Although homeopathy has an impressive track record in treating a wide range of ailments, I have seen excellent results achieved in the treatment of a range of skin conditions, in the course of my practice. Often the patients who come to me have received conventional medical treatment for their skin conditions, but with varying levels of success. In search of a safer and less invasive cure, and often at the behest of a friend or family member, they decide to (often as a last resort and without much expectation!) give homeopathic treatment a chance. For the vast majority of these patients, my treatment proves to be effective and some are left pleasantly surprised.
Snippets From Recent Cases
Atopic Dermatitis
Sherly has suffered with atopic dermatitis since she was three years old. Initially she developed a dry patch on her hand, which over the years has gradually spread. She has completed countless courses of topical steroids, with only temporary relief being afforded each time. Every time she discontinued the use of steroids, her skin condition would become worse than the previous time. When Sherly came under our care a few months ago, her hands, arms, neck, face and part of her torso were covered with red patches that would emit a sticky substance. She experienced an almost continuous deep itch, plus a burning and needle prick-like sensation. Her skin had cracks and fissures at some places, while other areas had become thickened (elephant skin). Generally, her skin had become extremely dry with a profuse shedding of flakes. Applying any of the available- including natural and gentle moisturisers would cause her stinging, and would make little difference to her skin health.
Sherly has a low stress threshold and is also vulnerable to emotional distress. She has a history of gut related issues for which she has used various medicines over the years. Sherly experiences occasional headaches, mood swings, constipation, and occasional outbreaks of acne. A holistic review of her condition suggested a sluggish liver resulting in a build-up of toxins. I commenced her treatment with a liver detox, followed by a prescription of a bowel nosode which is excellent in treating coexisting conditions of the gut and skin. Thereafter, she was prescribed a constitutional remedy, resulting in 90% of her patches clearing up. She is almost free from itchiness, her skin is close to a normal and supple state. She also experienced a huge improvement in her gut condition, quality of sleep and frequency of mood swings.
Sometimes, homeopathic cures are nothing short of brilliant!
Infantile Facial Eczema
Noah, aged two years old , has been prone to skin conditions since birth. He has suffered from bouts of eczema and impetigo, before his mother contacted us for a stubborn red rash on his face that steroid treatment was unable to resolve. His facial eczema runs in cycles, whereby a small appears on his cheek before progressing in a few days’ time to a large full-blown shiny eczema patch.
He would also develop wheals on and around his facial eczema patch. This would remain for 2-3 weeks before drying out, with the patch attaining a dark hue. The dry, flaky skin would then peel and expose raw skin underneath, which on a couple of occasions would lead to an infection necessitating the use of antibiotics. Noah would experience excessively itchy and a burning sensation through this cycle, leading to scratching that broke the skin to cause bleeding. Additionally, his cheek emitted heat during such flare-up, which his mother could feel by placing her hand close by.
Noah’s condition took a toll on his wellbeing, and the quality of his sleep declined enormously. He suffered fatigue during the day. His appetite was also affected and meal times became very challenging, leading to weight loss. Overall, he became listless and spent much time inactive and laying on the sofa.
Considering Noah’s repeated past use of topical steroids and antibiotics, we commenced his treatment with a homeopathic detox. We then took an all-encompassing view of his condition with a particular focus on his mental and emotional symptoms and matched these with the homeopathic remedies. The remedy Rhus tox stood out as the most indicated one, which was then prescribed. Noah used it twice a week, five weeks apart with excellent results. His skin has healed completely, and has remained in a healthy state for more than six months now. His sleep and appetite are back to normal, and Noah is back to his usual cheerful, playful self.
Seborrheic Dermatitis
Seborrheic dermatitis is a common skin condition characterised by incessant itching and excessive scaling of the skin. It mostly occurs on the scalp, but can also affect the face, back, chest and groin.
Michael (not real name) consulted Holistic Homeopathy with distressing symptoms of seborrheic dermatitis few weeks ago. His skin condition was triggered by the use of topical steroids which he had been prescribed to treat his eczema. Michael experienced intensive and near-constant itching, excessive shedding of the skin, and issues with body temperature regulation. Numerous tiny scabs also appeared on his scalp. He was unable to resist scratching his skin and scalp, causing damage to his skin. Bathing and periods of stress would exacerbate his symptoms. His quality of sleep, appetite and normal day to day life was seriously affected. He dreaded night-time, as his itching and other symptoms increased during that time.
We accepted his case at Holistic Homeopathy, recorded his existing symptoms as well as thoroughly looked into all the events which led to his existing condition. His dietary regime, lifestyle and gut health were assessed in order to evaluate the causative factors. Michael was prescribed a homeopathic protocol lasting a period of four weeks. The photo shows his excellent response to four weeks’ of homeopathic treatment.
Contact Dermatitis
A lovely little fellow aged eight years old was brought in by his mother complaining of a large stubborn patch of eczema on his hand. Thus far his mother had been using a topical ointment prescribed by their GP which would successfully alleviate the eczema, only for the complaint to return more viciously after a few months. This cycle had repeated a couple of times. The little boy's symptoms included an incessant itch which he found difficult to resist scratching, often leading to bleeding at the site of the eczema.
As I investigated the case, two things became quite evident. The patient’s usual bowel activity was sluggish and meant he opened his bowels every 2-3 days. This routine would sometimes go off-track with occasional bouts of constipation, where 4-5 days would pass without activity. Homeopathic theory suggests a vital link between the bowels’ efficacy in eliminating toxins from the body and the consequent effects on the skin when such toxins are not efficiently removed. This combined with the boy’s continued use of the topical ointment resulted, in my view, in driving the eczema deeper.
As the skin is a highly reactive organ, ascertaining the cause-and-effect relationship is vital in helping to build up a picture of what is going on inside. It is not uncommon for me to see a patient suffering from eczema but who also suffers from say, constipation or an over reactive immune system or dysbiosis (disturbed ecology of gut microbiome). Similarly, hormonal imbalances in adolescents hitting puberty, and/or during the premenstrual stage in females, can cause a breakout of acne. Stress and anxiety can be seen time and time again causing inflamed, reddened and itchy skin in some patients. And there are many other skin conditions which are rooted in some sort of internal imbalance.
So, in tandem with the homeopathic doctrine of holistic healing, I proceeded to prescribe the homeopathic remedy Nux Vomica to my young patient, with the aim of providing safe and gradual support to the bowels in achieving their natural rhythm. This remedy encourages peristalsis-a series of wave like muscle contractions that move food through the digestive tract. Although it remains true that Nux Vomica is highly effective in treating sluggish bowels and has not disappointed me in the course of providing treatment to patients, it also remains the case that such treatment cannot be used indiscriminately, since each patient’s specific individual symptoms will determine the eventual choice of remedy.
I further prescribed another homeopathic remedy- Graphites, to my young patient. This remedy is particularly beneficial for eczema located on the hand with a crust-like presentation, and which is sometimes accompanied by clear fluid. My case notes ticked off most of these symptoms. The time and diligence taken to match individual symptoms with those of the remedy is pivotal in prescribing homeopathic treatment.
Providing lifestyle and dietary advice to my clients is central to my practice. Often, adjusting dietary preferences in conjunction with homeopathic protocols produce excellent results. For my patient, I advised less junk food and less refined carbohydrates for the period of the treatment. I recommended that his diet be adjusted to include more soluble and insoluble fibre in the form of fruit, vegetables, beans, potatoes and cereals.
Homeopathic treatment can sometimes cause an initial flare-up of symptoms. For a first-time patient this may be disheartening but in fact such flare-ups are a positive sign as they show that the suppression of symptoms is abating, toxins are being off-loaded and the body is on course to healing itself naturally. My little patient also experienced a mild flare up of symptoms followed by a steady improvement.
Three weeks after my patient began homeopathic treatment, the results were highly satisfying- the eczema patch had cleared by around 90%, there was no longer any itching, and the little boy was opening his bowels on a regular basis. His appetite and quality of sleep had also significantly improved. His mother was impressed with the results, particularly of the fact that she had initially contacted me for her child’s eczema but had as an added bonus seen a general improvement in his health and well-being.
This is how homeopathy works; its approach is holistic, and one that offers sustained cures in a safe and effective manner. As homeopaths are often inclined to say “homeopathy treats the person, not the disease”.
First published in Wellbeing magazine on 27 June 2022
Bio
Haroon Ashraf is a homeopath based in London, where he offers consultations in person and online. Haroon specialises in treating skin and gut conditions. Please visit his homeopathy practice at https://holistichomeopathy.co.uk/ for more information.