Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41393358›Full record

ArticleJAAD international2026

The brain-skin connection: A narrative review of neuroendocrine and immune pathways.

Chang Chuen Tan, Krystal Valerie Soh, Eugene Wang, Ellie Ci-En Choi

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in JAAD international, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Review
  3. Review
  4. Article
  5. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Chang Chuen TanDepartment of Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
Krystal Valerie SohDepartment of Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
Eugene WangDepartment of Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
Ellie Ci-En ChoiDepartment of Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Stress is a well-established trigger for many skin diseases; yet its biological mechanisms are poorly understood. Objective: To synthesize current evidence on brain-skin pathways, emphasizing key mediators and feedback loops that explain how stress exacerbates skin disease and vice versa. Methods: A comprehensive search through August 25, 2025, using terms related to brain-skin communication, psychodermatology, and stress-related pathophysiology included both in-vivo and in-vitro animal and human studies. Results: 159 articles were included and synthesized. Key findings highlight a bidirectional brain-skin axis involving the brain and pituitary, adrenal glands, peripheral nerves and skin. Stress triggers the brain and pituitary to release corticotropin-releasing hormone and adrenocorticotropic hormone; adrenal glands to secrete cortisol, catecholamines and androgens; and peripheral nerves to release neuropeptides such as Substance P and calcitonin gene-related peptide. These are implicated in skin inflammation while skin-derived mediators (cytokines, chemokines, neurotrophins) may disrupt and cross the blood-brain barrier, amplifying neuroinflammation, and psychiatric symptoms. Together, these form a self-sustaining feedback perpetuating both dermatologic and psychological disease. Limitations: Much of the mechanistic understanding is derived from animal models; high-quality human data remain limited. Conclusion: Understanding the brain-skin axis identifies therapeutic targets and guides future research on stress-related skin disease.

Indexed as

acneatopic dermatitisbidirectional communicationbrain-skin axiscytokineshypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axisimmune pathwaysinflammationmental healthneuroendocrineneuroimmunepsoriasispsychodermatologyskin barrierstressSubstance P

Identifiers

PMID41393358
PMCPMC12701686

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.