The skin is the body’s largest organ, and has many functions, including protection, temperature regulation and synthesis of vitamin D. Skin problems are common, and one of the most frequent referrals for homeopathic treatment. Common skin conditions for which people seek treatment are: eczema, psoriasis, acne, rosacea, impetigo, cold sores, shingles, warts and verrucas. I see more people with atopic eczema (the most common form of eczema) than any other health problem, and in many cases homeopathy can significantly reduce or resolve the symptoms completely.
Healing takes place centrifugally – from within outwards. Homeopathy provides an effective means to do this by treating skin symptoms in context of the whole person and addressing the root cause of the problem. Topical treatments for eczema may provide a quick fix but are ‘outside in’ solutions: the skin symptoms may disappear, but the underlying cause is not taken care of. Left unresolved, this will tend to manifest in further problems in due course.
When skin symptoms are treated homeopathically, genuine healing can take place and overall health improvements are generally experienced. Stronger vitality means reduced susceptibility to future health problems.
Chronic long term skin conditions need to be matched carefully to a homeopathic remedy that matches the whole symptom picture, and professional treatment is recommended. Below are some examples of the most commonly prescribed remedies in eczema.
Sulphur: the best known ‘skin remedy’. This remedy will act at least partially in many skin complaints, but needs to be a precise match to the whole symptom picture to cure. There is itching with burning, which is worse at night and worse for warmth and bathing, and also worse from wool. The person is compelled to scratch until the skin is raw. The person is typically warm blooded, often with especially warm feet which they stick out of bed, or prefer to go barefoot.
Arsenicum: the skin symptoms are in some ways similar to Sulphur, with characteristic burning after scratching, aggravation at night, and intense itching such that the person must scratch until the area is raw or bleeding. However the other factors and general symptoms are quite different: the itching is better for warmth, and the individual is generally very much better for warmth too. They tend to be chilly, anxious and restless.
Petroleum: this is a homeopathic remedy which is used mainly for skin conditions (although it is also a very useful remedy for travel sickness). It can be very helpful in some severe cases of eczema, where the picture fits. Eczema cases which respond to Petroleum are noticeably worse in winter, and the skin can become rough, hard and extremely dry, with deep bloody cracks. The eruptions are most typically found on the hands and face, and in areas where there are folds of skin (for example in the bends of elbows). The itching is worse at night, and also in cold open air, and is better for warmth. There is burning and smarting with the itch.
If you would like to try a homeopathic approach to resolving your eczema, get in touch with me here to discuss how I can help.
My son has chronic ezcema and suffers alot daily we have tried so many things nothing works.
I do recommend you consider homeopathy. You need to give it time, but homeopathy will address the eczema from the inside out – at the level of root cause. Best wishes, Karen
Hi Karen! Your website is wonderful—thank you so much for the helpful information you share. What do you recommend for warts on the hand? I started with one on my index finger seven months ago. There are now three on index finger and one on middle finger. Have tried oral thuja and oral silica together. Have tried a topical remedy of thuja with added tea tree oil. Have tried topical silver, oregano, white willow, apple cider vinegar, and more I’m not currently thinking of! These warts are quite stubborn. Thank you 🙂
Hi Erin, thanks for your question. This is an example of a chronic long term issue, and to resolve these it is always best to work with a homeopath for professional care. The vital force produces symptoms deliberately, to keep a deeper imbalance to the most external place possible, and the way the body expresses an imbalance is unique to each person – so a homeopath would not give a remedy ‘for warts’, but to match the way that particular body-mind organism is expressing imbalance. It’s not unusual to find that giving a remedy that just targets the warts may help for a while, but the warts tend to pop up somewhere else because the imbalance hasn’t been addressed at the deeper level. I hope that helps. Best wishes, Karen. PS Thank you for your kind comments about the website – so glad you have found it helpful!
Hello. I am suffering from eczema or rather psoriasis for the last 2 years. It had gotten much worse this summer when I was working on my herb farm half naked and was exposed to heat, humidity and mosquitos. I’ve tried sulphur (I think up to 200c) thyroidinum, arsenicum by default as I was taking it for anxiety and diarrhea – nothing works – it seems like the description of sulphur is exactly what my symptoms are including sticking out my feet from under blankets. Wearing clothes makes it worse – silk is the easiest on my skin. I am fine during a day but come night I scratch to blood. in terms of salves the only one that works – is a poison ivy lotion with calamine I buy at big store. Lightbox used to work but no more. I haven’t been able to wear short skirts or dresses the whole summer. Steroids never really helped and certainly not for itching. Is there a possibility of help or should I just give up?
Hi Krystyna, thanks for your question. Healing a chronic condition is always best done under professional care. The reason for this? While acute illness can be self-treated very effectively, this is because the remedy is matched to the here and now immediate symptom profile. With chronic disease, the remedy needs to be matched to a wider and deeper picture for a successful outcome, including the mental and emotional profile, personal health history, family health history, and all the factors involved in the time of onset of your condition. You are quite right to note that Sulphur has hot feet, and even if the whole eczema profile looks like Sulphur, this remedy may not be right because it does not match your bigger chronic picture. I hope that helps. I highly recommend that you work with a homeopath. It can take a few prescriptions before a significant improvement is seen, but the aim is for gradual, steady healing rather than suppression or management of symptoms. Best wishes, Karen