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Clinical music interventions and music therapy in dermatology

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Abstract

Music interventions in medicine have been shown to reduce anxiety and depression, decrease pain, and improve quality of life; however, a review of clinical music interventions in dermatology is lacking. Studies have shown that playing music for patients undergoing dermatologic procedures (Mohs surgery and anesthetic injections) can decrease pain and anxiety. Patients with pruritic conditions—such as psoriasis, neurodermatitis, atopic dermatitis, contact eczema, and situations requiring hemodialysis—have exhibited decreased levels of disease burden and pain when listening to preferred music, pre-chosen music, and live music. Studies suggest that listening to certain types of music may also alter serum cytokines, affecting the allergic wheal response. Additional research is necessary to determine the full potential and practical applications for clinical music interventions in dermatology. Future research should focus on targeting skin conditions that may benefit from the psychological, inflammatory, and immune effects of music.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, 221 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA, 02115, USA

    Grant J. Riew, Kanika Kamal, Baraa Hijaz, Katherine C. Awh & Vinod E. Nambudiri

  2. Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    Grant J. Riew, Kanika Kamal, Baraa Hijaz & Vinod E. Nambudiri

  3. Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Katherine C. Awh

Authors
  1. Grant J. Riew
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  2. Kanika Kamal
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  3. Baraa Hijaz
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  4. Katherine C. Awh
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  5. Vinod E. Nambudiri
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Contributions

GJR, KK, BH, KCA conceived of the project, performed the literature review, and created tables. All authors wrote and reviewed the manuscript. VEN supervised the project.

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Correspondence to Vinod E. Nambudiri.

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Riew, G.J., Kamal, K., Hijaz, B. et al. Clinical music interventions and music therapy in dermatology. Arch Dermatol Res 315, 2485–2490 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00403-023-02634-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00403-023-02634-1

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