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Ferreira BR, Aguirre CC, Rapoport‐Hubschman N, Adewuya AO, Canchy L, Morizet D, Vincenzi F, McGlone FP. The skin-brain connection and pleasant touch as supportive care for psychocutaneous disorders. SKIN HEALTH AND DISEASE 2024; 4:e310. [PMID: 38312257 PMCID: PMC10831560 DOI: 10.1002/ski2.310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Revised: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/06/2024]
Abstract
Psychodermatology is a subdiscipline of dermatology at the intersection of dermatology, psychiatry, and psychology. In dermatology clinical practice, patients may present with skin disease that affects their mental health, or skin disorders induced or worsened by psychological/psychiatric problems so there is a need for specialised education of dermatologists, as well as multidisciplinary teams, to achieve better management of these patients. Understanding the interaction between the central nervous system and the skin underlying psychocutaneous disorders could help identify alternative therapies that may improve patient well-being. The concept of pleasurable touch has received increasing attention following the discovery of C-tactile (CT) fibres. While afferent C-fibre stimulation is usually associated with pain, temperature, or itch, CT-fibres are stimulated optimally by a stimulus not in the nociceptor range but by a gentle, low-force stroking. As this affective touch may counteract unpleasurable sensations, such as pain and itch, and elicit positive feelings, the potential benefits of gentle touch and massage are interesting for dermatological, especially psychocutaneous, disorders. Here we provide an overview of the skin-brain connection to help understand the benefits of touch and massage, as illustrated with studies on atopic dermatitis and burns, as an adjunct to dermatological treatment for improving patient well-being and optimising treatment outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bárbara Roque Ferreira
- Department of DermatologyCentre Hospitalier de MouscronHainautBelgium
- University of BrestLaboratoire interactions épithéliums‐neurones (LIEN)BrestFrance
- Centre for Philosophy of ScienceUniversity of LisbonLisbonPortugal
| | | | | | | | - Ludivine Canchy
- La Roche‐Posay Laboratoire DermatologiqueLevallois‐PerretFrance
| | - David Morizet
- L’Oréal Research & Innovation, Evaluation IntelligenceClichyFrance
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Rodgers-Melnick SN, Bartolovich M, Desai NJ, Vasanna SH, Rivard RL, Owusu-Ansah A, Ahuja SP, Dusek JA, Miller DW. Massage therapy for children, adolescents, and young adults: Clinical delivery and effectiveness in hematology and oncology. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2023; 70:e30243. [PMID: 36726036 DOI: 10.1002/pbc.30243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2022] [Revised: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Children, adolescents, and young adults with hematologic and/or oncologic conditions experience multiple, significant symptoms (e.g., pain, stress, and anxiety), which may be addressed by nonpharmacologic approaches such as massage therapy (MT). The purpose of this study was to describe the clinical delivery of MT provided by a certified pediatric massage therapist and assess effectiveness in two patient groups: those with sickle cell disease (SCD) or hematologic and/or oncologic conditions excluding SCD (HemOnc). METHODS Investigators conducted a retrospective review of MT sessions provided to patients 0-39 years with hematologic and/or oncologic conditions at a large pediatric academic medical center. RESULTS Between October 2019 and December 2021, 3015 MT sessions were provided to 243 patients (171 HemOnc; 72 SCD) and documented in the electronic health record. Patients (mean age: 12.21 ± 7.19 years) were generally White (49.4%) or Black/African American (43.2%), non-Hispanic (94.2%), and 52.3% female. Patients in the SCD group (vs. patients in the HemOnc group) reported significantly higher (p < .05) pretreatment pain (6.95 vs. 4.46), stress (6.47 vs. 4.58), and anxiety (6.67 vs. 4.59). All patients reported clinically and statistically significant (p < .001) mean reductions in pain (-2.25 ± 1.87), stress (-2.50 ± 1.73), and anxiety (-2.52 ± 1.69), with patients in the HemOnc group reporting greater mean pain change (-2.54 vs. -1.87) than patients in the SCD group. CONCLUSIONS This study supports the clinical effectiveness of MT for addressing acute pain, stress, and anxiety among youth with hematologic and/or oncologic conditions. Future research is needed to identify optimal MT utilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel N Rodgers-Melnick
- University Hospitals Connor Whole Health, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.,School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Mandy Bartolovich
- University Hospitals Connor Whole Health, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.,Department of Pediatrics - Hematology and Oncology, University Hospitals Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Neha J Desai
- School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.,Department of Pediatrics - Hematology and Oncology, University Hospitals Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Smitha Hosahalli Vasanna
- School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.,Department of Pediatrics - Hematology and Oncology, University Hospitals Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Rachael L Rivard
- University Hospitals Connor Whole Health, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.,Center for Survey and Evaluation Research, HealthPartners Institute, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Amma Owusu-Ansah
- School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.,Department of Pediatrics - Hematology and Oncology, University Hospitals Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Sanjay P Ahuja
- School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.,Department of Pediatrics - Hematology and Oncology, University Hospitals Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Jeffery A Dusek
- University Hospitals Connor Whole Health, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.,School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - David W Miller
- University Hospitals Connor Whole Health, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.,School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.,Department of General Pediatrics, University Hospitals Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
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