Oriental Medicine Treatment for Skin Diseases
Chronic Eczema · Chronic Dermatitis · Lichenification· Chronic Eczema
Baekrokdam Oriental Medicine Clinic, Songdo, Incheon
For chronic eczema that doesn't respond to ointments, we restore skin regeneration and immune balance.
Applying ointments only provides temporary relief, and the skin flares up again as soon as medication stops; this has been going on for 5 years.If your skin is becoming harder and darker and you're tired of only being told to "manage your stress," this page may have the answer.
Chronic eczema is not just a skin disease, but a signal that the immune balance inside the body has collapsed. Baekrokdam treats the internal cause rather than just the surface, helping the skin regain its own power to regenerate.
Core disease information at a glance
- Other names
- Eczema, chronic dermatitis, lichenification, weeping sores
- Hanja
- 慢性濕疹 (Chronic Eczema)
- Classification
- Immune system · Skin diseases
- Main symptoms
- Severe itching, skin thickening (lichenification), oozing, pigmentation
- Possible comorbidities
- Allergic rhinitis, sleep disorders, indigestion, depression
- Diagnosis
- Visual inspection, pulse diagnosis, and inquiry — assessing skin condition and internal toxin levels
- Treatment
- Customized herbal medicine based on constitution (immune regulation and skin regeneration)
- General treatment period
- Approximately 3–6 months. This varies depending on the degree of chronicity
- Telemedicine
- Available (Submission of photos of the affected area is required)
Commonly heard in the clinic
Many patients visit using these expressions
These are expressions often heard in the clinic. If this sounds like your story, you may want to suspect chronic eczema.
Consult via telehealth →What is chronic eczema?
It refers to a condition where itching and inflammation recur for more than 6 weeks, causing the skin to become thick and rough. It's not just simple itching, but a process where the skin tissue itself changes.LichenificationThe progression of this is a major characteristic of chronic eczema.
In traditional Korean medicine, this is viewed asDampness (濕), Heat (熱), Toxins (毒), Wind (風)stagnating in the skin. Especially in the chronic stage, it overlaps with 'blood deficiency (血虛),' where the skin dries out due to lack of blood, making the itching more persistent.
Please don't misunderstand.Eczema is not a disease caused by not washing.In fact, washing too often or using strong cleansers can break down the skin barrier and become harmful. This is not a matter of hygiene, butA problem with the immune barrieris.
Since the Joseon Dynasty, medical texts have classified and treated conditions as 'chimeumchang' or 'seupchang'; for a very long time, Korean medicine has viewed the skin as a mirror of the internal organs, treating internal diseases to heal the skin.
According to Western medical diagnosis,Atopic dermatitis, nummular eczema, contact dermatitisIt encompasses all chronic states. While the causes may vary, the result is the same: the skin's regenerative capacity is depleted.
Medical Staff
Chief DirectorDr. Yeonseung Choe
Many patients come to us worrying that steroid ointments only provide temporary relief and that their skin has now become thick like leather. Chronic eczema is not simply a surface-level skin problem, but a state where the body's immune system has lost its way. I will work with you to find a way to recover your skin's regenerative power and escape the itching that repeats for 5 or 10 years.
- Graduated from Gyeonggi Science High School
- Graduated from Kyung Hee University, Pre-medical Course in Korean Medicine
- Graduated from Kyung Hee University, College of Korean Medicine
- Current) Chief Director of Baekrokdam Korean Medicine Clinic
- Former) Chief Director of Miol Korean Medicine Clinic, Incheon Songdo Branch
- Former) Director of Miol Korean Medicine Clinic, Gangnam Main Branch
- Former) Chief Director of Dolbom Korean Medicine Clinic, Seocho Main Branch
- [Publications]
- Overcoming Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
- Overcoming Chronic Vaginitis - Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment
- Post-miscarriage Care, as Important as Postpartum Care: A to Z of Herbal Medicine After Miscarriage
Chronic eczema is not just a skin problemComplex interaction of internal and external factorsis the result.
Main causes of chronic eczema — How they accumulate
- 1 Hypersensitivity of the immune system
It is a state where the body reacts too sensitively to external stimuli and attacks its own skin tissue
- 2 Steroid misuse and abuse
Relying solely on ointments can thin the skin barrier and create a 'rebound' environment where self-regenerative power is lost
- 3 Gut health and dietary habits
In traditional Korean medicine, 'Pye-ju-pi-mo (肺主皮毛)' suggests that gut and respiratory functions are directly linked to the skin. Poor dietary habits create intestinal toxins, which then manifest on the skin
- 4 Occupational environmental exposure
Constant exposure to water or chemicals, as seen in chefs or beauticians, leaves the skin no time to recover, making it prone to becoming chronic
- 5 Chronic stress
Stress disrupts the autonomic nervous system and acts as a trigger that amplifies skin itching
Chronic eczemaStarting from itching to skin degenerationends with. Breaking this cycle is the key to treatment.
Main symptoms of chronic eczema — What patients actually experience
Skin change areas
- Lichenification — Skin becomes thick and hard like elephant skin, with deepening wrinkles
- Severe pruritus (itching) — Especially worsens at night, reaching an unbearable state without scratching
- Scaling and dead skin — White powder-like scales continuously shed and skin cracks
- Hyperpigmentation — Areas of repeated inflammation turn dark red or dark
- Oozing and crusting — Exudate occurs at scratched sites and hardens, exposing the risk of secondary infection
Systemic accompanying symptoms
- Chronic fatigue due to lack of sleep
- Social withdrawal and depression due to changes in appearance
- Accompanying allergic diseases such as rhinitis and asthma
- Indigestion and constipation/diarrhea (deterioration of gut health)
- Sensation of heat or flushing (feeling of heat rising to the face)
When the skin breaks downOverall quality of lifeit drops. These are common chain reactions that patients complain about.
If these symptoms appear as a set, it is evidence that the immune system inside the body is already significantly destabilized.
Chronic eczema, Baekrokdam's approach
Summary— Rather than just suppressing the inflammation on the skin's surface, changing the internal environment that creates inflammation is ultimately the only way to prevent recurrence.
Why is Baekrokdam focused on herbal medicine?
The goal of herbal medicine is not just to suppress external symptoms, but to create a body that can recover on its own even without medication.
Chronic eczemaIt is not a simple skin trauma.Steroids are effective at putting out a fire, but they cannot address the root cause (internal heat and immune dysfunction) that keeps the embers alive. That is why symptoms recur once the medication is stopped.
Herbal medicine aims to normalize the skin regeneration cycle itself and reduce hypersensitivity of the immune response.While Western medicine focuses on "symptom suppression," herbal medicine is closer to "restoring the skin's self-regenerative power." For those with chronic skin degeneration, herbal medicine addresses the essential cause.
Why is it not easily detected through tests?
Tests look at numerical values and structures, but the essence is often a 'body imbalance' that is not easily captured by tests.
Blood tests or biopsiesresult valuesonly show the result. While they can indicate high inflammation levels, they do not revealreasonthe reason why the body specifically expels toxins through the skin. Oriental medicine finds that reason from the perspective of Dampness (濕), Heat (熱), and Wind (風).
Therefore, the phrase "no specific abnormalities found on the test"It does not mean "there is nothing to treat."does not mean there is no problem. The itching and skin degeneration the patient feels are clear realities. The core of Oriental diagnosis is to identify the internal imbalance that does not appear in numerical values.
So how do we treat it — The Baekrokdam method
We examine the entire body through consultation, pulse diagnosis, and abdominal palpation, and resolve the root cause together with herbal medicine.
Instead of looking only at the skin,Overall condition of the personwe must read the body. Baekrokdam looks deeply into each individual's lifestyle habits.
- Pulse Diagnosis & Tongue Diagnosis— Determine the level of damp-heat and toxins accumulated in the body through the flow of the pulse and the condition of the tongue
- Medical Interview (Inquiry)— Thoroughly check digestive status, sleep patterns, stress sensitivity, and occupational exposure environment. In particular, detailed steroid use history is verified
- Visual Inspection of the Affected Area— Precisely analyze the degree of lichenification, amount of exudate, and pigmentation status through photos and face-to-face examination
Based on this diagnosisInflammation Removal · Itch Relief · Skin Regenerationthe three stages are addressed simultaneously with herbal medicine. For chronic eczema where multiple symptoms are complexly intertwined, holistic herbal treatment managing the entire body can be the fundamental solution.
Differentiation branches of chronic eczema observed in clinical practice
The direction of treatment for eczema varies completely depending on the patient's constitution and symptom patterns. Check the four representative types.
Damp-Heat Type濕熱
An acute exacerbation stage where the affected area is red, has significant exudate, and intense itching
Treatment Direction: Clearing Heat and Detoxifying (淸熱解毒) · Removing Dampness (祛濕)
Blood Deficiency and Wind-Dryness Type血虛風燥
A typical chronic stage where the skin is leathery, thick, dry, and severely flaky
Treatment Direction: Nourishing Blood and Moistening Dryness (養血潤燥) · Skin Regeneration
Spleen Deficiency and Dampness Type脾虛濕盛
Those with a weak digestive system, prone to swelling, with flaccid skin and persistent, slow-healing exudate
Treatment Direction: Strengthen Spleen and Resolve Dampness (健脾利濕)
Liver Qi Stagnation Type肝鬱
Those whose itching worsens explosively when stressed or angry
Treatment Direction: Soothe Liver and Relieve Stagnation (疏肝解鬱) · Sedation
Depending on the changes in the patient's conditionFine-tuning the prescription every 2 to 4 weeksand we provide 1:1 customized treatment tailored to the skin regeneration speed.
Progress by stage of chronic eczema treatment
- Month 1 — Detoxification and Sedation Stage
This is the period to extinguish the 'urgent fire' (damp-heat and toxins) inside the body.Toxin discharge processoccurs.
- The intensity of itching begins to gradually decrease
- Exudation decreases and the redness of the affected area subsides
- Dead skin may temporarily increase, which is a process for new skin to grow
- Months 2-3 — Regeneration and Ointment Reduction
This is the period of significant change where the skin barrier is rebuilt.
- Thickened skin (lichenification) gradually becomes thinner and softer
- Symptoms remain stable even as the frequency of steroid ointment use is gradually reduced
- More days of deep sleep without waking up due to itching
- Month 4 and beyond — Stabilization and relapse prevention
This is the stage of maintaining restored skin and stabilizing the constitution.
- Hyperpigmentation fades, returning to the original skin tone
- Confirmed that skin condition is maintained through lifestyle management even after stopping herbal medicine
- Immunity is restored, so the skin does not easily flare up even with external stimuli
Skin regeneration occurs step-by-step, like climbing stairs. The speed may vary depending on the patient's condition and previous medication history, but the general recovery flow is as follows.
Chronic patients with deep skin transformationrequires consistent treatment for 6 months or more. It is important to approach this with the mindset of 'rooting out the cause' rather than feeling rushed.
Consult comfortably via non-face-to-face services for your current concerns.Herbal medicine prescriptions are available from anywhere in the country.
Chronic patients with deep skin transformationrequires consistent treatment for 6 months or more. It is important to approach this with the mindset of 'rooting out the cause' rather than feeling rushed.
Diseases often confused with chronic eczema
These are diseases that look similar to chronic eczema but have different treatments. Accurate differential diagnosis is the start of treatment.
It mainly begins in infancy and appears symmetrically in the folds of the arms and legs. Chronic eczema is often limited to specific areas (hands, feet, etc.) or occurs in adulthood.
Characterized by thick, silvery-white scales on well-defined erythema. It may be less itchy than eczema, but skin thickening can be more severe, requiring differential diagnosis.
It occurs only when in contact with specific substances (metals, cosmetics, etc.). It improves if the causative substance is avoided, but repeated occurrences eventually lead to chronic eczema.
Caused by fungal infection, it looks very similar to eczema. However, applying eczema medication to athlete's foot can worsen symptoms, so it must be differentiated through fungal tests or visual inspection.
A type of eczema that appears in round, coin-shaped patches, characterized by severe oozing. When it becomes chronic, multiple patches may merge to form a large plaque.
Chronic eczema treatment reviews
Frequently Asked Questions about Chronic Eczema
Why does chronic eczema keep recurring even when using Western medicine?
Steroids or antihistamines from Western medicine are excellent for rapidly suppressing inflammation, but they do not resolve the fundamental hypersensitivity of the immune system. When the effect of the medication wears off, the heat and toxins remaining in the body rise to the skin again, causing repeated recurrence. Oriental medicine focuses on extinguishing this 'ember' itself.
My skin has become thick like elephant hide (lichenification); can this also improve?
Yes, it is possible. Lichenification is a state where the skin thickens to protect itself due to chronic inflammation and repeated scratching. By combining 'Yanghyeol-Yunjou' treatment, which promotes blood circulation and supplies nutrients to the skin through herbal medicine, the hardened skin tissue gradually softens and undergoes a regeneration process.
Is it okay to stop using steroid ointments suddenly?
Rather than stopping abruptly, 'tapering (gradual reduction)' is important. Sudden discontinuation can lead to a rebound phenomenon where symptoms explode. We recommend slowly reducing the frequency of ointment use in accordance with the speed at which the body's self-healing power increases while taking herbal medicine.
How long is the typical treatment period?
Considering the skin cell regeneration cycle, we usually set a basic period of 3 to 4 months. However, for those who have suffered for more than 5 years, those with severe skin transformation, or long-term steroid users, it may continue for 6 months to a year. We will establish a more specific plan after observing the skin reaction during the first month.
Are non-face-to-face consultations and prescriptions available?
Yes, it is possible. Baekrokdam has a nationwide non-face-to-face medical system, providing remote consultations based on photos of the affected area and detailed medical questionnaires. Herbal medicines are safely delivered via courier, and if necessary, progress is managed through periodic photo checks.
Is dietary control absolutely necessary?
Chronic eczema is closely linked to gut health. In particular, alcohol, spicy, and greasy foods create 'Damp-Heat' in the body, which worsens inflammation. Adjusting your diet during the treatment period is the fastest way to increase the recovery speed.
Are chronic eczema and lichen simplex chronicus the same disease?
The phenomenon where the skin becomes thick and leather-like due to long-term recurring eczema symptoms is called lichenification. Since lichen simplex chronicus is a condition where this lichenification appears locally in specific areas, it can be seen as a type of chronic eczema. It is a vicious cycle where constant scratching due to itching damages the skin barrier, causing the symptoms to become hardened and fixed.
My skin is turning red in coin-shaped patches and oozing fluid; is this nummular eczema?
Yes, if inflammation occurs in round, coin-like shapes, there is a high possibility of nummular eczema. Among chronic eczemas, it is characterized by severe itching and accompanying discharge. When the body's immunity drops, it can react sensitively to small stimuli, causing the area to expand or spread throughout the body, so internal balance must be carefully examined.
Skin diseases that can be examined along with chronic eczema
These are skin diseases that should be managed alongside chronic eczema or are easy to confuse with it.
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