Eczema is one of the most common skin conditions I treat in my practice. The physical and emotional toll of living with chronic eczema is often not fully appreciated by those who have not experienced it. Persistent itching, inflamed skin, disrupted sleep, and the self-consciousness that comes with visible lesions can significantly affect a person’s quality of life.
If you have been managing eczema with topical steroids, antihistamines, or other conventional approaches and have not found lasting relief, Chinese herbal medicine may offer a meaningful path forward. In my clinical experience, individualized herbal formulas that address the underlying patterns driving your eczema can produce significant and sustained improvement.
What Is Eczema?
Eczema is a broad term used to describe a group of related conditions involving redness, inflammation, and itching of the skin, sometimes accompanied by scaling, dryness, or the presence of vesicles (small fluid-filled blisters). The word is often used interchangeably with “dermatitis,” which simply means inflammation of the skin.
Atopic dermatitis (AD) is the most common form of eczema. It is characterized by generalized dry skin, persistent itch, and a rash that typically affects the flexural areas—the inner elbows, behind the knees, the neck, and sometimes the face and hands. During flares, the skin may become red, inflamed, weepy, or crusted. Over time, chronic scratching can lead to lichenification (thickened, rough skin) and changes in pigmentation.
Atopic dermatitis affects over 15% of the population worldwide, and prevalence has been rising in industrialized countries. In the United States alone, approximately 9.6 million children and 16.5 million adults live with the condition. While eczema often begins in childhood—about 80% of cases develop before age six—it can also present for the first time in adulthood.
Other forms of eczema that I treat include seborrheic dermatitis, nummular (discoid) eczema, and pompholyx (dyshidrotic eczema). While each has distinct characteristics, the underlying principles of Chinese medical treatment—identifying and addressing the specific pattern driving the condition—remain consistent.
How Chinese Medicine Understands Eczema
In Chinese Medicine, eczema has been recognized and treated for over a thousand years. Atopic dermatitis is known as Si Wan Feng (“Wind of the Four Crooks”), a name that describes the itchy, inflamed skin characteristically found in the flexural creases of the elbows and knees.
Where Western medicine tends to focus on the allergic and inflammatory mechanisms of eczema—barrier defects, IgE responses, immune dysregulation—Chinese Medicine takes a broader view. We understand eczema as a manifestation of internal disharmony preventing harmonization with the external environment. Individual assessment and treatment brings the best results.
The key pathogenic factors we look for include, but are not limited to:
- Damp Heat: Often the dominant pattern in acute flares with redness, oozing, and intense itching.
- Wind: Responsible for the itching, the migration of symptoms from one area to another, and the sudden onset of flares.
- Blood Heat: Drives the redness and inflammation, particularly in acute and severe presentations.
- Blood and Yin Deficiency: Underlies the dryness, scaling, and chronic nature of long-standing eczema, where the body’s fluids and nourishing substances have been depleted over time.
- Spleen and Lung Deficiency: Constitutional factors that can predispose an individual to eczema, reflecting impaired digestive function and weakened defensive Qi.
In plain terms, these patterns describe the body’s tendency to generate excessive heat and inflammation, retain moisture in the tissues, and lose the ability to adequately nourish and protect the skin. The specific combination of patterns varies from person to person—and often shifts during the course of treatment—which is why an individualized approach is essential.
My Treatment Approach
My primary treatment for eczema is individualized oral Chinese herbal formulas. I prescribe concentrated granular herbal extracts, typically taken two to three times daily dissolved in hot water. The formula is tailored to your specific presentation and adjusted at each follow-up visit as your condition evolves.
Treatment generally progresses through three phases:
Phase 1 — Clearing: In the acute or active phase, the priority is to clear Heat, resolve Dampness, and reduce inflammation. Herbs in this phase tend to be cooling and draining in nature. Patients often notice improvement in itching, redness, and sleep within the first two to four weeks.
Phase 2 — Harmonizing: As active lesions begin to resolve, I shift the formula to moisten the skin, gently move Blood to address hyperpigmentation, and continue clearing any residual Heat. This phase supports the skin’s recovery and helps prevent relapse.
Phase 3 — Consolidation: Once the skin has substantially cleared, a lighter formula supports the body’s constitution and aims to prevent flare-ups. This consolidation phase is important for long-term stability.
In some cases, I also use topical Chinese herbal preparations—ointments, washes, or baths—as an adjunct to the oral formula, particularly for infants and young children.
I do not prescribe acupuncture as a primary treatment for eczema. Herbal medicine is substantially more effective for addressing the root patterns driving eczematous conditions. Visits typically last 60 to 90 minutes already, so by default I prefer to focus on herbal medicine.
What to Expect During Treatment
Every case truly is different, and I want to set honest expectations. That said, in many cases I see a recognizable pattern of improvement:
- Weeks 1–4: Reduced itching intensity, less nighttime waking, calmer skin. Active redness and scaling often begin to decrease.
- Months 1–3: Significant clearing of lesions in many patients. Flares become less frequent and less intense. Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (dark marks left after lesions resolve) begins to fade.
- Months 3–6+: Consolidation phase. The goal is sustained remission with minimal or no active lesions. Some patients may continue a lighter herbal protocol to maintain stability.
Initial visits are typically every two weeks, gradually extending to three to six weeks as the skin stabilizes. Compliance with the herbal formula is important—the herbs work best when taken consistently as directed.
To be transparent, in regards to length of treatment, results vary. Not only is every patient different, but eczema presents with a wide range in terms of severity. Given this, some patients respond rapidly, while others with more complex or long-standing conditions require a longer course of treatment. During treatment, I am straightforward with you about what I observe and what I expect.
A Note About Topical Steroid Withdrawal (TSW)
Many of the eczema patients I see have a history of topical steroid use, and some are navigating Topical Steroid Withdrawal (TSW)—a complex and often distressing process that can occur when long-term topical steroids are discontinued. TSW can produce symptoms that are distinct from the underlying eczema, including widespread redness, burning, weeping, and intense skin shedding.
I have extensive experience treating TSW with Chinese herbal medicine and have seen very positive outcomes in patients who come to me after deciding to discontinue topical steroids. If you are experiencing or considering TSW, I encourage you to read my dedicated page on Topical Steroid Withdrawal Treatment for a detailed discussion of my approach.
Whether someone should stay on topical steroids or stop is a personal medical decision that I do not try to influence. My role is to support patients who have already made that choice.
Who This Treatment Is For
Chinese herbal medicine for eczema may be appropriate if you:
- Have been managing eczema with topical steroids, immunosuppressants, or other conventional treatments and have not achieved lasting control
- Are looking for an approach that addresses the root patterns behind your eczema, not just the surface symptoms
- Are experiencing Topical Steroid Withdrawal and need treatment and support to move out of that presentation
- Have a child with eczema and are seeking a gentle, natural approach
- Want a practitioner with specialized training in Chinese medical dermatology
I treat patients of all ages, from infants to adults. My practice is located in the Oakland Hills and I see patients from throughout the East Bay, including Berkeley, Alameda, San Leandro, Walnut Creek, and the greater Bay Area. Telemedicine consultations are available for patients throughout California, and I can ship herbs directly to you. California residents who live too far to come in regularly are also welcome to come in person on occasion with the core of their regular visits being via telemedicine.
My Training and Background
My focus on dermatology within Chinese Medicine is the product of years of specialized study. I hold a Doctorate of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine (DACM) and am a licensed acupuncturist (L.Ac.) and NCCAOM Diplomate. My interest in dermatology started early on in my career and led me to pursue dermatology-specific training, including completing Dr. Mazin Al-Khafaji’s TCM Dermatology Diploma Course twice amongst other TCM dermatology trainings. I am listed in the International TCM Dermatology Association (ITCMDA) practitioner directory.
Supporting patients and families affected by severe eczema is an important part of my work. Many of my new patients come in with widespread redness, swelling around the eyes, scaling, peeling, and discomfort. Having witnessed many positive transformations, I’m confident in the potential of this medicine to help treat these challenging conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
I prefer to speak in terms of significant improvement and sustained remission rather than “cure.” In many cases, patients achieve substantial clearing of their eczema and are able to maintain that improvement over time. Eczema can be a chronic condition with constitutional factors, and some patients may experience occasional mild flares, particularly during periods of stress or seasonal change. The goal of treatment is to bring your skin to a stable, comfortable state and give your body the tools to maintain it.
Treatment duration varies depending on the severity and chronicity of the condition. Many patients see meaningful improvement within two to four weeks of starting herbs. A typical course of treatment ranges from three to six months for moderate eczema, and five to twelve months for severe or long-standing cases, including those involving Topical Steroid Withdrawal.
Yes. I treat infants and children with eczema regularly. For very young children, I often rely more heavily on topical herbal preparations—baths, washes, and ointments—which are gentle and well-tolerated. For children older than 2, who can take oral herbs, formulas are adjusted for age and weight. I treated my own infant daughter’s eczema with herbal baths, so this is something I have personal as well as clinical experience with.
While I am unable to treat patients currently using topical steroids, whether you decide to stop their usage or not is a personal decision to be made on your part, possibly with the guidance of the prescribing physician.
For patients who have already discontinued steroids and are in withdrawal, a waiting period of two to three weeks off all topical steroids is recommended before beginning herbal treatment, so that I can accurately assess your skin’s unsuppressed presentation.
The herbs are dissolved in hot water and can be quite bitter. However, most patients adjust within the first week or two, and the motivation of seeing their skin improve tends to make the taste easier to tolerate.
Dermatology consultations are $185 for the initial visit and $100 for follow-up visits, plus the cost of the herbal formula. The herbs typically run between $40 and $60 per week, depending on the complexity of the formula and the dosage prescribed.
Yes. I see dermatology patients via telemedicine throughout California and can ship herbs directly to you. Telemedicine initial visits are $200 and follow-ups are $130, plus the cost of herbs. Shipping, preparation, and photo analysis do take longer than in-person visits.
Schedule a Consultation
If you are dealing with eczema and would like to explore whether Chinese herbal medicine may be appropriate for your situation, I welcome you to schedule a consultation. I see patients in person at my Oakland Hills office and via telemedicine for patients elsewhere in California. During your first visit, I will take a thorough history, examine your skin, assess your overall health from a Chinese medical perspective, and discuss a treatment plan tailored to your specific presentation.
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