AbstractThis article reviews findings from clinical observation, developmental research, and research in the neurosciences that demonstrate the developmental significance of skin as an organ of perception, and the importance of appropriate tactile cutaneous stimulation within the context of the mother‐child relationship for healthy physical and emotional development. Psychological regression to that emotional developmental level in inherently predisposed individuals under stress is invoked to account for stress‐induced or stress perpetuated skin symptoms, and stress‐triggered pathophysiologic mechanisms are described. A classification of psychocutaneous disease is offered as a guide to evaluation and treatment and the possible operative psychopathophysiologic pathways are discussed.Complete dermatologic evaluation and treatment must include consideration of possible stress effects and stress mechanisms; the somatopsychic effect‐as‐stress also cannot b