In standard Western medicine, skin problems are often treated with creams or pharmaceutical drugs, and although these can provide temporary relief, they do not address the underlying issues which led to the problems. With these standard treatments, even though a person’s symptoms have been reduced or gone away, the issues that created the problem still remain under the surface and as long as they do, the person will have to keep on using the cream or drug in order to keep the symptoms from recurring.

Symptoms that appear on the skin are often a sign of a deeper imbalance. Factors in the physical environment, emotions and mental states can all greatly contribute to skin health issues. If you’ve experienced stress, loss, grief, trauma or disappointment, even if it was quite some time ago and depending on your body’s way of coping, symptoms can manifest as skin disorders such as acne, psoriasis, eczema, contact dermatitis, rosacea, discoloration, cysts, or warts. Homeopathic treatment will consider in great detail the unique characteristics of your skin troubles, your emotional and mental state, your life experiences, who you are as an individual, physical symptoms in areas other than skin and all the issues which may have led to skin problems.

Homeopathy treats the whole person and activates the body’s natural ability to heal skin conditions.

A well chosen homeopathic remedy based on all of a patient’s details will activate the body’s natural healing processes, gently bringing about balance in the body and start the patient along a path to healthy skin. As healing proceeds and deeper problems are resolved, overall well being will improve, and the patient will be less likely to have skin issues in the future.

The aim with homeopathic treatment is to give the minimum amount of medicine needed to activate the natural self healing response, so as you get healthier, you will need less and less medicine to maintain healthy skin.

I will also work with you to help identify any lifestyle issues, such as diet, that may be contributing to your skin problems and help you to find solutions to minimize these negative factors and introduce more positive choices.

Remedies for the Homeopathic Treatment of Skin Disorders

There are a very large number of homeopathic remedies which can be used for skin health. The following are brief descriptions of a few of the more commonly prescribed of these medicines. It is important to note that prescription of any of these remedies is based on much more than the few characteristics in these descriptions, which are just a snapshot of each medicine.

Arsenicum

Some characteristics associated with this remedy are burning sensations, dry, rough and scaly skin, psoriasis, pimples which itch violently, eczema with intense itching and burning and itching which is worse from scratching; the person may scratch until their skin bleeds. These individuals tend to be perfectionists, anxious, and very restless. They are usually cold, worse from cold and/or wet weather and from midnight to 2 am; heat makes their symptoms better.

Causticum

People suited to Causticum may exhibit acne and rosacea appearing together on the face in groups, warts and yellowed skin on the face and large jagged warts on the finger tips and the nose that bleed easily. These individuals tend to be highly sympathetic to others and particularly sensitive to injustice. Their health problems can arise from long term grief and sudden emotions. They are worse from cold dry winds, in clear sunny weather and cold air, and better from damp wet weather and warmth.

Graphites

Individuals needing this remedy tend to have concentration problems, changeable moods, be restless about work, and music can make them cry. Notable skin symptoms include thick skin with cracks and fissures, eczema, psoriasis, scaling, herpes, itching pimples on the face which become moist after scratching and a discharge which is thick and yellow or corrosive and dry. The person is worse from heat and better in the dark and from being wrapped.

Natrum Muriaticum

Symptoms associated with this medicine are herpes related blisters in the bends of the elbow and knee joints, eczema which is worse from salty foods, warts on the palms of the hands and greasy skin. Issues tend to arise from silent grief and disappointed love. Patients needing this remedy cannot cry in front of others, do not like consolation, and are often responsible and introverted. They are very chilly but worse with sun or heat and from 9 to 11 am, are better from rest, skipping meals and tight clothing, and either better or worse from being at the seashore.

Rhus Tox

Skin issues that often arise for patients suited to this remedy are blisters on the tongue, eczema with small itchy vesicles, herpes, shingles, reaction to poison ivy, itching, burning which can feel like hot needles, and skin which flakes off. These individuals are characteristically depressed, impatient and restless, want to be alone and can feel tired of life. They are worse indoors, in the late spring, and from cold, damp, overcast weather and are better from warmth, warm bathing, hard pressure and massage.

Staphysagria

This remedy is strongly associated with extreme hypersensitivity of the mind; this is often the result of buried emotions related to humiliation or an insult to the person’s dignity. Skin symptoms may arise in individuals needing this medicine after grief or suppression of other emotions. These symptoms include psoriasis with violent itching, sensitive or painful scars, and warts which have a stalk. Scratching itchy areas causes the location of the itching to change. Symptoms are worse after daytime naps and better with warmth, rest at night and after breakfast.

Thuja

People who need Thuja are emotionally sensitive and may have low self esteem, with a sense that others would not like them if they knew them. Music can make them cry. This remedy is associated with warts, skin tags, tumours, eczema, dry skin with brown spots, psoriasis, tinea and cracks on the feet. The skin issues tend to occur only on covered areas and the warts may be moist and bleed easily. These individuals are worse with cold and damp, sun, bright light, and after breakfast and eating fat. They are better with pressure, rubbing, wrapping up, warmth and crossing their limbs.

The holistic approach used in homeopathic treatment of skin symptoms means that the whole person, not only skin symptoms, are treated and therefore patients can expect an improvement in overall well-being, leading to a happier and more vibrant life. If you are struggling with skin issues and would like to start on a personalized healing path to wellness, please be in touch.