Articles

By Mollie Barnes

Published On: Sep 18, 2023

Last Updated On: Dec 4, 2023

Eczema is a complex condition that affects different people in different ways. For some people, moisturizing and/or medications might help clear up eczema symptoms enough to improve their daily quality of life. However, for others, especially for those with severe eczema, it might not be enough. 

Oftentimes, people with severe eczema might be told by their doctor that they have tried “everything” for their eczema and that there’s nothing left to try. This instance is often a good time to look to alternative therapies, said Dr. Peter Lio, a dermatologist and clinical assistant professor of dermatology and pediatrics at Northwestern University. 

“I think that incorporating alternative therapies with conventional ones — which is, incidentally, how I define integrative dermatology — is incredibly important and can make a real difference for many patients,” said Dr. Lio, who is also the co-founder and co-director of the Chicago Integrative Eczema Center. “In part, I think the willingness to try something different, gentler and out-of-the-box can often inspire hope and confidence. I also truly believe that there are many approaches that are off the beaten path that can make a real impact and are worth consideration.”

What are alternative treatments for eczema? 

Alternative treatments are generally considered to be anything outside Western medicine. For example, “Traditional Chinese medicine has been treating eczema for over 4,000 years,” said Dr. Olivia Hsu Friedman, a doctor of acupuncture, traditional Chinese medicine and herbal medicine at Amethyst Holistic Skin Solutions in Naperville, Illinois.  

Alternative treatments could range from anything like herbs or botanicals to acupuncture, vitamins or sound therapy. It can also be something as simple as changing the type of clothing you’re wearing.¹ 

“What usually happens is that patients are not aware of alternative therapies because they are typically first diagnosed by their MD dermatologists, who will proceed to treat them with traditional pharmacologic treatments,” said Dr. Friedman. 

“It’s usually after a patient has tried several traditional pharmacologic treatments and have not found them to be adequate solutions — either because they don’t work for them or they experience significant side effects — that patients typically start opening their minds to other ways to treat their eczema,” she said.

When is the best time to try alternative treatments for eczema? 

“Patients can try alternative therapies at any time during their eczema journey,” Dr. Friedman said. “The most important thing is to find the solution that works best for that patient while considering the patient’s skin condition, financial situation, response to that medicine, overall health and emotional/psychological situation.” 

No matter your age, there are alternative therapies for you to try to treat your eczema. 

“What works for one person does not work for all,” Dr. Friedman said. Other factors to consider beyond timing when determining whether or not to try alternative therapies include: 

• Cost: “Herbal medicine is not covered by insurance, so appointments and herbs have to be paid for out-of-pocket,” Dr. Friedman said. “Most FSAs and HSAs will cover appointments and herbs, but you should call to confirm before starting herbal medicine.”

• Taste and swallowing ability: Herbal medicine typically is ingested if a patient is over 5 years old. If you can’t handle the taste, “you’ll need to take herbs in the form of capsules, which can be as many as 20 capsules per dosage, two times a day for adults and less for kids,” Dr. Friedman said. “Kids will often drink herbs with no issues, but if you have a finicky eater, they may have trouble taking herbs,” she said.

• Bathing ability: Kids under 3 years old can typically bathe in herbs, but their skin must be able to handle being in water. If kids are unable to handle regular baths and showers, this will not be a good option for them.

Should I try alternative treatments during a bad eczema flare? 

“Generally, this is the worst time to try them,” Dr. Lio said. “My general approach is to get people better — ideally much better, or even clear, using all the best tools in our toolbox. Once they are better, the goal is to try to minimize the use of more powerful therapies, and that is where I think the more alternative treatments can really play an important role.”

Should I tell my general practitioner about the alternative treatments I’m trying? 

“Absolutely!” said Dr. Lio. “Just because something is ‘natural’ (and that is a loaded term since even botanical supplements are generally not seen in nature in a capsule form) does not mean it is safe. There are numerous potential issues even with what appear to be safe and natural treatments, from contact dermatitis to true systemic toxicity and interactions with conventional medications,” he said. “So, it is important to discuss exactly what is going on so that everyone is on the same page.” 

Another treatment option 

Trying alternative therapies can be beneficial for people who are dealing with chronic eczema. 

“Sometimes, if things are really bad at the start, we need to lean heavily on more powerful conventional medications to get things calmed down,” Dr. Lio said. “But, over time, I find that I can leverage some of my integrative approaches to decrease and sometimes even stop conventional medications, which is truly exciting!”

References:

1. Ma, H, Shi V, Lio, PA. A multidisciplinary toolbox for atopic dermatitis treatments. Practical Dermatology. February 2021: 25-33. https://practicaldermatology.com/articles/2021-feb/a-multidisciplinary-toolbox-for-atopic-dermatitis-treatments Accessed September 1, 2023.