A changing face, a body that itchy without respite, a mirror that returns an image that we no longer recognize.
On June 23, 2025, in Paris Santé Campus, the round table “let’s talk dermatology” offered a rare platform to those who live daily with visible dermatological diseases such as vitiligo, nodular prurigo, eczema or psoriasis. Patients, experts, psychologists and representatives of associations shared their experiences, their struggles, but also their hopes.
Under the eye of Dr. Gérald Kierzek, Medical Director of True Medical, speech freed himself on a subject too often relegated to the background: the impact: the impact psychological and social of skin diseasesbeyond their physical symptoms. Because if these pathologies touch the skin, they spare neither morale, relationships, nor access to care.
Breaking stereotypes, a medical and social emergency
“One in two people who have visible dermatosis has already undergone mockery or discrimination“, Recalls Professor Laurent Misery, pioneer of psychododermatology. The link between skin and mental suffering is not only a social consequence: it is also organic. The inflammatory cytokines present in many dermatoses directly affect the brain, favoring Depressions and anxiety disorders.
Thibaut de Valence, an expert patient, describes it without detour:
“Ten years of therapeutic wandering, fifteen years for treatment. The nodular prurigo is fighting every day so as not to tear the skin. We live in permanent failure, until the loss of benchmarks.“”
For him as for others, The diagnosis was a deliverance. By looking, it was in Belgium that a doctor finally put a word on his symptoms, opening the way for targeted treatments.
Same observation for vitiligo, pathology without physical pain but with heavy social consequences. Martine Carré, president of the French Association of Vitiligo, underlines: “What makes you suffer is not the disease is what it causes. The gaze of others, the feeling of being disfigured, school rejection …“. It denounces a long medical denial, where the disease was considered a simple aesthetic problem.
“Love is contagious. Not vitiligo” will also be the slogan of their next awareness campaign.
Faced with invisible suffering, the importance of global support
At Saint-Louis Hospital, Céline Le Bivic, clinical psychologist, campaigned for a person-centered approach:
“”The challenge is time. Understand what we live, dare to talk about it, adapt to a new body, a new self -image. “
She also alerts The destructive role of stress misunderstood: “It is not the patient’s fault. It is not their anxiety that creates the disease. But she can worsen her, and make him believe is guilty. “
Psychic care must be an integral part of the dermatological care path. Not necessarily with heavy follow -up, but at least with listening, orientation, recognition. Still too few hospital services incorporate joint dermatologist/psychologist, for lack of human resources.
THE social networks Also play an ambivalent role. For Julie Bourges, known under the pseudo “February 12”, seriously burned at 16, Instagram was first an escape.
“”I took years to show my scars in real life. On the networks, I was free. But with the current virality, you have to be very well accompanied. “
If the networks offered her a space of expression, she alerts the dangers of an uncontrolled exhibition.
“I was stuck in the positive body label, but I never chose to be burned. Accepting your body is not finding it beautiful is learning to live with it.”
A strong shade, which recalls that behind the likes, there are complex and often painful routes.
Testimonials, mutual aid and new solutions: how to live better with your skin
The stigma of skin diseases is a fight with several fronts. That of the patients first, who claim to be listened to, neat, understood. That of professionals, who call for reinforced training in psychododermatology. That of associations, which are committed to inform, guide, supportwhile fighting against online disinformation.
The round table stakeholders agree on a series of levers to activate:
- Strengthen doctors training Generalists and dermatologists on global management, including psychological;
- Multiply Expert centers and reduce diagnostic times;
- Value the experience sharing between patients via associations;
- Create consumer communication campaigns against popular belief (non-container, hygiene, etc.);
- Support it Identity reconstruction after effective reset or treatment;
- More health content disseminated by influencers.
Thibaut expresses it with disarming lucidity:
“When we are better, everything stops. And there, the void. We held so long, that we collapse when we let go. This is where we need help, not that we are letting go.”
Because a skin disease is never just a case of skin. It is a matter of life.