A Beverley skincare and facial touch specialist has been invited to address delegates at a conference in Oxford later this year.
Dr Katerina Steventon will address delegates at the BFRB Con 2026 on the subject of Redirecting the Urge: Affective Touch as a Targeted Sensory Intervention for Body-focused Repetitive Behaviours (BFRBs) at the conference in Oxford on October 8th to 10th.
The 1.5 day scientific programme will convene dermatologists, psychologists, neuroscientists, practitioners and experts by experience plus people with live with BFRBs for a series of structured sessions, panel discussions. poster presentations and talks from both invited speakers and selected abstracts. Understanding the skin–brain relationship, and what it means for assessment, treatment, and interdisciplinary care, is a central theme of this year’s conference.
Dr Steventon is delighted to be invited to speak at the event which brings together cutting-edge scientific research, clinical practice, innovation and lived experience, and seeks to change the way body-focused repetitive BFRBs in healthcare, research and society are approached:
“BFRBs, including skin picking and hair pulling, provide temporary relief despite causing physical damage and psychological distress. While current interventions focus on awareness and competing motor responses, little attention has been paid to the sensory processes that precede these behaviours. Many individuals describe entering a trance-like state characterised by intense attentional narrowing and reduced access to cognitive control, suggesting an underexplored opportunity for intervention.
“During my session, I will explore whether affective self-touch can act as a competing sensory stimulus during the transition into, or emergence from, the trance-like state associated with BFRBs.
“Exploring the relationship between touch, altered states of consciousness and repetitive behaviour offers a novel direction for BFRB research, and I’m looking forward to discussing it with attendees, including professionals and people who live with, or support those with, BFRBs.”
Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviours (BFRBs) are a group of complex mental health disorders that are characterised by the uncontrollable urge to pull, pick, scratch, cut, or bite one’s own skin, hair, or nails. These behaviours are not simply “bad habits”; they are often chronic, difficult to control, and associated with high levels of emotional distress. They can have profound impact on everyday life, including work, education, relationships, and general social functioning. Despite affecting an estimated 4 million people in the UK and Ireland alone, BFRBs remain widely misunderstood and heavily stigmatised.
The Leo Foundation-supported conference takes place in the Life and Mind Building (LaMB), which is a new teaching and research facility in Oxford’s city and home to the University of Oxford’s Department of Experimental Psychology and the Department of Biology. Organisers are expecting around 300 attendees.
Dr Steventon is a clinician and published author with a proven track record of translating skin science into societal impact and commercial solutions. She has pioneered the integration of psychodermatology into personal care, merging skin health with emotional well-being to empower consumers and brands. She promotes facial skincare and touch therapy as a tool for healthy skin and mental well-being.
Photo: Clinician, author and speaker Dr Katerina Steventon Dr Katerina Steventon
