Why Mental Health Deserves the Same Care as Your Skin Routine?

Last Updated:May 28, 2025, 11:31 IST

What if we treated our mental health with the same daily care and compassion we give our skin?

“As a dermatologist, I often meet patients who are meticulous about their skincare — double cleansing, layering serums, tracking ingredients. But as a life coach, I also meet the same people wrestling silently with stress, self-doubt, or burnout,” says Dr. Aparna Santhanam, Dermatologist and Holistic Wellness Coach.

“What strikes me most is this: we’re so tuned in to every breakout or patch of dryness on our skin, but we often ignore the emotional undercurrents that cause them,” adds Dr Santhanam.

Your skin, after all, tells stories your mind sometimes tries to silence — stress-induced acne, eczema flares from anxiety, hair loss from burnout. “I’ve seen it on faces, in consultation rooms, and behind seemingly perfect routines,” opines Dr Santhanam.

What if we treated our mental and emotional health the same way we treat a skin concern — with patience, gentle inquiry, and daily care?

Coaching offers that space — not to fix, but to explore. It helps you notice the unkind stories you tell yourself, or the invisible expectations you carry. It teaches you to pause, reflect, and realign with what really matters to you.

Try this: Just as you cleanse and moisturize, take five minutes daily to journal. Ask, “What do I need today?” or “Where did I override myself to please someone else?” These small questions are like emotional toners — they bring clarity.

And just as skin needs rest from over-exfoliation, your mind needs rest from constant doing. Honour that. Sit still. Breathe.

Because in the end, your skin may be your canvas — but your mind is the quiet artist behind it. And the truth is, inner care and inner beauty always find a way to reflect outward — in your eyes, your energy, your overall well-being.

Both deserve your time, care, and compassion.

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