How can TCM help with eczema problems? (photos)

Doctor's Answers 2

Eczema is a recurrent skin disease and can become chronic if not treated promptly and completely.
From the pictures that you have shared, your skin appears dry and red at the localized affected areas and this will definitely cause much unbearable itchiness to you especially at night time, under hot and humid weather, whenever you are overly stressed or lack of sufficient sleep.

This type of eczema could also be easily triggered after consuming too much spicy and fried food.

Causes

In TCM, the basic underlying cause for eczema is weak digestive system causing build up of dampness-heat in the body and subsequently contracting exogenous “wind” that in combine manifest as eczema.

The cause for weak digestive system is usually attributed to unhealthy lifestyle that typically prefers spicy and fried food and indulgence in sweetened food etc. Too much of the abovementioned food undermined the function of the digestive system and gradually leads to build up of “dampness-heat” in the system.

The condition further influences other organs that mainly implicate the heart, lungs and the liver which will display as different forms of eczema as the disease progresses.

From just the pictures provided, your condition might have further exhausted Yin and Blood in your body. However a complete and an accurate diagnosis could only be possible when we have checked your tongue and pulse and getting more information from you.

Treatments

The main form of treatment for eczema in TCM is through customized herbal prescriptions and this could be combined with acupuncture according to the condition that will require in-depth consultation and diagnosis.

For your case, herbal medications that help to nourish Yin and Blood could be needed. However a complete diagnosis is needed to come to final conclusion for your treatment.

Advice

Stay away from hot bath and wash;

Try your best not to scratch the localized area to prevent infections;

Avoid spicy and fried food, seafood, chicken, mutton etc and reduce on usage of spices;

In your case, moisturize your skin at least 2 times per day and ensure you have sufficient sleep of at least 7 hours and try to rest before 10pm; Keep away from direct strong sunlight exposure, keep your skin cool.

Hopefully my explanation above helps.
Best Regards.

In TCM terms, eczema is usually caused by deficiencies in the spleen, kidney and liver, coupled with pathogenic factors of wind, heat and dampness. As per the previous section, where we explained that the onset of eczema could be due to various factors, similarly in TCM, how eczema occurs in patients are vastly different.

Firstly, let’s explore what is the pathogenic factor – Wind[1]. We may not be able to see wind, but like its moving characteristic, this pathogenic factor is often the reason why your eczema rashes are itchy, have sporadic occurrences and appear in different locations. Therefore using herbs with wind-clearing properties will be able to remove this pathogenic factor from our bodies. The wind is related to the liver, which is in turn linked to stress and emotional regulation. Hence, patients tend to observe flare-ups under stress or menstrual cycles. If you suffer from hay fever on top of your eczema or have allergic reactions to pollen, wind is likely a causation factor to your eczema as wind is a spring qi.

In TCM, wind does not travel alone and often brings along heat and/or dampness hand-in-hand. These 2 pathogenic factors could result from internal or external reasons. If you are often exposed to heat or humidity (like Singapore), it is difficult to prevent these pathogenic factors from entering your body. It is advisable to regulate your immunity and body constitution to reduce their impact.

According to TCM principles, the spleen is responsible for converting the food you eat into useful substances like qi and blood that nourishes our body. However, when the spleen is weakened by an imbalanced diet, excessive cold/cooling food or excessive worrying, nutrients are instead transformed into internal dampness, instead of qi and blood. Signs of internal dampness coupled with weakened spleen are presented as:

  • lethargy,
  • heavy limbs,
  • brain fog,
  • food coma,
  • sticky or loose stools.

Eczema presentation are pus-filled blisters, swollen, often appear at creases of skin and takes a long time to heal.

Internal dampness will generate internal heat when it is accumulated in the body over a prolonged period. Patients who keep late nights, feast on fried/greasy foods tend to accumulate internal heat within the body. This internal heat is similar to chronic inflammation of the skin and presents with red/dusky rashes, cracked skin with flakes, burning sensation, blistering or with infected pus. Accompanied systemic symptoms include thirst, bad breath, constipation, yellow urine, sweat and scared of heat.

Herbal medication - Specific to eczema issues, herbs such as fang feng 防风 or bai ji li 白蒺藜 are added to the prescription to dispel wind. If the rashes are red and burning to the touch, we can use tu fu ling 土茯苓 or jin yin hua 金银花 to dissipate heat and fire as they help to calm down the inflammation.

Acupuncture - In one study regarding acupuncture and kidney functions, acupuncture was used to stimulate one point on the arm called ‘Large Intestine 11’ in one group of patients. A placebo treatment, which did not stimulate a significant point on the body, was used in another group. The researchers found that the patients who underwent the acupuncture treatment reported a significant reduction in itch, while the placebo group reported no significant change.

Not all eczema conditions have the same root cause so it is best to consult our physicians to get the diagnosis right! Hope this helps!

References

1. Hon K, Chan B, Leung P. Chinese herbal medicine research in eczema treatment. Chinese Medicine.

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