly
reduced by appropriate hypnotic suggestion.
Kantor, S. D. (1990). Stress and Psoriasis. Cutis, Vol. 46, 321-2.
Since most clinicians and researchers agree that stress affects the course of
psoriasis, consideration should be given to advocating adjunctive therapies aimed at
reducing psychophysiological stress. Biofeedback training, psychotherapy, and
hypnosis are examples of adjuncts to traditional medical treatment that can reduce
stress levels and have been shown to have a positive effect on the course of
psoriasis.
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