Will the New Order of Touch Leave a Lasting Mark on the Skin?

Touch is as indispensable for gynaecological examinations and treatments as it is for early childhood development, for people’s well-being, or for the social cohesion of a group. Based on early touch, every human being develops a skin ego (Anzieu). Touch is communicated through different senses. People touch each other with their eyes, with their hands, with sounds, with scents and other smells. It is also possible to touch with language, with the content of what is said. During the Corona pandemic, established orders of touch (Lindemann) were drastically interfered with by legal regulations. In the meantime, the rules of the new order of touch have been largely revoked. To assess whether the experience of bodily isolation during the pandemic has left a lasting mark on the skin, we need to cautiously approach our patients’ skin ego, its vulnerability and its capabilities.