Springtime flare-ups: Doctors offer tips for managing eczema.

With the arrival of the humid and hot spring, the bothersome eczema begins to flare up again.

As spring arrives, the large temperature difference between day and night, coupled with the humid and hot weather, makes it difficult for sweat to evaporate, making eczema prone to flare-ups. Patients experience unbearable itching and suffering; in severe cases, in addition to enduring physical pain, they may also experience insomnia, affecting their mental and emotional health. We have invited Dr. Huang Jingjing, a registered Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner at Chia Yu Yan He Chinese Medicine Clinic, to explain the precautions for eczema care and methods to relieve symptoms, allowing you to more comfortably enjoy the returning spring days.

Depressing Weather Triggers Symptoms

Eczema, also known as "eczema," is characterized by its symmetrical distribution and can easily cause itchy, red, or oozing skin. Dr. Huang said, "The causes of eczema are related to congenital genetics, diet, lifestyle, and living environment. High humidity in spring and summer, and poor sweat evaporation, can worsen eczema symptoms. Furthermore, humid weather can easily make people feel depressed and irritable, which in turn affects sleep and leads to liver qi stagnation, increasing the chances of triggering eczema or causing recurring symptoms." She also pointed out that the distribution of eczema differs between adults and infants. Adults often see it in areas like the elbows and knees, while severe eczema can spread all over the body in coin-sized lesions. In infants, eczema mostly appears on the face and limbs.

Acute and Chronic Eczema: Different Treatments

Eczema is divided into acute and chronic forms. Dr. Huang says that acute eczema flare-ups are often accompanied by damp-heat in the stomach and intestines, so dietary attention is necessary. She points out, "If patients eat a lot of meat, sweets, or spicy and fried foods, it will worsen the symptoms, causing the skin to ooze fluid, become itchy, and swollen." She recommends drinking more medicinal soups that clear heat, remove dampness, and promote urination, such as those made with Smilax glabra and mung beans, to control symptoms. For young children, 30 grams of chrysanthemum can be boiled for 5 minutes, then diluted with water to 37℃~40℃ before bathing, which can clear heat, dispel wind, and relieve itching. Regarding patients with chronic eczema, Dr. Huang emphasized that the causes are often more closely related to emotional stress and skin immunity. Therefore, it is crucial to focus on improving mood and skin hydration, and to avoid consuming warming and drying foods such as beef, lamb, seafood, and spicy or fried foods.

Acupressure and acupuncture combined

Dr. Huang points out that eczema patients need to focus on removing dampness and toxins. They can frequently massage the Quchi (LI11) and Xuehai (SP10) acupoints according to their individual conditions. The former has the effects of clearing away pathogenic heat, benefiting joints, dispelling wind and dampness, and regulating qi and blood. It has a better anti-itch and fever-reducing effect on eczema appearing on the upper body. As for the Xuehai acupoint, it mainly treats blood-related diseases, can regulate blood and blood, and relieve eczema caused by qi and blood deficiency and insufficient blood nourishing the skin, as well as itching caused by dry and cracked skin. This acupoint can be massaged frequently for chronic eczema. However, it should be noted that if there is eczema on this acupoint, massage is not recommended; acupuncture would be more suitable.

Registered Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner Huang Jingjing

Eczema in infants and young children mostly appears on the face and limbs.

Severe eczema can keep you up at night and affect your sleep quality.

You can drink more medicinal soups containing ingredients like Smilax glabra and mung beans to clear heat and remove dampness.

Patients with acute eczema have damp-heat in their gastrointestinal tract and should avoid eating sweets and spicy or fried foods.

The Quchi acupoint, located at the midpoint of the line connecting the elbow crease and the bone when the elbow joint is bent, has a good effect of relieving itching and reducing fever when pressed regularly.

In chronic eczema, the skin becomes thickened and wrinkled. In addition to medication, acupuncture can also be used for treatment.

The Xuehai acupoint, located on the inner side of the quadriceps muscle, can be massaged to relieve eczema caused by qi and blood deficiency and insufficient blood nourishment of the skin.