Intimate closeness can significantly accelerate the healing of skin injuries—especially when combined with a nasal oxytocin spray.
This conclusion was reached by scientists from the University of Zurich, who conducted a clinical study on tissue recovery mechanisms. The work was published in JAMA Psychiatry.
The experiment involved 80 healthy couples. Each participant had four small injuries inflicted on their forearms, after which different combinations of interventions were assigned: an oxytocin spray, special "positive" conversations with their partner, both methods together, or a placebo. The spray or conversations alone did not accelerate healing. However, their combination led to a noticeable improvement, especially in couples who reported regular physical or sexual contact during the week of the experiment.
Participants who maintained intimacy had smaller wounds that healed faster, and their cortisol levels—the stress hormone that inhibits immune processes—decreased. According to the researchers, oxytocin and physical closeness enhance each other, helping the body recover more effectively.
The authors note that such approaches could form the basis for new psychosocial rehabilitation methods—such as in working with patients after injuries or surgeries.
