I recently received this question from a community member and wanted to share it with you:
“Hi Nick, I love Tapping and I would like to have your advice on how to tap on skin problems. I know this is a major issue for many people, especially adults with acne prone skin and it can be quite embarrassing. Thank you!”
First, thank you so much for bringing up this important topic. Skin issues can be incredibly frustrating and emotionally challenging, yet they’re often dismissed as merely cosmetic concerns. The truth is, skin problems—whether it’s adult acne, eczema, psoriasis, or other conditions—can profoundly impact our self-esteem, social confidence, and overall quality of life.
What I find fascinating is that our skin, the largest organ of our body, serves as a kind of emotional billboard—often displaying what’s happening beneath the surface in our nervous system, emotional state, and even our deepest beliefs about ourselves. It’s no coincidence that we use phrases like “getting under my skin” or “thick-skinned” to describe emotional states.
Let’s explore how Tapping can help address skin issues from multiple angles, looking at both the physical and emotional components that might be contributing to your skin concerns.
The Skin-Emotion Connection: It’s Not Just in Your Head
When people suggest that skin issues are “just stress-related,” it can feel dismissive. But there’s profound science behind the connection between our emotions, nervous system, and skin health—and understanding this connection can be an important step toward healing.
Your skin and nervous system are intimately connected from the earliest stages of embryonic development. They both form from the same layer of cells (the ectoderm), which might explain why your skin is so responsive to your emotional state. This isn’t just theoretical—it’s why you blush when embarrassed or break out before a big presentation.
“Our skin, the largest organ of our body, serves as a kind of emotional billboard—often displaying what’s happening beneath the surface in our nervous system.”
Research has documented this connection in a field called psychodermatology. Studies show that up to 30% of dermatology patients have significant emotional triggers associated with their skin conditions, and stress has been shown to exacerbate conditions like acne, eczema, psoriasis, and rosacea.
Here’s what happens: When you experience stress or emotional distress, your body releases stress hormones like cortisol. These hormones can:
- Increase inflammation throughout the body, including the skin
- Stimulate oil production in your skin glands
- Impair your skin’s barrier function, making it more vulnerable to irritants
- Slow down healing processes
- Disrupt your skin’s microbiome
This is where Tapping comes in as such a powerful intervention. By regulating your nervous system and reducing stress hormone production, Tapping directly addresses one of the root causes of many skin issues.
The Shame Spiral: How Emotions Make Skin Problems Worse
One of the most painful aspects of skin problems is the emotional cycle they can trigger. This shame spiral can look something like this:
- Skin condition appears or worsens
- Emotional distress increases (shame, anxiety, frustration)
- Stress hormones rise
- Skin condition worsens further
- Emotional distress deepens
- And the cycle continues…
This is where Tapping offers significant help. By directly addressing the nervous system’s stress response, Tapping interrupts this cycle. Rather than getting caught in a loop of stress and heightened emotional reactions about skin conditions, Tapping helps regulate the nervous system, potentially allowing the body to allocate more resources toward healing rather than maintaining a stress response.
The beauty of Tapping is that it works directly with the body’s stress response mechanisms.
As we’ve seen from the materials on nervous system regulation, when we tap while focusing on emotional challenges, we’re sending calming signals directly to the brain’s stress centers, particularly the amygdala. This can help break the automatic connection between skin concerns and heightened stress responses.
Beyond Stress: The Deeper Emotional Patterns Behind Skin Issues
While stress is a significant factor, specific emotional patterns often correlate with skin issues. These aren’t universal, but they’re worth exploring through your Tapping practice:
Boundaries and Protection
The skin is your physical boundary with the world. Skin issues sometimes relate to emotional boundary challenges—feeling exposed, invaded, or unprotected in some area of life. Questions to explore might include:
- Where in my life do I feel my boundaries are being crossed?
- Am I having trouble saying “no” or setting limits with others?
- Do I feel safe in my environment and relationships?
Self-Image and Visibility
Skin conditions, especially on the face, can connect to feelings about being seen. Some questions to consider:
- Is there a part of me that’s afraid to be fully visible?
- Do I feel safe being seen as I truly am?
- Where am I hiding aspects of myself from others?
Unexpressed Emotions
Sometimes skin expresses what we cannot. If you’re holding in anger, resentment, grief, or other emotions, they may find physical expression. Ask yourself:
- What emotions am I not allowing myself to fully express?
- What needs to be said that I’ve been holding back?
- What am I “trying to keep a lid on” in my life?
Perfectionism and Control
Skin conditions can trigger our perfectionistic tendencies and reveal our relationship with control. Consider:
- How does my skin condition challenge my need for control?
- What would it mean to accept imperfection in this area of my life?
- How is perfectionism showing up in other areas of my life?
Let’s dive into some specific Tapping sequences that address these various aspects of skin health.
A Tapping Sequence for Breaking the Skin Shame Spiral
Let’s start with a sequence that addresses the immediate emotional distress that skin problems can cause. This is especially helpful when you’re feeling acute shame or anxiety about your skin.
Take a moment to tune into how you feel about your skin right now. On a scale of 0-10, how intense is your emotional discomfort? Note that number, and let’s begin Tapping.
Tapping on the side of the hand:
“Even though I feel embarrassed about my skin, I deeply and completely accept myself.”
“Even though I hate looking in the mirror right now, I choose to be kind to myself anyway.”
“Even though my skin problems make me feel less confident, I accept all my feelings and I’m open to seeing myself with compassion.”
Eyebrow: “This embarrassment about my skin”
Side of the eye: “I hate looking like this”
Under the eye: “It’s so frustrating and embarrassing”
Under the nose: “I wish my skin would just heal already”
Under the mouth: “This shame about my appearance”
Collarbone: “It makes me want to hide”
Under the arm: “All this frustration about my skin”
Top of the head: “It’s not fair that I have to deal with this”
Eyebrow: “What if my skin never gets better?”
Side of the eye: “I’m so tired of dealing with this”
Under the eye: “It affects how I feel about myself”
Under the nose: “And how I think others see me”
Under the mouth: “It’s exhausting to worry about my skin all the time”
Collarbone: “I’m allowed to feel frustrated about this”
Under the arm: “These feelings are real and valid”
Top of the head: “I acknowledge how hard this has been”
Eyebrow: “But maybe I can ease up on myself a bit”
Side of the eye: “What if I could feel okay even with imperfect skin?”
Under the eye: “My worth isn’t determined by my complexion”
Under the nose: “I’m so much more than my skin condition”
Under the mouth: “I can begin to separate my identity from my skin”
Collarbone: “My skin is just one part of me, not all of me”
Under the arm: “I’m learning to be gentler with myself”
Top of the head: “I can choose self-compassion regardless of how my skin looks today”
Take a deep breath and check in with yourself. How has that number shifted? If there’s still intensity there, continue with another round of Tapping, tweaking the language to match what you’re feeling.
“Your skin’s appearance doesn’t define you, but it can be a messenger guiding you toward deeper healing.”
Tapping on the Root Emotional Patterns
Now let’s go a level deeper and work with potential root emotional patterns that might be contributing to your skin condition. Remember, this isn’t about blaming yourself for your skin problems—it’s about exploring possible connections that your body might be expressing.
Tapping on the side of the hand:
“Even though there might be deeper emotions connected to my skin issues, I’m open to exploring them with compassion.”
“Even though my skin might be expressing what I haven’t been able to say, I’m kind to myself through this process of discovery.”
“Even though this feels vulnerable, I give myself permission to explore these connections safely.”
Eyebrow: “I wonder what my skin might be trying to tell me”
Side of the eye: “If my skin could speak, what would it say?”
Under the eye: “There might be emotions I haven’t fully expressed”
Under the nose: “Maybe my body is carrying what my words haven’t”
Under the mouth: “I’m open to listening to these messages”
Collarbone: “My skin and my emotions are connected”
Under the arm: “This isn’t about blame, it’s about understanding”
Top of the head: “I’m creating safety to explore these connections”
Eyebrow: “There might be stress I haven’t fully processed”
Side of the eye: “There might be boundaries I need to set”
Under the eye: “My skin might be reflecting how exposed I feel”
Under the nose: “Or how I feel about being seen”
Under the mouth: “I’m willing to look at these patterns”
Collarbone: “And release what no longer serves me”
Under the arm: “My body wants to heal”
Top of the head: “And I’m listening to what it needs”
Eyebrow: “I release any shame about this connection”
Side of the eye: “My body and emotions work together”
Under the eye: “This is how humans are designed”
Under the nose: “I’m not broken or wrong”
Under the mouth: “I’m simply learning my body’s language”
Collarbone: “And as I address these emotional patterns”
Under the arm: “I create space for my skin to heal”
Top of the head: “Healing on all levels, inside and out”
Tapping to Support Your Body’s Natural Healing Processes
An important aspect of addressing skin issues is supporting your body’s innate healing capabilities. Your body knows how to heal—sometimes it just needs the right conditions. This sequence focuses on creating those conditions.
Tapping on the side of the hand:
“Even though my skin is struggling right now, I know my body has amazing healing capabilities.”
“Even though I’ve tried so many things already, I trust my body’s wisdom to heal when given the right support.”
“Even though healing takes time, I’m patient with my body’s process and I support it in every way I can.”
Eyebrow: “My body knows how to heal”
Side of the eye: “Every cell has innate wisdom”
Under the eye: “I allow my skin the time it needs”
Under the nose: “My body is working for me, not against me”
Under the mouth: “I can support this natural healing process”
Collarbone: “My skin regenerates and renews”
Under the arm: “I visualize healthy, clear skin”
Top of the head: “My body responds to these positive messages”
Eyebrow: “I release any fight I’ve had with my skin”
Side of the eye: “I’m no longer at war with my body”
Under the eye: “We’re on the same team now”
Under the nose: “Working together for healing”
Under the mouth: “I send love to every cell of my skin”
Collarbone: “Imagining them functioning perfectly”
Under the arm: “My nervous system is calm and balanced”
Top of the head: “Creating the perfect environment for healing”
Eyebrow: “I’m patient with this healing process”
Side of the eye: “Each day brings me closer to healthier skin”
Under the eye: “I notice and celebrate small improvements”
Under the nose: “Even on difficult days, healing is happening”
Under the mouth: “I trust this process”
Collarbone: “My skin is becoming clearer and healthier”
Under the arm: “I’m grateful for my body’s healing abilities”
Top of the head: “My skin is healing more each day”
“By addressing both the outer symptoms and the inner emotional patterns with Tapping, you’re creating the conditions for true, lasting transformation.”
Beyond Tapping: Additional Approaches to Support Skin Health
While Tapping is a powerful tool for addressing the emotional and nervous system components of skin health, a holistic approach often yields the best results. Here are some complementary strategies to consider:
1. Mindful Skin Care
Pay attention to how your skin reacts to different products and treatments. Sometimes less is more when it comes to skin care, especially for sensitive or reactive skin. Consider keeping a skin journal to track correlations between products, foods, stress levels, and skin reactions.
2. Nervous System Support
Beyond Tapping, other practices that support nervous system regulation can benefit skin health:
- Regular, gentle exercise
- Adequate sleep (crucial for skin repair)
- Time in nature
- Breath work
- Meditation
Consider working with a healthcare provider to identify potential food sensitivities that might be affecting your skin.
3. Professional Support
Don’t hesitate to seek professional help from:
- Dermatologists who can provide medical treatment
- Functional medicine practitioners who look at root causes
- Therapists who can help with the emotional impact of skin conditions
- EFT practitioners who can guide deeper Tapping work
The Power of Consistency: Creating Your Tapping Routine for Skin Health
Like any healing practice, consistency with Tapping yields the best results. Here’s a simple routine you might adopt:
- Morning Tapping (5 minutes): Focus on setting a positive tone, releasing anxiety about your skin for the day ahead, and visualizing healing.
- As-Needed Tapping (30-60 seconds as needed): Throughout the day, when you notice yourself feeling stressed about your skin or checking the mirror obsessively, do a quick round of Tapping to interrupt the pattern.
- Evening Tapping (5-10 minutes): Take time for deeper work, perhaps exploring the emotional patterns we discussed earlier or tapping on specific events from the day that triggered skin-related distress.
Remember, healing isn’t linear. You might experience improvements followed by temporary setbacks. This is normal and doesn’t mean Tapping isn’t working. Stay consistent and compassionate with yourself through the process.
A Personal Note on Patience and Self-Acceptance
Skin healing takes time—both the emotional healing we’re addressing through Tapping and the physical healing of the skin itself. Your skin cells have a natural turnover cycle of approximately 28 days, meaning it takes about a month to see the results of changes you make now.
In the meantime, I encourage you to work on separating your sense of self-worth from the condition of your skin. You are whole and worthy exactly as you are, regardless of how your skin looks today.
“What makes people beautiful isn’t perfect skin—it’s their confidence, authenticity, and the light they bring to their interactions with others.”
Some of the most radiant, magnetic people I know have visible skin conditions. What makes them beautiful isn’t perfect skin—it’s their confidence, authenticity, and the light they bring to their interactions with others. Those qualities are available to you right now, independent of your skin’s appearance.
Your Next Steps: Taking Action
I invite you to commit to a 21-day Tapping practice focused on your skin health. This timeframe gives you enough time to begin noticing shifts in both your emotional response to your skin condition and potentially in the condition itself.
Start with 5-10 minutes of Tapping daily, using the sequences above as a starting point and adapting the language to fit your specific situation. You can also use a variety of Tapping meditations in The Tapping Solution App to address different angles and layers. Keep a journal to track both your emotional state and any changes you notice in your skin.
Remember that Tapping works most effectively when we’re specific. If you notice particular thoughts or emotions arising around your skin, tap directly on those. The more precisely you can name and address your feelings, the more powerful your results will be.
I’d love to hear about your experience using Tapping for skin issues. What patterns have you noticed? What shifts have you experienced? Share your journey in the comments below—your insight might be exactly what someone else needs to hear.
Resources to Support Your Journey
To support you further on this journey, here are some helpful resources:
- The Tapping Solution App: Features several meditations that can support skin healing. Here are a few meditations in the app I recommend:
Note: You can access these meditations by clicking the links above using your mobile device, or type the name of the meditation into The Tapping Solution App’s search function.
- Find a Certified EFT Practitioner: For personalized guidance on using Tapping for skin conditions.
- The Tapping Solution for Pain Relief: While focused on specifically pain, this book contains valuable insights on the body-mind connection that can be applied to other symptoms and conditions as well. This book is also available in audiobook format in The Tapping Solution App.
Remember, your skin’s appearance doesn’t define you, but it can be a messenger guiding you toward deeper healing. By addressing both the outer symptoms and the inner emotional patterns with Tapping, you’re creating the conditions for true, lasting transformation.
Wishing you clarity, healing, and peace on your journey!
Until next time… Keep Tapping!
Nick Ortner