Dry cracked czema Case study
Presenting condition: Dry cracked eczema on hands/fingers and back of knees
Brief history: Suffering for 4yrs and now can’t bend fingers without the skin cracking and bleeding painfully.
Relevant timeline incidents:
0yrs During pregnancy, parents split up due to infidelity. Mother suffered the loss of possessions due to a house fire. Pethidine used in labour.
1yrs Eczema diagnosed.
3yrs Tonsils and adenoids removed surgically.
4yrs Dry cracked eczema on back of both hands, back of both knees, crock of elbows, external throat area. Skin is red, dry, and sore cracks easily so becomes infected frequently. It is very itchy.
Main remedy given: Petroleum
After 1st prescription:
The remedies were like ‘magic’. After just 3 weeks the skin was a lot better but has gone backwards in last 1 week. Sleeping in his own bed now rather than with his mother 3-4 nights a week. Appetite increased and more confident attitude too.
After 2nd prescription:
75% better in 8 weeks. Skin is only red on the odd day here and there. It can be irritated when hot/sweaty or playing in sand/grass. Demarcation is still there on hands and wrists but nowhere near as red as before. Sleeping by himself every night now. Need to increase fibre to keep bowels moving at least daily.
After 3rd prescription:
Skin still the same as before. Client now moved to 12 week appt schedule due to financial reasons.
Summary:
This little boy was really suffering from painful cracked eczema. It was quite noticeable on his hands, which was embarrassing as he’d just started primary school. If the monthly appointments had continued for a little longer, I’m confident I could have got his skin to improve even more. Currently it remains stable at the 75% rate.
