The traditional practice of dermatology is to help patients maintain healthy skin, but later studies of skin problems showed mental stress can be a cause. As the connection between mental health and skin health became apparent, dermatological profession needed to branch out into a field of specialization called psychodermatology.
What Does a Psychodermatologist Do?
Whenever a skin problem triggered by stress, anxiety or depression becomes a vicious cycle; or if a skin issue is causing psychological problems, a dermatologist may refer a patient to a psychodermatologist.
It was only after the connection between skin issues and mental health was established that dermatologists recognized the need to refer their patients to psychiatrists. In the UK today, there are dermatology offices that include a psychodermatologist as member of the clinical team.
A psychodermatologist investigates and treats the social depression or anxiety of a patient and its role in the development of skin problems like acne, hives, eczema itching or psoriasis. As dermatology professionals, they also introduce some form of intervention to help a patient deal with a mental health issue caused by the skin problem; or to prevent the worsening or aggravation of a skin problem that has been triggering a psychological problem.
Unfortunately, psycodermatplogists are not as widely available in the US as they are in the UK. What has become more popular in the US though is the introduction of private label skin care products that seek to individually address every patient’s skin care needs.
Still, US dermatologists observe professional code of ethics when recommending their private label brands. After all, dermatologists are involved in the formulation, development and testing of most commercially produced skin care products.
The Ethical Practice of Recommending Private Label Skin Care Products
The practice of dermatology places each patient’s skin issue at the center of every treatment as a way to help patients maintain healthy skin conditions on a long-term basis. Skin care however, is also a matter of using the appropriate product for the right type of skin, whilst taking into consideration a specific lifestyle, sleeping habits, the day-to-day activities and in some cases genetic composition that causes variations in skin color.
Simply spending time and money to take good care of one’s skin is a positive indication that a person is keeping herself afloat of the negativity associated with skin disorders. If a problem necessitates seeking help from a dermatologists, the skin doctor asks about the patient’s skin care routine to determine if she is applying the proper agent.
Together with the patient, the dermatologist reviews the product used, how and when it is used to determine if the product is aggravating or not providing relief for the skin disorder. A dermatologist will also ask about lifestyle, food intakes, sleeping habits and medical conditions that could affect a patient’s skin condition. The point of the matter is that dermatologists do not put the blame on the skin care product being used by a patient as a way to recommend their private label products.
The initiative to buy skin care products from the dermatology office or clinic must come from the patient, usually after making careful comparisons of the brand they use with the clinic’s non-prescription private label brands. Moreover, the clinic staff in-charge of dispensing the products must first clear with the attending dermatologist if the products and ingredients will work best for the patient’s skin That way, appropriate use of the private label brand can be discussed during consultation.
A contract manufacturing company like Good Vara LLC offers to work with dermatology clinics, spas and salons in formulating their own line of FDA-approved natural skin, hair and body care products. More information about private label products can be found in this page.