Skin and Homoeopathy Different types of Skin Diseases

Dr Gayathri Vadapalli

Eczema

Also known as dermatitis, eczema is among the commonest forms of skin disease, and it often responds well to Homoeopathic treatment. It affects up to 20 per cent of school children and seven to eight percent of adults. Children tend to grow out of it and the majority improve greatly by their mid-teens. It is an inflammatory condition in which patches of skin become red, inflamed and itchy. The affected areas may also be covered in small, fluid-filled blisters. There are a number of different forms of eczema.

The commonest form is atopic dermatitis, an inborn condition which usually starts before the age of two, and may continue to flare up throughout adolescence and adulthood. “Atopy” means an inherited tendency to allergies, including eczema, asthma and hay fever. It runs in families and is getting commoner for reasons that are not entirely clear.

Contact dermatitis is caused by contact with a substance to which an individual is sensitive, such as nickel, rubber or various plants. It can occur at any age. Nickel is one of the commonest skin sensitizers - it can usually be spotted by the areas it affects: earrings and jean buttons often contain nickel.

Seborrhoeic dermatitis occurs in adult and infantile forms. In babies it is often known as cradle cap because it affects the scalp, although it may also affect the nappy area. For adults it usually affects the face and scalp.