TREATING ECZEMA WITH HOMEOPATHY
Introduction: Eczema (dermatitis) means inflammation of the epidermis (the outer layer of the skin). Many patients present with the local symptoms of the skin, but few present with constitutional symptoms.
Types: There are different types of eczemas.
- Atopic
- Seborrhoeic
- Discoid
- Asteatotic
- Lichen simplex chronicus
- Contact
- Venous
Atopic Dermatitis: This is the most common type of eczema affecting the face and flexures of limbs in infants, children, adolescents and young adults. It is extremely itchy of unknown cause. There is constant scratching and rubbing causing exocriations and chronic thickening of the skin known as lichenification. This is due to epidermal hypertrophy as well as oedema and inflammation of the epidermis.
In many patients there is scaling of the skin. Commonly involved areas include face, back of the knees, the antecubital fossae (front of the elbow) and the wrists.
Patients with atopic eczema often also suffer from asthma and hay fever. These three atopic disorders cluster in families and their tendency is inherited. Aberrant immune response play an important part in their development. Blood levels of IgE antibodies is elevated.
Seborrhoeic dermatitis: It characteristically occurs in hairy areas, on the flexures and on the central parts of the trunk. Red, itchy patches appear at the affected sites, which may become either scaly or exudative and crusted.
Discoid eczema: It presents as red, scaly, rounded areas on the arms and legs.
Asteatotic eczema: It is an uncommon disorder that occurs on the extensor aspects of the limbs of elderly subjects and is characterized by ‘crazy paving’ appearance. Skin is pink, roughened and superficially fissured, giving a crazed appearance.
Lichen simplex chronicus: This is an intensely pruritic rash, characterized by thickening and exaggeration of the skin surface markings. The lesions are raised, irregular red plaques with well-defined margins, which have exaggerated skin markings over the scaling surface. It itching is intense and persistent than the affected site may become very thickened, raised and excoriated.
Primary irritant contact dermatitis: It results from direct contact with toxic ‘irritating’ materials. Scaly, red and fissured areas appear on the irritated skin. The hands are most frequently affected. Contact with alkalis, organic solvents, detergent substances, cement and particulate waste is often responsible.
Allergic contact dermatitis: Eczematous rash develops after contact with an agent to which delayed (cellular) hypersensitivity has developed. Rash develops at site of skin contact with the allergen, but it may spread out. Allergens could be metals like nickel, certain chemicals and drugs applied topically or taken orally.
Venous eczema: It occurs on the lower legs and is the result of chronic venous hypertension. Itchy, pink, scaling areas develop on area of chronic venous hypertension on the legs. They are around venous ulcers. In most cases venous eczema develops due to hypersensitivity to substances like neomycin, lanolin used to treat venous ulcer.
Role of homeopathy: Eczema does not appear as a result of external causes, it appear from cause within the body. So external treatment with topical applications, ointments may remove the external eruption and drive the disease into the interior of the body leading to some other chronic disease.
Homeopathy cures not only the external skin symptoms of eczema but also takes into consideration the symptoms of other parts of the body and mind. In this way the cure is permanent and complete along with the removal of external symptoms of eczema.
This is the reason why same homeopathic medicine cannot be given to every patient with eczema as the medicines are not given on disease symptoms alone but on totality of symptoms of disease as well as person suffering from disease.
Some homeopathic medicines indicated in eczema along with their indications for eczema:
Arsenic alb: Dryness of skin with inability to perspire. Eruptions with burning pains. Dry, rough and scaly eruptions. It is worse from cold and scratching. Itching is intense, must scratch until it bleeds.
Bovista: Eruptions from cosmetics (contact dermatitis). Intense itching over coccyx, not ameliorated from scratching. Itching is worse from warmth. Deep impression on the skin from blunt instruments. Eczema is moist with formation of thick crusts. Pellagra.
Calcarea sulph: Skin unhealthy, discharging pus. Eruptions does not heal easily. Eruptions with yellow purulent crusts or discharge. Yellowish scabs. Dry eczema in children.
Cicuta virosa: Eruptions, especially about the face, mouth, and hands, become purulent and form thick, yellow massive crusts. Eruptions with burning pain when touched. Eczema without itching. Suppressed eruptions cause brain disease.
Graphites: Skin dry, rough, that breaks easily. Tendency to thickened indurations of the skin. Moist eruptions, but always with tendency to cracks. The cracks ooze a gelatinous moisture. Sore and burning pains. Soreness in folds of the skin with oozing of corrosive, sticky moisture. Skin becomes moist after scratching. Itching worse from warmth.
Hepar sulph: Skin is unhealthy. Every little injury suppurates. Skin is very sensitive to slightest cold and to touch. Deep cracks on hands and feet. Foul, moist eruptions in folds of skin. Offensive odor from the body. Tendency to abscesses and boils.
Lycopodium: Violent itching, fissured eruptions. Chronic eczema associated with urinary, gastric and hepatic disorders. Eruptions bleed easily. Skin becomes thick and indurated. Offensive secretions. Viscid and offensive perspiration especially of feet and axilla. Abscesses beneath the skin. Skin is dry and wrinkled.
Mezereum: Itching worse at night and heat. Itching aggravated by scratching with burning. Desquamation over the whole body. Eczema on the face of a child, which is constantly scratched until it bleeds. Eczema with tendency to ulceration and form scabs, from under which pus exudes. Eczema of face or anywhere in body with formation of scabs and oozing of offensive matter.
Natrum mur: Eruptions with itching worse from warmth. Vesicular eruption around the mouth especially below the nose with burning. Greasy, oily skin especially on hairy parts. Crusty eruptions on bends of limbs, margin of scalp, behind ears. Eczema raw, red and inflamed worse at seashore and eating salt.
Petroleum: Skin unhealthy, dry, rough and cracked, leathery. Moist eruptions with cracking and rawness. Cracks bleed easily. Thick, greenish crusts, burning and itching. Parts become cold after scratching. Fissures in the tips of the fingers, aggravated by cold weather.
Sepia: Skin is rough. Yellow or brownish spots, particularly on face and neck. Itching in bends of elbows and knees. Skin becomes rough and moist after scratching, which somewhat relieves. Thick crusts form upon the joints.
Sulphur: Dry burning and itching eruptions, like nettle-rash or like fine papular eruptions. Itching with burning, in various parts of the body, worse by scratching, which causes burning. Itching worse at night in the heat of the bed, with restlessness. Eruptions that are scratched tend to ulcerate and exude an offensive discharge. The skin symptoms are worse from bathing. Skin is unhealthy. Excoriations on fold of the skin.
