Dr. Grossbart points out that skin troubles may be caused by everyday stresses like an overbearing boss, but that there are often deeper-rooted psychoses at work. "If things are churning that we don't remember and rage about, our skin will attempt to do it for us," he says. So if you aren't expressing feelings about something negative from your past, it's best to work that out mentally instead of letting your face deal with it physically.

Are patients ready to believe that psychological therapy can really affect their skin conditions? "People typically go the medical route first," Grossbart says. "It's quicker and more straightforward. But there are people for whom everything works a little and nothing works enough. At that point, they're open to new methods." Some patients, he says, have emotional issues that keep medical regimes from working to clear the skin. In his book, Skin Deep: A Mind/Body Program for Healthy Skin, he chronicles the story of one young woman who damaged her face from years of scratching at itchy skin. She was diagnosed with eczema, but never got any relief from medicinal treatments until she learned to relax with deep breathing and soothing self-talk ("You don't feel any itch. Your skin is fine.").

Dr. Grossman notes that one-third of his patients have really dramatic improvements with psychodermatology, while another third get significant but not total results. For the rest of his patients, the approach doesn't work. Still, he strongly affirms, "if you feel it in your heart, you won't have to feel it in your skin."