Common Skin Diseases
Article contributed by:
Ms Sun Junyan, TCM
Physician
Ma Kuang Healthcare
Group
Singapore’s humid
weather can easily cause
common skin diseases
such as eczema, acne and
ringworm.
1. Eczema
Causes
Eczema is a common skin
disease in which its
causes are quite
complex. It is
generally believed that
it is caused by allergic
reaction.
Its internal causes are
related to hereditary
factors, as well as
factors that include
chronic indigestion,
tapeworm, metabolism,
internal secretion
disorders, impediment of
the nervous system, and
so on.
External factors are
related to various types
of physico-chemical
stimulants such as
excess tanning, usage of
soaps, cleansers and
cosmetics, as well as
allergic reactions to
woolen products, pollen,
dust and spices.
In addition, eczema can
be caused by consumption
of seafood, beef,
mutton, eggs, milk and
spicy food.
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Symptoms and
Treatment
Eczema usually refers to
a range of persistent or
recurring skin rashes
characterized by
redness, skin edema,
blisters, oozing, scabs,
flaking, lichen simplex
chronicus (LSC) and so
on. This ailment
can be categorized under
acute, sub-acute and
chronic according to the
symptoms and skin
characteristics.
Acute eczema
This ailment is
initially known as
lingering redness,
slight edema, before
grain-sized pimples or
blisters start appearing
in a dense fashion.
They cause a great itch
and would normally be
scratched till the pus
oozes out, and gradually
becoming scabs.
Treatment by Chinese
physicians is focused on
clearing heat, resolving
dampness and expelling
toxins. A suitable
prescribed medicine is
Longdan-xiegan
decoction.
Sub-acute eczema
This is evolved from
acute eczema. At
this point, edema and
oozing decreases; while
the affected areas
display itchy red spots
and flaking of the skin.
Treatment is focused on
clearing heat,
strengthening the spleen
and resolving dampness.
Prescribed medicine is
either Weiling soup or
Xiaofeng powder.
Chronic eczema
This is a delayed form
of acute and sub-acute
eczema; however there
are also cases where
patients exhibit chronic
eczema symptoms from the
beginning. Skin
lesions normally exhibit
a thickened skin layer
with minimal flaking,
with scabbing and oozing
in between. A
portion of these
symptoms are accompanied
by an LSC-like
appearance, and ensuing
itchiness.
Treatment is focused on
nourishing blood and
expelling wind.
Prescribed medicine
includes
Yangxue-dingfeng soup
and Siwu-xiaofeng
powder.
In addition, infants are
prone to eczema due to
their tender skin and
weak body resistance.
Thus, early treatment is
necessary to prevent it
from worsening.
Due to the recurring
nature of eczema
(especially chronic
eczema), patients can
easily lose confidence
in treatment.
Therefore it is
necessary to understand
its causes, patterns of
development and
preventive measures so
that it can go well with
active treatment, and
achieve a better
curative effect.
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Preventive Measures
To prevent eczema from
occurring, reduce
contact with external
stimulants and actively
seek the cause of
allergy. Once the
source of allergy is
found, make efforts to
eliminate them so as to
significantly reduce the
possibility of a
relapse.
On top of that, improper
treatment may also be
the reason why the
condition does not
improve after long
periods.
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Dietotherapy
Barley and Rice Bean
Porridge
30g of barley, 15g of
rice beans, 15g of corn
stigma.
Cook all ingredients
into porridge and
consume.
Huai Hua Drink
30g each of Huai hua,
smilacis glabrae and
portulaca oleracea.
Boil in water and
consume as a replacement
of tea.
Mulberry and
Artichoke Soup
30g of mulberries, 30g
of artichokes, 3 whole
Chinese dates.
Boil ingredients in
water and consume.
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2. Acne
Acne, which is the main
cause of pimples, is
common among teenagers
during puberty. It
occurs mostly because of
an internal secretion
disorder, and it affects
more males than females.
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Symptoms
Acne mostly affects the
face, chest and back.
The skin lesion exhibit
inflamed and/or
obstructed pores;
sometimes white heads
and blackheads are
visible, the surrounding
area is reddish and the
pores excrete a whitish
discharge when
depressed.
In severe cases, acne
may develop into pus,
abscess, or tubercle
cyst. If it is
accompanied by bacterial
infection, it may leave
behind a pigmented
deposit, or even rough
scars. Acne are
usually chronic and
recursive.
Acne will mostly heal by
itself after puberty.
A minority of patients
have this condition
extended till adulthood.
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Treatment
Treatment by Chinese
physicians is focused on
disseminating and
adjusting the energy of
the lungs, resolves
dampness and expelling
toxins, as well as
promoting blood
circulation and removing
blood stasis.
Common prescriptions
include Pipa-qingfei
drink, Huanglian-jiedu
soup, fangfeng-tongshen
powder, and Taohong-siwu
soup.
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Preventive Measures
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Take
note of personal hygiene; wash face with warm
water and sulphuric soap twice a day.
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Do not
depress affected area with fingers, try not to
apply makeup, decrease usage of oil-based
cosmetics, do not apply medicated cream
randomly.
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Refrain from fried, sweet and spicy food as much
as possible.
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Avoid
smoking and consuming alcohol.
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Consume more fruits and vegetables to maintain
smooth bowels.
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Live a
regular life and exercise frequently.
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Dietotherapy
Pipa-Sangpi Drink
10g of loquat, 10g of
cortex mori.
Boil with water and
consume in replacement
of tea.
Medicinalindian Mulberry
Soup with Rice
Beans
15g of medicinalindian
mulberry, 30g of rice
beans.
Boil soup with
ingredients, add
moderate amounts of
sugar and consume.
Bitter Gourd Soup
with Lean Pork
200g of fresh bitter
gourd, 100g of lean
pork.
Clean bitter gourd and
cut it into pieces; cut
lean pork into slices,
add water and boil soup
with ingredients.
Add moderate amounts of
salt and consume.
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3. Ringworm
Ringworm, also known as
Tinea, is mainly caused
by pathogenic fungi that
attack the skin.
Affected Areas
Ringworm is a common
skin disease, and has
different definitions
when it affects
different areas.
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Ringworm that affects the scalp is known as
tinea capitis, or known as favus of the scalp.
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Tinea
corporis is circular-shaped, and known as
ringworm.
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Tinea
manum is also known as goose foot wind.
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Tinea
Pedis is also known as athlete’s foot.
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Tinea
unguium is also known as grey nails.
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Causes
Ringworm is an
infectious ailment that
is common in warm, humid
environments. This
type of ailment infects
the body when its
defense systems are weak
and comes in contact
with pathogenic
bacteria.
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Symptoms
Various forms of
ringworm display similar
characteristics:
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Obvious boundary between normal and affected
areas
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Dryness or effusion of pus
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However, take note that
psoriasis and ichthyosis
are non-infectious
diseases, so they cannot
be categorized under
ringworm.
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Treatment
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Medication can only stop when the affected area
is fully recovered to prevent any relapses.
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Treatment by Chinese physicians’ emphasise on
expelling toxins, clearing heat and dampness.
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Common
prescriptions: Longdan-xiegan decoction,
Jingfang-baidu powder, and Qufeng-huanfu pills.
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External cleansing medication: radix stemonae,
common cnidium fruit, portulaca oleracea,
belvedere fruit, cortex dictamni radicis,
pseudostellaria root, golden cypress and
chrysanthemum.
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Preventive Measures
Please take note of the
points mentioned below
to prevent contracting
ringworm:
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Maintain skin, hair and fingernail hygiene and
avoid injury, overly humid or hot conditions.
Frequent cleansing can help maintain
cleanliness.
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Wear
slightly bigger-sized clothing; when washing,
separate them appropriately and sterilise them
periodically.
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Select
undergarments with materials (such as cotton and
linen) that have good ventilation and readily
absorb perspiration.
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Refrain from smoking, alcohol, strong tea and
consuming spicy food.
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Avoid
seafood, beef, mutton, peanuts, eggs and dairy
products.
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Dietotherapy
Dandelion Soup
30g of fresh dandelion;
boil in water and
consume.
Shuanghua Tea
10g of Yinhua, 10g of
sophora flower; boil in
water and consume in
replacement of tea.
Winter Melon Soup
with Houttuynia Cordata
200g of winter melon,
15g of houttuynia
cordata; boil in water
and consume.
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Article contributed by:
Ms Sun Junyan, TCM
Physician
Ma Kuang Healthcare
Group
Dated: November 2013
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Ma Kuang
Healthcare
Group is
one of the
leading
healthcare
groups in
holistic
Traditional
Chinese
Medicine (TCM)
products and
services in
Singapore.
Founded in
1999, Ma Kuang has
expanded
rapidly from
its first
TCM clinic
in Middle
Road to
today’s
largest
chain of TCM
clinics in
Singapore. |
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