While society is increasingly starting to acknowledge the impact the visible skin disorders, such as acne, can have on our mental health, the connection actually goes both ways, as anyone who has experienced acne during exam season, can attest. Poor mental health can also lead to a deterioration in skin health. And no topic could be more pertinent to discuss in the social isolation that has ensued as a result of the coronavirus lockdown. According to The Guardian, the term "social recession" has been coined to describe this social isolation, because of the profound physical, psychological and economic effects it is having. These include, most importantly, an increase in chronic inflammation, a factor that has been implicated in sundry chronic diseases, and even in cellular ageing.
Great strides have been made over the last few decades in understanding the relationship between mental health and skin health and scientists have found that the brain and nervous systems influence immune cells in the skin and that certain types of stress can interfere with immune activity, affecting the skin's ability to heal.
Keeping these facts in mind, we engaged psychologist, Dr. Imrana Shah, to give you some tips on how to maintain a positive attitude, and keep your mental health in top shape, during the lockdown. Watch the video below to learn how you can come out of this lockdown in top shape.