Questions about natural dermatology? Eczema, Psoriasis, Acne, and more, Chinese medicine has natural answers.  We avoid the use of steroid creams, antibiotics, and other medications and use instead herbs, diet changes.  Our provider, Jen Etheridge, is a specialist in natural dermatology.

How Does Western Medicine Treat Dermatology? 

Dermatology is a specialty branch of medicine focusing on:

• Skin
• Hair
• Nails
• Mucous Membranes (e.g. lining inside mouth, nose, and eyelids)

Dermatologists diagnose and treat more than 3,000 different diseases. These include skin cancer, eczema, acne, psoriasis, and nail infeections. They see patients of all ages from newborns to elderly. Therapies and treatments provided by dermatologists include, but are not limited to:

• Laser therapy (cosmetic resurfacing of skin, vitiligo
• Cryosurgery (freezing of warts, skin cancers, other dermatosis)
• Allergy testing (‘patch testing’ for contact dermatitis)
• Systemic therapies – including oral antibiotics, immunomodulators, antihistamines, and injectable products
• Topical therapies – steroids, antibiotics creams, phototherapy (light therapy), etc.¹

Natural Dermatology: How Does It Work? 

The skin is one of the largest organs in the body and is in constant contact with our external environment. It acts as an important barrier between our internal environment and the world around us; the skin also plays an important role in detoxification of the body. Often times when there is something going on with the skin; for example rashes, hives, acne, rosacea, eczema, etc, it is a sign that there is an internal imbalance within the body that needs to be addressed.

A natural approach to dermatology includes addressing not only the symptoms of the skin condition, but also addressing underlying causes and/or triggers that are creating the symptoms. A natural treatment approach to dermatology is often more holistic in nature and obtains results that are deeper and longer lasting.  In Chinese medicine we call this approach treating the root (underlying cause), while also treating the branch (symptoms). After a complete and thorough health history and evaluation of the skin disorder, an individualized treatment often includes the following:

• Dietary modifications
• Herbal medicine formulas internally
• Herbal medicine formulas topically
• Acupuncture, Moxibustion

What Can I Treat With Natural Dermatology?

Although many patients seek treatment for skin conditions, Western medicine has been largely unable to find long-lasting, safe and effective treatment. By treating skin conditions naturally with Chinese medicine, it creates a lasting change within the body that heals the skin from within while soothing external symptoms. Below are some of the things that can be treated with Chinese medicine:

• Acne
• Rosacea
• Eczema
• Dermatitis
• Psoriasis
• Lichen Simplex
• Herpes Zoster (shingles)
• Urticaria (hives)