Eczema
★Overview
Eczema (shi chuang) is a common allergic inflammatory skin disorder characterized by polymorphic, often symmetric, intensely itchy, recurrent lesions that may weep; chronic stages show thickened, rough, scaly skin. Chinese medicine attributes it to constitutional sensitivity and dietary irregularity causing the spleen to fail in movement with internal damp-heat, combined with wind invading and lodging in the skin; chronic disease leads to blood deficiency with wind-dryness and loss of skin nourishment.
Pattern differentiation (clinical patterns)
Damp-Heat Inundation (Acute)
Abrupt onset with red hot lesions and incessant itching, dense papules/vesicles, weeping and erosions, vexation, thirst, dry stools, dark urine, red tongue with greasy yellow coating, slippery rapid pulse.
Clear heat and drain dampness; resolve toxicity and stop itching.
Blood Deficiency with Wind-Dryness (Chronic)
Longstanding dark or pigmented, thickened rough scaly lesions with itching worse at night, dry mouth without much thirst, poor appetite and fatigue, pale tongue with thin white coating, fine pulse.
Nourish blood and moisten dryness; expel wind to stop itching.
Connections
Daily care & prevention
Avoid scratching, hot-water washing, and known triggers; wear loose cotton clothing, bathe briefly with lukewarm water, and apply moisturizer liberally afterward. Track and avoid trigger foods or contacts; keep emotions stable and sleep regular. Massage Quchi (LI11), Hegu (LI4), Xuehai (SP10), Sanyinjiao (SP6), and Yinlingquan (SP9). Seek dermatologic care for weeping erosions, infection, or extensive flares.
When to seek medical care
Seek urgent care for rapidly spreading lesions, red-hot swelling, pus, or fever (secondary infection), and severe facial/eye swelling or lip/tongue swelling with breathing difficulty (serious allergy). Infant eczema should be managed under pediatric/dermatologic guidance.