Psychodermatology: Believing is Seeing

By: Alex Voigt, Cosmetics & Toiletries magazine, with Linda Papadopoulos, PhD, and Bruce Green

Posted: April 1, 2009, from the April 2009 issue of Cosmetics & Toiletries.

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Panel Testing
Beyond skin benefits, once mood and immunity were added to the range, consumer testing was carried out, primarily via blind studies. Hundreds of product samples and placebos were sent to test subjects, along with questionnaires. These questionnaires focused on observed results; psychological aspects were considered secondary so as not to lead the subjects’ opinions and cause the placebo effect.

“We know that if a person thinks a product produces results, they will see results,” explained Green. “We asked questions like: ‘What do you think?’ ‘How did you like it?’ and, ‘Did it make you feel different about yourself?’” The formulation process continued as the testing narrowed down formula variations to eventually reach the final products.

Thinking Skin Healthy Papadopoulos noted that while basic skin care is important to achieving healthy skin, psychodermatology is about more than just topical treatments, saying “habituation and positive behavioral changes are important in order to strengthen the link between the central nervous system and the skin.”

References
1. www.aafp.org/afp/20011201/1873.html (Accessed Feb 16, 2009)
2. www3.interscience.wiley.com/journa/ 118740620/abstract?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0 (Accessed Feb 16, 2009)
3. www.isapp.net/docs/Consumer_Guidelines_prebiotic.pdf (Accessed Feb 16, 2009)