Eczema is an inflammatory disease caused by certain triggers such as food allergies, dry weather, clothing material, certain ingredients in personal care products, or emotional triggers. It belongs to a group of skin diseases called dermatitis and is characterized by dry, itchy, and sometimes oozing patches on skin. Ayurvedic texts describe some skin conditions that are analogous to dermatitis. The root cause for the disease is linked to improper digestion of food. Thus the main principles of eczema management in Ayurveda are those of proper diet and eating habits. In contrast, allopathic treatment is focused on managing symptoms using steroids in topical creams or internally to manage inflammation. Long term medication with steroids comes with side effects such as increased appetite leading to weight gain, acne, mood swings, and muscle atrophy. This guide outlines Ayurvedic principles to manage eczema.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. I am not a medical professional and do not guarantee medical results. Do your research and work with appropriate medical personnel for your medical needs.
Scientific perspective on eczema
An understanding of the pathology of eczema is far from complete. The cause of eczema is attributed to a combination of factors such as epidermal barrier dysfunction, and immune dysregulation. The following factors can increase an individual's risk for atopic dermatitis, a class of skin diseases of which eczema is an example:
The link between impaired epidermal barrier function and the immune system Skin protects our body from external pathogens, pollutants, and toxic chemicals. The outermost layer, the epidermis, also serves the function of limiting water loss from the body. There is growing evidence that points to impaired skin barrier function being a symptom of an abnormal immune system. Several factors impact the immune system:
Treatment of eczema Eczema is typically treated using topical and oral steroids to manage symptoms. Topical corticosteroids are prescribed to manage itching. Oral steroids are added to the treatment regimen in severe cases. Oral steroids work by suppressing the immune system. Steroids are intended for short term use as prolonged use can lead to several side effects. Oral steroids are especially risky as they can lead to kidney and liver dysfunction if used long term.
Preventive strategies using Ayurveda
In Ayurveda, the specific skin disease that matches the clinical manifestations of eczema is called Vicharchika. All major Ayurvedic texts (Charaka Samhita, Ashtanga Hridayam, Sushruta Samhita) point to improper diet as the major root cause of eczema. Improper diet includes:
General eating guidelines
There is a laundry list of foods which cannot be combined per Ayurveda. Incompatible food combinations weaken the digestive fire over time which is the root cause of all diseases per Ayurveda. It can be very stressful to break this down into what is OK to eat and what is not if you're new to Ayurveda. But we can distill things into a few guidelines listed below: The following foods can be safely combined:
Skincare and lifestyle guidance
Appropriate skincare must be used along with diet management strategies to manage eczema. It is as important to avoid certain ingredients that can trigger a flare up as it is to include certain others to nourish the skin. Less is more when it comes to products.
Herbs used to treat eczema Look for the following herbs in your skincare if you have eczema:
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