Conclusion

This section has sought to explore the social and psychological aspects of skin care. It has done this by considering how society can influence individuals and how they feel about their skin condition. The influence of the brain on the skin and how experiencing a skin disease affects human psychology has also been explored. Whilst lip service may be given to the psychological impact of skin disease, the services and skills are often not in place to help patients in improving their mental well-being. Nurses have a significant role to play here by refining and using skills that they already have. Various tools are available to assess the psychological and social impact of skin disease; these notably include dermatologyspecific and some age-specific measures that can be employed in clinical practice.