PSYCHOTHERAPEUTIC APPROACH IN ACNE TREATMENT

From a medical psychological point of view, acne vulgaris can be schem atically divided into two clinical pictures: (1) the common adolescent eruption, more mind-influencing and thus somatopsychic; (2) the less frequent acne of adults (young adults for the most part), both as a co ntinuation of adolescent acne and, more rarely, as a never before expe rienced cutaneous affection, and thus psychosomatic in a strict sense. We believe that the dermatologist can treat both of these clinical ma nifestations, even from a psychological aspect, from the very first vi sit with the patient using the first step in psychotherapy: counseling . The principal points of this approach are presented, with special at tention to the differences to be considered in the two clinical pictur es specified as well as to the opportuneness and timing of an eventual liaison consultation with psychologists/psychiatrists in realizing ot her therapeutic strategies.