Psychodynamics and ego structure in skin disease

Abstract Our theory of ego structure starts from a holistic understanding: that psyche and soma form an inseparable unity, which is embedded in its surrounding groups, society, culture, religion, and nature. The skin is a sensory organ; it marks the boundary between ego and non-ego and forms the contact between inside and outside. In our holistic view of man in illness and health, culture and society, it is a part of human faculties to be creative, to further individual talents and abilities, and to react with illness, as well as to act sexually in the special way of one's ego structure. Therefore, we prefer to speak of psychodynamics of skin disease instead of psychosomatics.