Eczema is an inflammatory response of the skin, also known as dermatitis. There is a localized or widespread eruption on the skin with itching, and this can be complicated by secondary infections.
It is common in infants, children, and in young adults.

Symptoms:
• There are dry or oozing eruptions, which begin as small reddish eruptions or a patch with lot of itching.
• Most commonly seen in flexures or bend of the elbow, face and neck, wrists and ankles.
• Dryness of the skin
• Continuous intolerable itching, which may or may not be relieved by scratching
• Redness of the affected part
Swelling or bleeding of the part after scratching

Types of eczema:
Atopic dermatitis-This is characterized by the typical symptoms of eczema, the dryness, redness, itching.
Contact dermatitis-This type of eczema is seen only when the skin comes into contact with some allergens like detergents, acids, clothing, nickel, perfume, fabrics, jewelry etc.
Childhood eczema-The child skin is very delicate and doesn’t provide a proper barrier for infections. This is because there is more loss of water from their skin and hence they are more prone to eczemas.

General measures:
The main focus would be to keep the skin well hydrated and clean.
• Wash with very mild soap and luke warm water. Do not rub the area vigorously; instead just remove the excess water on the surface.
• Olive oil is a boon to people with eczema. It moisturizes the skin and helps to retain the natural oils in the skin. It can be applied soon after taking a bath (when the pores are opened and the skin is soft). It can be used an additional 4 to 5 times through the day without any harm.
• Avoid using woolen, silk and leather clothes. Thin cotton clothes would be the perfect choice. In winters woolen clothes can be worn on top of the cotton cloth. The main focus would be to avoid any extra irritation to the skin. Avoid sun exposure.
• Other oils like sunflower, gingili oil and coconut oil can also be used as external application.
Drinking lots of fluids in the form of water, juices, buttermilk and tender coconut would help to remove the toxins and also keep the skin hydrated.

Homeopathic treatment:
Eczema is curable by Homeopathy.
The acute condition is treated to bring down the inflammation of the skin. Itching is first relieved followed by decrease of the rashes.
As the condition has a tendency to recur, a deep study of the condition is done after which regular follow ups have to be done in order to cure the condition.
Infants and children-. It is commonly seen that when a steroidal application is used for the skin, and the eruptions disappear, the child develops a cold or a cough. When this is treated with strong medicines, the eruptions reappear. These children end up being on medication continuously either for the skin or the cough.
The Homeopathic medication is very effective for this condition, without having side effects, and avoiding the suppression of the symptoms.

 

Allergic contact dermatitis is an eczematous rash that develops after contact with an agent to which delayed or late reaction is developed in the form of hypersensitivity.
The most common allergens that precipitate this condition can be Nickel, Rubber, Lanolin and chemical Dyes.

Symptoms:
• A rash develops on the skin after it comes into contact with the allergens
• This rash may occasionally spread outside the area of contact.
• Itching is noticed at first and then the area involved becomes red, swollen and vesicular or with small eruptions.
• Later the area becomes scaly and fissured.
• The intensity and the speed of the reaction vary depending on the particular individual.

Examples of contact dermatitis:
• Rash developing after wearing steel studs, lips and buckles beneath them.
• Allergies to some perfumes and cosmetics due to the presence of lanolin in it.
• Rashes develop after using some clothes or dyes used in it.
• Artificial dyes can also cause reaction in some.
• Sometimes contact allergy arises only after the skin has been exposed to ultraviolet light. The rash is confined to sun exposed areas even though the allergen may have been in contact with covered areas. This is called photo contact dermatitis.
• Dermatitis due to a sunscreen chemical, affecting the top but not the under surface of the arm .
• Dermatitis of face, neck, arms and hands due to antiseptic in soap.

Homoeopathic treatment:
This allergic hypersensitivity reaction is very well treated with homeopathy. The immunity medication is very effective and can bring down the allergic reaction to the allergen. And in most cases the allergic tendency towards the allergen is reduced, so that even on exposure to the same allergen, the condition does not show up.

 

Acne is an inflammatory disease of the sebaceous glands of the skin and hair follicles, characterized by the presence on the face usually of small papules or nodules varying in size from a pin head to a pea.
They can appear on the face, cheeks, chin, neck, shoulders and back.

Symptoms:
There are many pimples like or small boil like eruptions, which begin as bright red eruptions. There might be yellowish-white discoloration that is pus formation. After 3 to 10 days they might break open and a small amount of pus or blood might be discharged.
Scarring might be seen as a result of all this changes in many cases.
Typically many such small eruptions on the upper back may also be acne.

Causes:
In youngsters especially teenagers, the most common cause is the hormonal changes that take place during puberty.
Women in their twenties and thirties can have acne due to irregular periods or disturbed cycles.
Digestive problems and a diet especially fat rich foods, meats, coffee etc can also be a cause of acne.

General measures :
• Keep the face non-oily by washing it mildly with luke-warm water.
• Wash the face with warm water frequently without using a soap.
• Popping and squeezing of the pimples should not be done as this can worsen the infection and result in increased scar formation. Avoid using scrubs, soaps and vigorous rubbing of the face.
• Avoid using cosmetics which can worsen the problem
• Avoid oily and spicy food, and reduce the meat, coffee and tea intake as these can aggravate the problem.

Homoeopathic Treatment:
An internal medicine is required to eliminate this problem because external applications would only suppress the condition and worsen it over a period of time.
With Homeopathic treatment the acne comes down, and the scars heal with the continued treatment.

In cases with underlying hormonal imbalance or irregular menses, this condition is treated along with the acne, so that the main cause of the acne is removed; allowing the acne to heal faster.

Vitiligo is a common skin disorder also called as Leucoderma in which there is focal failure of pigmentation due to destruction of melanocytes (cells associated with pigment formation).

Symptoms:
White patches or spots (depigmentation) are first noticed on the skin.
The skin remains of normal texture, and there is usually no itching or dryness.
These patches are more obvious in sun-exposed areas, including the hands, feet, arms, legs face, and lips. Other common areas for white patches to appear are the armpits and groin and around the mouth, eyes, nostrils, and navel.

The patches may develop only in one area of the body; or it may appear only on one side of the body. But for most people who have vitiligo, depigmentation occurs on different parts of the body; generalized vitiligo, often similar on each side of the body.

Causes:
The cause is unknown but it happens due to the immunological involvement.
A rash, sunburn, or other skin trauma at the site of vitiligo 2 to 3 months before depigmentation started; stress or physical illness.

Homoeopathic management:
In this condition while external therapies can show some improvement, the internal medication is very effective. The immunity based medication is also very effective in the treatment of this condition.

With treatment the vitiligo patches initially develop normally pigmented spots, and gradually the whole area develops normal skin color.
Any underlying conditions like thyroid disorders etc are simultaneously corrected.
Medicine is given along with a considerable amount of counseling and a frequent follow up is needed for this type of condition.

 

Urticaria is a condition in which there are raised red spots or eruptions of various size on the surface of the skin, often itchy, which come and go. It is usually an allergy to a drug or some food item. They are also known as Hives, wheals or nettle rash.

Causes:
Some causes of Urticaria are :
• Sensitivity to foods, example fish, prawns, crabs, milk, etc.
• Strong medication and some drugs.
• Systemic disorders like lupus erythematosus
• Physical causes like persistent cold and pressure.
• Exposure to pollen

The reason for the Urticaria remains unknown in most patients with the disorder.

Symptoms:
Urticaria is characterized by sudden, acute skin eruption with swelling, redness, intense itching and burning.

The eruptions may be single or multiple reddish eruptions, irregularly shaped or round, with clearly defined edges, and severe itching.

There is mild swelling.

They may be limited to one area like the arms or legs, or face; or be diffuse throughout the body.

They come on suddenly, stay for a few minutes to hours, and then automatically disappear.

Self care:

• Cool compresses or soaks to the area may reduce swelling and pain.
• Avoid irritation of the area, and do not wear tight clothing which may trigger a new outbreak.
• Avoid known allergens to prevent recurrence of hives.

Homoeopathic treatment:
While identifying the allergen can be useful, avoiding these allergens may not always be possible.

Homoeopathic medicines are very effective in the treatment of the urticarial tendency. The treatment reduces the itching followed by the reduction of rashes, and the recurrent condition comes down, with reduced episodes of Urticaria.

Hair loss can affect people of any age. The condition of the hair is generally an indicator of the general health. While hair loss is connected to external factors like hard or soft water, shampoo used, oils used, dust and pollution, the major problem is more internal, and is associated with diseases and the general state of nutrition.

Normal hair growth-
Hair goes through a growth phase, a resting phase after which it is shed. When hair is shed, new hair from the same follicle replaces it and the growing cycle starts again.
About 90 percent of the hair on a person's scalp is growing at any one time, and this phase lasts between two and six years. Ten percent of the hair is in a resting phase that lasts two to three months. At the end of its resting stage, the hair is shed. Most hair shedding is due to the normal hair cycle, and losing up to 50 hairs per day need not be a cause for alarm.
The medical term for hair loss is alopecia. In certain conditions, the hair is shed from the root, and the follicle is destroyed and can no longer grow, leading to baldness or alopecia.

Androgenetic alopecia
This is common in men, and is called the male pattern balding and can start in the teens, twenties or thirties. The hair loss is mainly around the temples and the crown. A history of Androgenetic alopecia on either side of the family increases the risk of balding. Heredity also affects the age at which one begins to lose hair and the developmental speed, pattern and extent of the baldness. Women with this trait develop thinning of hair, but do not become completely bald. In the initial stages, homeopathic treatment is effective to prevent the progress of the condition.

Alopecia areata
Alopecia areata - In this type of hair loss, hair usually falls out, resulting in totally smooth, round patches about the size of a coin or larger. This can appear in the scalp, beard and chest hair areas. This is an autoimmune condition, and can be associated with a thyroid disorder and is very effectively treated with homeopathic medicines.

Causes of hair loss
• Poor nutrition, sudden change in diet, a weight loss diet, or a low protein diet can affect the nutrition to the hair. The body will save protein by shifting growing hair into the resting phase. Massive hair shedding can occur two to three months after a crash diet. Correcting the diet can control this within a few weeks.
• Recent high fever, acute illness or surgery. Hair growth is less after this.
• Anemia, especially iron deficiency anemia, can cause hair loss, and is a common cause in young women, and in women with heavy menstrual flow. Adequate supplementation of iron, and an iron rich diet treats this problem; severe anemia needs treatment.
• Thyroid disorders can cause hair loss. Both an over-active thyroid and an under-active thyroid can cause hair loss. Hair loss associated with thyroid disease can be reversed with proper Homeopathic treatment.
• Hormonal imbalance and menstrual disorders can cause hair fall in women. Treating the underlying condition can control the hair fall. During menopause many women lose significant amounts of hair. After childbirth a woman generally has hair fall, but resolves completely in most cases.
• Diseases of the scalp like fungal infection (Ringworm) of the scalp, psoriasis etc can also cause hair fall. Severe dandruff and some strong anti dandruff shampoos can damage the hair. Homeopathy has very good treatment for dandruff and scalp psoriasis.
• Too frequent washing of the hair and strong shampoos can also cause hair loss.
• Chemical treatments on their hair, including dyes, tints, bleaches, straighteners and permanent waves do not generally cause hair loss. The hair can become weak and break if any of these chemicals are used too often.
• Certain medical treatments with strong drugs can cause hair loss.
• Hereditary thinning or balding - Hereditary balding or thinning is the most common cause of hair loss. The tendency can be inherited from either the mother's or father's side of the family.
• Smoking can cause and increase hair fall, and speed up the process of hereditary male balding.
• Stress is also a cause for hair fall. Any increase in mental or emotional stress can cause increase in hair fall.

Care for the Hair-
• Avoid using hot water to wash the hair, and use warm water instead.
• Do not comb the hair when it is wet.
• When there is dandruff, this needs to be primarily treated, as severe dandruff is itself a cause for hair loss.
• Oil regularly with almond or olive oil for dryness of scalp, massage on to the scalp, leave overnight and wash.
• Use a mild shampoo with natural or herbal ingredients.
• Eat 2-3 almonds every morning, this is very rich in vitamin E and is very nutritious for the hair.
• Avoid repeated chemical or heat treatments to the hair.

Homeopathic treatment
Hair fall associated with chronic illness, or hormonal imbalance corrects itself with the treatment of the underlying condition. In such cases, the underlying condition has to diagnosed and treated. When it is due to acute illness or fever, generally it subsides on its own, and the hair growth normalizes.
In many cases of hair loss, adequate supplementation of iron and vitamins needs to be done to improve the hair growth. Homeopathic treatment is very good for treating hair loss due to the various causes. The causes of the hair fall, as in the underlying chronic conditions are simultaneously treated.

 

Introduction:
Warts are actually benign growths of the epidermis caused by a virus. The virus resides in the bottom layer of the epidermis and replicates there. Warts can appear nearly anywhere on the body and they differ in appearance, size, and shape.

Causes:
Viral warts, as the name suggests, are caused by virus, the most common being human papillomavirus (HPV) group. There are different sub-types of HPV which cause different types of warts. Like any other viral disease, viral warts are contagious and spread by direct contact.

Viral warts and other wart like growths:
Viral warts can be confused at times with other skin growths such as skin-tags (benign skin tumour), molluscum contagiosum (growths on the skin which look like white pearls; caused by another group of virus; often observed in children), moles, birth-marks, lichen planus, etc. A careful look by a trained doctor makes the diagnosis clear.

Treatment:
In the past in order to get rid of warts it was often treated locally with the help of some liquid or solution. Some cases are treated by cauterization (burning the warts) by skin doctors. All such measures, it has been observed, are temporary; and the warts reappear after some time.

Homeopathy Cure for Warts:
Homeopathy offers an excellent and promising cure for warts. The beauty of the treatment is that the medicines are to be taken orally and there is no local application. This treatment, in turn, treats the ailment from within and in turn one get rid of warts for a long time, almost permanently.