Eczema requires different approaches depending on the stage and pattern. The acute state with prominent oozing and swelling and the chronic state with dry lichenification have different treatment goals. For the former, reducing inflammation and exudate is the priority; for the latter, refilling and regenerating the depleted skin is the priority.

Traditional Korean Medicine Perspective

The two representative patterns at Dongjeedang. The spleen-stomach damp-heat (脾胃濕熱) type with nighttime itching and oozing is treated with heat-clearing detoxification herbal medicine to reduce heat and dampness; the blood deficiency with wind-dryness (血虛風燥) type with lichenification (skin thickening and scaling) is treated with blood-nourishing moisturizing (補血潤燥) herbal medicine to supplement blood and nourish and regenerate skin. When both patterns are mixed in one patient, treatment starts with heat-clearing detoxification and then shifts emphasis to immune stabilization and skin regeneration by stage.