Recurrent eczema affects many people, sometimes causing intense, unbearable itching that can significantly diminish quality of life. On NTDTV’s “Health 1+1” program, Lai Ruixin, director of Han Ming Tang Chinese Medicine Clinic in Taiwan, shared effective strategies for rapid itch relief and offered guidance on managing eczema through holistic adjustments to body constitution, environmental factors, and diet.
Symptoms and Triggers of Eczema
Eczema is a common chronic skin condition characterized by dry, itchy skin prone to infection.Eczema can be classified into different types. In the summer, when the weather is hot and humid, excessive sweating often increases the prevalence of heat rash and dyshidrotic eczema. Heat rash typically appears as red, itchy bumps that may develop into blisters. Dyshidrotic eczema, on the other hand, is most commonly seen on the fingers or toes, presenting as small, intensely itchy blisters.
People at higher risk of developing dyshidrotic eczema include those who sweat excessively or wash their hands frequently, such as homemakers and cleaning staff.
The causes of eczema are complex, but in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), they are primarily influenced by three factors: body constitution, environment, and diet, Lai said. Failing to address these three factors and relying solely on ointments for itch relief or steroids to reduce inflammation will only provide temporary symptom relief, leaving the root cause untreated and increasing the likelihood of eczema returning.
