The impact of chronic skin diseases on body image and psychological adjustment in adolescents: an analysis of contemporary research trends
Keywords:
Chronic Skin Diseases, Body Image, Psychological Adjustment, Adolescents, Mental HealthAbstract
This research aims to explore the impact of chronic skin diseases on body image and psychological adjustment among adolescents during the period (2015-2025), given the critical developmental sensitivity of this stage toward physical appearance and social acceptance، The study employed a systematic thematic analysis methodology to review 24 published studies from specialized scientific databases (PubMed, PsycINFO, Google Scholar) using specific inclusion and exclusion criteria, with data analyzed according to Braun and Clarke's thematic analysis framework through methodological and geographical-cultural classifications، Results revealed wide consensus on the negative effects of skin diseases on self-esteem, elevated depressive and anxiety symptoms, social isolation, with significant methodological gaps including scarcity of longitudinal and experimental studies and limited cultural representation، The research recommends designing longitudinal and multidisciplinary studies, developing evidence-based therapeutic protocols, and enhancing family and community support to reduce social stigma.
References
Ablett, K., & Thompson, A، (2016)، Parental, child and adolescent experience of chronic skin conditions: A meta-ethnography، Body Image / University of Sheffield repository، White Rose Research Online
Brandi, S، L., Skov, L., Strandberg-Larsen, K., Zachariae, C., Cederkvist, L., Groot, J., & Nybo Andersen, A.-M، (2024)، Psoriasis and mental health in adolescents: A cross-sectional study within the Danish National Birth Cohort، Journal of Affective Disorders, 358, 318-325، https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2024.05.009
Braun, C., Bourrel-Bouttaz, M., Revol, O., Verdu, V., Montagnon, A., Bérard, F., & Nosbaum, A، (2024)، Atopic Dermatitis and Self-Image Design: A Real-Life Study in Children Using Drawings، Dermatitis: contact, atopic, occupational, drug, 35(S1), S98–S102، https://doi.org/10.1089/derm.2022.0056
Day, M., Heapy, C., Norman, P., Emerson, L، M., Murphy, R., Hughes, O., & Thompson, A، R، (2025)، Impact of childhood psoriasis on children and parents during transition to adolescence: An interpretative phenomenological analysis، British Journal of Health Psychology, 30(1), e12763.
Gallitano, S، M، (2017)، The Influence of Acne Vulgaris on Self-Esteem، Journal (PMC)، PMC
Ghio, D., Greenwell, K., Muller, I., Roberts, A., McNiven, A., & Santer, M، (2021)، Psychosocial needs of adolescents and young adults with eczema: a secondary analysis of qualitative data to inform a behaviour change intervention، British Journal of Health Psychology, 26(1), 214-231، https://doi.org/10.1111/bjhp.12467
Kern C, Wan J, LeWinn KZ, et al، Association of Atopic Dermatitis and Mental Health Outcomes Across Childhood: A Longitudinal Cohort Study، JAMA Dermatol، 2021;157(10):1200–1208، doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2021.2657
Masnari O, Neuhaus K, Schiesti Cand Landolt MA (2022) Psychosocial health and psychological adjustment in adolescents and young adults with congenital melanocytic nevi Analysis of self-reports، Front، Psychol، 13 911830، https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.911830
Masnari O, Neuhaus K, Schiestl C, Landolt MA، Psychosocial health and psychological adjustment in adolescents and young adults with congenital melanocytic nevi: Analysis of self-reports، Front Psychol، 2022 Aug 25;13:911830، doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.911830، PMID: 36160549; PMCID: PMC9497455.
Morshed, A، S، M., Noor, T., Uddin Ahmed, M، A., Mili, F، S., Ikram, S., Rahman, M., Ahmed, S., & Uddin, M، B، (2023)، Understanding the impact of acne vulgaris and associated psychological distress on self-esteem and quality of life via regression modeling with CADI, DLQI, and WHOQoL، Scientific reports, 13(1), 21084، https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-48182-6
Nazik, H., Nazik, S., & Gul, F، C، (2017)، Body Image, Self-esteem, and Quality of Life in Patients with Psoriasis، Indian dermatology online journal, 8(5), 343–346، https://doi.org/10.4103/idoj.IDOJ_503_15
Paller AS, Rangel SM, Chamlin SL, et al، (2024)، Stigmatization and Mental Health Impact of Chronic Pediatric Skin Disorders، JAMA Dermatol;160(6):621–630، doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2024.0594
Provini, L، E، (2021)، Cutaneous body image: A window into the adolescent experience، Pediatric Dermatology، Wiley Online Library
Tuğrul, B., Demirdağ, H، G., Aslan, C., & Muştu Koryürek, Ö، (2023)، An overlooked burden of acne in adolescents: The psychosocial well-being of their families، Anales de Pediatría, 99, 37–43، https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anpedi.2023.04.011
Vilar GN, Santos LA, Sobral Filho JF، Quality of life, self-esteem and psychosocial factors in adolescents with acne vulgaris، An Bras Dermatol، 2015 Sep-Oct;90(5):622-9، doi: 10.1590/abd1806-4841.201533726، PMID: 26560206; PMCID: PMC4631226.
