08/08/2026
Eczema: what is happening and where can homeopathy fit?
Eczema is more than just dry skin.
It is an inflammatory skin condition that can cause intense itching, redness, swelling, dryness, cracking, weeping, crusting and scaling.
And once the itch starts, the itch-scratch cycle can be relentless.
You scratch because it itches.
The scratching damages the skin.
The damaged skin becomes more irritated.
And then it itches even more.
For many people, eczema begins in childhood, although it can also develop later in life. It is also associated with other allergic conditions such as asthma and hay fever, particularly in children with more persistent or severe eczema.
So where does homeopathy fit?
When someone comes to me with eczema, I don't just look at the rash.
I want to know **what their eczema is like and what makes it better or worse.**
Where does it appear?
Is it dry, cracked, weeping, crusty or blistered?
Does it burn or itch?
Is the itching worse at night?
Does scratching make it better or worse?
Does heat aggravate it?
What happens after washing?
Does it flare with stress, certain foods, weather changes or hormonal changes?
And importantly, what is the person like as a whole?
Because two people can have eczema that looks almost identical but need completely different homeopathic support.
Acute remedies for an eczema flare
Acute remedies can be useful when someone is dealing with a particularly uncomfortable flare, especially when there is a clear change in the symptoms.
Here are eight remedies that may be considered, depending on the individual presentation:
Arsenicum album
Think intense itching and burning with restlessness and anxiety. The skin can feel extremely irritated and the person may be chilly, wanting warmth despite the burning sensation. There can be dry, rough, scaly eruptions.
Arsenicum iodatum
A useful consideration when there is marked irritation and inflammation with burning and itching. The skin may be dry and scaly, with a tendency towards persistent, troublesome eruptions. Often considered when the picture is more intense and inflammatory than simple dryness.
Hepar sulph
Think very sensitive, painful and inflamed skin.
The slightest touch can be uncomfortable and there may be a tendency towards infection or suppuration. The person is often very chilly and may be worse from cold air or exposure.
Rhus toxicodendron
Particularly interesting when the eczema is very itchy, with vesicular or blister-like eruptions.
The person may scratch until the skin is raw. Symptoms can be worse at night and there may be restlessness accompanying the itching.
Croton tiglium
A strong consideration when eczema is intensely itchy and scratching makes everything worse.
There may be small vesicles, particularly where the skin is delicate, with a tendency for the eruption to spread or become aggravated by touch and rubbing.
Oleander
Think intense itching with a tendency to scratch vigorously.
The skin can become thickened, dry and scaly, and the itching may be particularly troublesome on the scalp and other areas where scratching becomes habitual.
Petroleum
A classic consideration when the skin is **very dry, rough, cracked and fissured**.
The hands and fingers may be particularly affected, with deep cracks that can become painful and bleed. Symptoms can be worse in cold weather.
Pulsatilla
This can come up when the eczema is changeable and the skin symptoms are influenced by warmth, stuffiness or hormonal changes.
The person may be worse in a warm room and better in cool, open air. There may also be a tendency towards thick, bland discharges rather than the burning, acrid discharges seen in some other remedies.
These are not a checklist of remedies to work through.
The important part of homeopathy is the **individual match**.
And what about constitutional treatment?
This is where things become much more individual.
For persistent or recurrent eczema, I would generally be looking beyond the immediate flare and trying to understand the person's broader pattern.
Remedies such as **Calcarea carbonica, Graphites, Natrum muriaticum, Sepia, Silicea and Sulphur**, among others, may come into consideration, but the name of the condition alone isn't enough to choose one.
The location of the eczema is only one piece of the puzzle.
The way it looks, the sensations, what triggers it, what relieves it, the person's general constitution and their emotional and physical history all contribute to the prescription.
So if your eczema keeps coming back, don't simply ask:
What remedy is good for eczema?
The more useful question is:
"What remedy fits my particular eczema?"
And that's where individualised homeopathy can become much more interesting.
If you'd like to discuss your eczema, or your child's eczema, and whether individualised homeopathic care may be appropriate, send me a message or get in touch.
(Adapted from original post in asthma-eczema-allergies group - September 2001)
