Dermatitis and Eczema

The price we pay for living in a modern, civilized, sanitized convenience world is that we are in contact with more pollutants, additives, chemicals and detergents than every before. As a direct result, the incidence of allergies has exploded in recent years.

Allergies can take many forms but when manifested as an inflammation of the skin, an allergic reaction is often diagnosed as dermatitis – better known as eczema. That said, there are cases where dermatitis appears without any known cause but, in its commonest form, atopic dermatitis usually affects people with a family history of asthma and hay fever -  the other common allergies. The other most prevalent forms are seborrheic dermatitis and contact dermatitis (eczema).

Serborrheic dermatitis is a red, scaly, itchy rash that develops on the face (particularly the nose and eyebrows), scalp, chest and back. On the scalp, it is the most common form of dandruff. The rash often develops at times of stress but its exact cause is not known. It is believe to be an overreaction to the natural yeasts in the skin and it seems that keeping the yeast levels low helps to keep the condition at bay.

The Orthodox Approach

Applying corticosteroids and/or other drugs to kill the micro-organisms is often helpful. Difficult though it may be, it is important to avoid scratching and, as far as possible, exposure to irritants such as detergents.

In the case of contact dermatitis, the rash is a reaction to some substance that comes into contact with the skin. It may be a direct toxic effect or an allergic response. People who cannot wear cheap earrings without getting sore ears are experiencing a form of contact dermatitis. The most common causes of irritant and allergic contact dermatitis are detergents, nickel (e.g. in bracelets, watch straps, necklaces, fasteners on underwear), chemicals (e.g. in rubber gloves and condoms), certain plants (e.g. ragweed), certain cosmetics and some medication in the form of creams, lotions, or drops. The rash may be treated with corticosteroid medication and, obviously, further contact with the cause of the rash should be avoided. IF the cause is not known, it may be possible to identify the offending substance using a patch test.

Photodermatitis occurs in those whose skin is abnormally sensitive to sunlight. The numerous people who complain of hear rash (itchy spots or blisters that appear in the sun or very hot weather) during their holidays are simply experiencing photodermatitis in its most basic form.

The Hale Approach

Orthodox treatment of dermatitis and eczema is geared towards suppression of symptoms, with little time or effort spent in isolating the cause. Provided your skin problem is not spreading rapidly, itching to the point of distraction, bleeding, or looking infected (with areas of pus or discharge), then treatment along a complementary line is your first step. Topical steroids may be stopped, but it is better to do this under the care of complementary practitioner.

As with psoriasis, both nutrition and stress can play a role in precipitating eczema and other skin problems. The Hale Clinic would first recommend nutritional advice to see if any allergies were aggravating the condition – often dairy foods are the culprit. Sugar, saturated fats, and alcohol can also contribute to the problem. In fact, any foods which put an excessive strain on the liver should be avoided. For some patients adjusting diet is sufficient to prevent eczema, although the changes may have to be permanent if the problem is to be kept at bay. Others may need to combine nutrition with other complementary treatments in order to be able to return to a less restricted diet.

Homeopathy, Ayurveda, and acupuncture are all very effective in dealing with eczema and strengthening a patient’s constitution, although with homeopathy the condition often becomes worse for a short period before clearing up. All these treatments will also reduce the patient’s stress level, which is often a major contributing factor to the complaint.

Hypnotherapy can be very helpful in treating eczema, particularly where it is stress-related. Often the physical condition disappears completely after a change in the patient’s mental attitude. Healing can also be effective, calming the mind and relieving physical symptoms.

The support treatments of aromatherapy and reflexology are also of benefit and trichology can help with any hair problems associate with eczema.

In combination with any of the above treatments T’ai Chi, Chi Kung and yoga will further enhance the healing process.

Acupuncture

In the main, acupuncturists associate eczema with exposure to heat, damp or wind. Treatment would therefore be based on counteracting the effects of these elements and trying to correct any blood or energy deficiencies that may result. Needles would be inserted along the meridians corresponding to the lungs, large intestine, spleen, and stomach. You could hope to see improvement and, in some cases, a total disappearance of the problem in four to eight sessions.

An acupuncturist may recommend a special diet that involves avoiding all alcoholic drinks, coffee, fats, and diary products. A nutritionist may also be involved in helping to work out a specific diet.

Homeopathy

Given that homeopathy treats the body as a whole rather than specific complaints, a homeopath views eczema as an outward sign of an underlying disorder. Obviously, treatment depends on each individual’s very personal case and this can be further complicated if they have previously been prescribed steroid crams by an orthodox practitioner. However, in general terms, Graphites are said to be effective, particularly if the eczema oozes a sticky fluid. If the eczema is particularly itchy at night or if it releases a watery discharge, Petroleum is recommended. If the itching becomes intolerable, Sulphur may be suggested, but its effects should be closely monitored as it often aggravate; in these cases Hepar sulph, Rhus tox and Ignatia often give good results.

Ayurveda

As Ayurveda is a holistic system, a dermatitis condition is never treated in isolation. After a consultation in which you will be asked about your private and professional life, your medical history and eating habits, and given a physical examination, a course of treatment will be recommended. The Ayurvedic method is reported to have had particular success in treating eczema.

This problem could be caused by physical or mental reasons, or simply due to imbalances in the body, or even environmental factors or bad dietary habits. Correctly recognizing the cause is imperative in working out the treatment program. In general, oral preparations are very effective, including various herbs, according to the individual constitution.

Cleansing is also needed.  Maintaining a quality of appetite is an important factor, as are good bowel movements to prevent an accumulation of toxins in the system. Panchakarma (detoxification) treatment is essential.

Supportive Treatments

There are a number of Supportive Treatments that can complement, enhance and, in some cases, accelerate the healing effects of the above therapies. Dermatitis patients have successfully combined the beneficial effects of nutrition (dietary advice and investigation of food intolerances), Buteyko (changing breathing patterns can affect eczema), aromatherapy (the use of essential oils for massage, inhalation or bathing), reflexology (stimulation of pressure points on the feet), hypnotherapy (a therapist induces a state of consciousness between wakefulness and sleep during which time the unconscious healing powers of the body and mind are released), healing (the channelled effects of spiritual energy), Chi Kung (a series of exercises described as “meditation in movement”) and trichology (study and diagnosis using the hair and scalp) as Supportive Treatments to other complementary therapies.

Nutrition

If you notice that your dermatitis is worse or appears after eating certain foodstuffs, these should naturally be avoided. Frequent causes of allergies are milk and milk products, so watch out for these. Other foodstuffs to regard with suspicion are saturated fats, dairy products, alcohol, citrus fruits and, some say, chocolate.