Homeopathic treatment
Before delving into homeopathic treatment let us first discuss the conventional or allopathic treatment available.
In allopathic / conventional treatment there is no cure for atopic dermatitis eczema,
but there are a number of ways to relieve it. They are as follows:
- Topical steroids may be prescribed to reduce skin inflammation during an eczema
or atopic dermatitis flare-up. Side effects include steroid rosacea, glaucoma, tachyphylaxis
(Tolerance the skin develops to the vasoconstrictive action of topical steroids)
and so on.
- Topical immunomodulators are relatively new drugs available for use in treating
atopic dermatitis or eczema. They include tacrolimus (Protopic) and pimecrolimus
(Elidel). Side effects are itching and feeling of heat at the site of application
of ointment.
In contrast homeopathy does not believe in suppressing the symptoms of internal
derangement. The homeopathic treatment considers the overall susceptibility of the
individual to factors such as family history (genetic predisposition), sensitivity
to certain food, allergens, metals and chemicals. The doctor prescribes internal
remedies capable of correcting these factors.
It is more dangerous to apply allopathic ointments, lotions than leaving the lesions
as it is.
In allopathy / conventional treatment systemic corticosteroids are sometimes prescribed
in very severe cases. Oral prednisone and injected triamcinalone (Kenalog) are examples.
Even stronger medications such as cyclosporine A (Neoral) are sometimes used in
severe cases. Adverse effects from prolonged courses or high doses of systemic steroids
may include:
- Increased risk of skin infections such as bacterial infections (e.g. cellulitis)
and fungal infections (e.g. tinea, candida).
- Skin thinning resulting in easy bruising (purpura), skin tearing after minor injury,
slow healing, and stretch marks (striae).
- Acne: clusters of small spots on face, chest and upper back.
- Subcutaneous lipoatrophy (loss of fat under the skin surface) from injected steroid
that does not go deep enough into the muscle.
In allopathic / conventional treatment antihistamines, such as hydroxyzine (Atarax,
Vistaril) and doxepin (Sinequan), may be prescribed to control itching. They may
cause drowsiness, dizziness, headache, loss of appetite, stomach upset, vision changes,
irritability, dry mouth and nose.
Antibiotics are given to treat the secondary infections.
In contrast homeopathy helps in correcting the altered immune system of the patient
responsible for atopic dermatitis or eczema. In homeopathy individualized treatment
is given. To find the proper remedy a doctor collects all the past medical history
of the person, his / her family history, his / her physical and psychological characteristics
and so on. All this information helps the homeopath to find a remedy which not only
will remove the atopic dermatitis or eczema but will also remove the disposition
to acquire such diseases.
Body stands as one unit and all organs whether it may be skin, kidney, lungs, brain
and so on are linked some way or the other and disorder in one part can easily affect
the other. For example stress can worsen many diseases including atopic dermatitis
or eczema. It is homeopathy which will direct its treatment towards relieving stress
not any other mode of treatment. It is a well known fact in the modern medicine
that eczema like Atopic dermatitis is due to the inheritance of the allergy factor
from either of the parents. So when a homeopath treats, he treats this inherited
tendency to the disease so as to provide long lasting betterment.
Homoeopathic approach not only successfully removes the atopic dermatitis or eczema
but also removes the possibility of development of other hypersensitivity disorders
like asthma after the atopic dermatitis or eczema is cured.
How homeopathy helps
- The medicines clear up the skin by improving the blood supply of the area affected
with atopic dermatitis or eczema.
- The remedies remove the tendency of secondary infections at the site of atopic dermatitis
or eczema by various microorganisms.
- The treatment removes the tendency to further develop the problem.
In a study conducted at Nehru Homoeopathic Medical College, a total number of 265
cases 154 (Males) and 111 (Females) of different types of allergic dermatitis:
94 cases of infective eczematoid dermatitis, 65 cases of pompholyx, 48 cases of
nummular dermatitis, 30 cases of contact dermatitis, 7 cases of atopic dermatitis,
5 cases of drug induced dermatitis, 3 cases of photo dermatitis and 13 cases of
non-specific dermatitis were included in the study for a period of 5 years (1993-1998).
Out of these 31 (11.7%) cases were dropped out of study for various reasons of not
complying with the study design. Out of 234 reporting cases, 67 (25.2%) were completely
cured, 34 cases (12.8%) had marked improvement and 104 (39.2%) cases had improvement
ranging from mild to moderate degree. Only 28 (10.5%) cases got no relief and only
one case became worse after treatment. The results clearly show that homeopathy
is effective in the management of allergic dermatitis. With treatment complete recovery
without relapses is possible.
There are 196 homeopathy remedies which give great relief in atopic dermatitis or
eczema. However, the correct choice and the resulting relief is a matter of experience
and right judgment on the part of the doctor. The treatment is decided after thorough
case taking of the patient. Thus medicines are designer made unlike allopathy in
which all patients receive the same drugs although trade name may be different.
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What is atopic dermatitis or eczema
The word "dermatitis" means inflammation of the skin. "Atopic" refers to diseases
that are hereditary, tend to run in families, and often occur together.
Atopic dermatitis or eczema is a skin disease characterized by areas of severe itching,
redness, scaling, and loss of the surface of the skin (excoriation).The skin of
a patient with atopic dermatitis or eczema reacts abnormally and easily to irritants,
food, and environmental allergens and becomes red, flaky and very itchy. The skin
also becomes vulnerable to surface infections caused by bacteria.
It is the most common of the many types of eczema. This disorder usually affects
young children on the face and extensor surfaces of the arms and legs (elbow and
knee sides). Older children and adults are usually affected on the sides of the
neck and on the inside of the elbow and knee.
It is usually associated with other allergic disorders like asthma.
Atopic dermatitis is very common worldwide and increasing in prevalence. It affects
males and females equally and accounts for 10-20% of all referrals to dermatologists.
More than 15 million people in the United States have symptoms of the disease. It
is not contagious.
Itch Scratch Cycle in Atopic Dermatitis or Eczema
Mild itching makes the patient scratch the skin. But scratching damages the skin,
worsens inflammation, irritates surface nerves, and leads to even more intense itching
than you had before. This cycle aggravates and prolongs all of these rashes.
Causes
The exact cause of atopic dermatitis is not known. It is believed to be caused by
a combination of environmental and genetic factors, but the exact cause is not known.
Stress can make the symptoms worse, but it does not cause the disease.
Symptoms
Symptoms of atopic dermatitis according to the age group involved are:
- Infants present with red, scaly, oozy, crusty cheeks, and the neck, arms, and legs
are involved. Symptoms clear in about half of these children by the time they are
2 or 3 years old.
- In older children, the folds on the arms and behind the knees can become dry, thick,
scaly, and very itchy. Atopic dermatitis typically becomes less severe as the child
matures.
- In young adults, symptoms typically appear on the face, neck, hands, feet, fingers,
and toes. Most of the lesions are thickened, leathery, and dull-looking.
Symptoms can also be divided into:
- Acute lesions: These include extremely itchy reddened papules (small solid eruptions
resembling pimples) and vesicles (small blister-like elevations in the skin surface
that contain tissue fluid) over erythematous (reddened) skin. Acute lesions produce
a watery exudate and are often accompanied by exfoliation (scaling or peeling of
layers of skin) and erosion (destruction of the skin surface).
- Subacute lesions: These are characterized by reddening, peeling, and scaling but
are less severe than acute lesions and do not produce an exudate.
- Chronic lesions: These are characterized by thickened plaques of skin, lichenification,
and fibrous papules. It is possible for a patient with chronic atopic dermatitis
to have all three types of lesions at the same time.
Factors that worsen atopic dermatitis or eczema
- Long, hot baths or showers
- Dry skin
- Stress
- Sweating
- Rapid changes in temperature
- Low humidity
- Solvents, cleaners, soaps or detergents
- Wool or man-made fabrics or clothing
- Dust or sand
Diagnosis
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Major features
- Intense itching
- Characteristic rash in typical locations
- Chronic or repeated symptoms
Minor features
- Early age at onset
- Xerosis - Dry, rough skin
- Pityriasis alba: Patches of hypopigmented, or lighter, skin. This occurs more often
in infants than in older children
- Ichthyosis: Severe dryness and scaling of the skin causing it to look like fish
scales
- Hyperlinear palms and soles : Dry, prominent, permanent creases in the palms and
soles
- Keratosis pilaris: Fine, flesh-colored or slightly red plugs on the backs of the
arms, the outside of the thighs, buttocks, and face
- Hand or foot dermatitis : Glistening red, scaling, and cracking skin on the hands
or feet
Self care
- Avoid rough, scratchy, tight clothing and woolens
- Avoid frequent use of soaps, hot water, and other cleansing procedures that tend
to remove natural oil from the skin.
- Take bath only once as far as possible.
- Washcloths and brushes should not be used while bathing
- After bathing, the skin should be patted dry (not rubbed) and then immediately (before
it dries completely) covered with a thin film of moisturizer cream or ointment.