Naturopathic Approaches to Eczema

One of the most common pediatric complaints I see in practice is eczema. Eczema, or atopic dermatitis, is an inflammation of the skin that usually presents as areas of red, dry and scaly skin that can be extremely itchy. Sometimes the itch is so bad the child will scratch the area until it bleeds. Other variations can have lesions that ooze a clear or yellow, sticky fluid. While not life threatening, it can be very uncomfortable, disturb sleep for the whole family, and lead to disfigurement or secondary infection, which can be serious. Conventional treatments for eczema are exclusively topical, consisting of barrier creams and hydrocortisone ointments. While these treatments can often reduce the symptoms quickly, they do not address the underlying cause, and are merely palliative.

Eczema can occur at any age, and can even be present at birth. Sometimes, it may develop only once solid foods have been introduced. A family history of eczema increases the chances a child will develop it at some point in their life. In fact, eczema is one of the "3 A's": Atopy, Asthma, and Allergies, that are often seen together in the same person.

Naturopathic medicine views eczema, (and asthma and allergies) as an immune system imbalance. Common to all three conditions is an over-reactive antibody-driven, or TH2, immune response. At birth, our immune systems are not fully developed. During the first year of life, the TH2 arm of the immune system is dominant. Only over the first year does our immune system mature to develop a TH1, or cell mediated response to disease. This arm of the immune system is the part that directly targets germs. In some children, a state of TH2 dominance remains, even after the first year of life. This could be due to genetic or prenatal influences. Childhood vaccinations also tend to skew the immune system towards TH2, the immune response that causes symptoms of asthma, allergies and eczema. In a child with eczema, the immune system is stuck in TH2 overdrive. This is akin to driving a car without any brakes.

In approaching eczema, Naturopathic Doctors first take a detailed history of the child, including prenatal and perinatal influences, family history, vaccination history, illnesses and dietary exposures, and a general review of systems. The onset, location and nature of the eczema are considered, including any influences that make it better or worse.

Often, your Naturopath will then prescribe nutritional supplements to balance the immune response, gently shifting away from the TH2 dominance towards a more balanced state. A homeopathic remedy that fits the pattern of the eczema is always prescribed, and usually improves the eczema dramatically within days. An improvement of 80-90% in redness, itching and size of the lesion is not unusual, and is typically experienced in less than a week. In cases that are resistant to treatment, food allergy testing is indicated to uncover hidden intolerances that are causing the immune reaction. Eliminating the problem foods usually improve the condition.

I have treated numerous cases of eczema in young children using this simple approach, with significant benefit. Individualized treatment, based on evaluating the whole person, can quickly and gently eliminate this uncomfortable and unsightly condition, and restore happiness to children and parents alike! v