Q The itching has eased somewhat, but my skin is still dry and rough. What does treatment look like after this?
A After the acute itching subsides, we switch to the replenishing-blood and moistening-dryness (bonhyeol-yunjo) stage, focusing on skin regeneration and barrier restoration. At this stage, skin texture and elasticity improve.
Detailed Answer
Once itching and inflammation have decreased by 50% or more with the acute-phase clearing-heat-and-detoxifying prescription, we switch the prescription to the replenishing-blood and moistening-dryness (bonhyeol-yunjo) stage. At this stage, we aid blood circulation and supply nutrients to skin cells so that the skin barrier proteins (ceramides, filaggrin) are synthesized again. Areas of lichenification from scratching soften, and skin color normalizes.
Korean Medicine Clinic Perspective
The bonhyeol-yunjo stage is not merely about suppressing symptoms but a process of building up the skin's own recovery capacity. Skipping this stage makes recurrence likely when the seasons change. At Dongjedang, we finely adjust the recovery-phase prescription to suit the constitution and look at the skin together with overall health.
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