16yr old with itchy eczema
Presenting condition: 16yr old female with itchy, unsightly eczema on throat, eyelid, temple, jaw, chest and upper back areas. Started in crook of elbows and then spread to forearms, front of chest, middle of cleavage, neck, and ribcage areas. The skin is red, hot, itchy and dry.
Brief history of condition: Previously suffered with eczema aged 4yrs but ‘went away’ with steroid cream use. Re-appeared at age 16yrs after returning to the UK from Dubai.
Current medication: None. Has tried emollient creams but not really helping
Other relevant factors: Living with grandma here in the UK, but away from all other immediate family and friends in Dubai.
Relevant timeline incidents:
0yrs – Born in the UK
2yrs – Moved to Dubai
4yrs – Eczema in crook of elbows
13yrs – Boyfriend but family was unaware and then disapproved when found out. Lot of arguments between them as a couple, as well as with family.
14yrs – Grandfather died of cancer. She was very close to him.
15yrs – Car crash. She was strapped in, next to her 8yr old brother and the car rolled. It ended up on the roof upon another car. She thought she was going to die.
16yrs – Moved to the UK to study her A-levels. This was a sudden and intense move which took the space of 1 week. Her mum had a ‘meltdown’ at the airport and was crying and arguing with her. She almost missed the plane.
Eczema started soon after she landed in the UK.
Relevant familial history:
Mother’s side Aunt no.1: Contact dermatitis on hands
Mother’s side Uncle: Died in plane crash
Mother’s side Aunt no.2: Many allergies
Mother: Eczema on legs and lots of allergies
Sister: Eczema on inner arms
Main remedy given: Nat mur
After 1st prescription:
Skin a lot better! It was red and lumpy but is now flat and not red. It is still quite dry and flaky. The marks underneath the skin on lung area are fading and are no longer itchy. Bowels: type 1-3 (constipated) and only going every other day. Less of a desire for chocolate and not very thirsty. Slightly painful periods but the remedies helped. Lots of arguing with boyfriend.
After 2nd prescription:
Skin less dry and flaky. Remedy for itching working well. Skin feels tender and fragile, but not red or lumpy. Face has stayed healed. Bowels: type 4 now and going daily! Thirsty now. Period pains much worse ‘like a knife twisting’. Had to take naproxen and paracetamol for pain relief. Remedies not helped much this time. Broke up with boyfriend and feel better for it. Energy: 7/10
After 3rd prescription:
Skin on chest still feels tender and fragile. Generally, skin is still dry flaky and itchy. Couldn’t take the remedies properly have been travelling around a lot and timings are off due to Ramadan. Bikini line is not itching anymore, and the discoloration has gone! No itching or signs of eczema on upper back. Crook of elbow still appears ‘shiny’ but not itchy. New remedy for period pains worked brilliantly ‘I forgot I was on my period!’. Energy: 9/10
Interim prescription for acute wisdom tooth infection:
Gum and cheek swollen with an offensive taste in mouth from cyst in that area. Painful, red and throbbing.
Result: Pain gone within 30mins and swelling started to decrease after 48hrs.
After 4th prescription:
Skin: All eczema gone! No itching! All areas that felt fragile and tender now feel normal, and skin feels robust again. Areas: neck, jawline, nape of neck, behind ear. Using the Calendula cream less as not really needing it. Bowels: still daily and type 4. Period still no pain or PMT.
Summary:
Extensive red itchy eczema on throat, neck, jawline, face, chest and upper back. Painful periods and constipated.
Eczema is now gone, bowels are open and stooling daily. Periods are no longer painful.
The root cause of this case was grief. In Chinese medicine, the skin – lungs – bowels are all linked. In any eczema case it is important to look at the bowels.
