RI& KOREAN MEDICAL CLINIC
Eczema & Atopic Dermatitis
Eczema
Eczema is a non-specific inflammatory skin condition caused by impaired skin barrier function and an imbalanced immune response, characterized by redness, itching, blisters, oozing, and peeling skin.
Living environment, contact irritants (detergents, metals, sweat, etc.), stress, weakened immunity, and impaired gut function can all aggravate the condition. Even when symptoms improve, eczema tends to recur easily with irritation or changes in your overall condition, so ongoing management is needed.
Atopic dermatitis
Atopic dermatitis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease caused by an overactive immune response, characterized by intense itching and dry skin.
It arises mainly from genetic factors and immunological abnormalities, and remains a complex, difficult-to-treat skin disease whose exact cause has yet to be fully identified.
Atopic Dermatitis Self-Check
- Extremely dry skin with severe itching
- Scratching makes the skin red, oozy, or crusted
- Itching worsens at night, disturbing your sleep
- Skin feels rough and bumpy, like goosebumps
- Symptoms appear mainly on the face, neck,
inner elbows, and behind the knees - A family member has an allergic condition such as
atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis, or asthma - Symptoms worsen with sweating or after eating certain foods
(milk, eggs, nuts, etc.) - Symptoms worsen with seasonal changes or stress
Main Causes of Eczema & Atopic Dermatitis
Genetic factors (atopic dermatitis)
Damaged skin barrier
Immune hypersensitivity
Environmental factors
Stress & lifestyle habits
Eczema & Atopic Dermatitis Treatment at Myeongdong RI& Korean Medicine Clinic
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Skin & Constitution Diagnosis
- Using the T-1000 thermographic diagnostic device, we analyze the body's heat patterns and closely examine inflamed areas, blood circulation, and autonomic nervous system balance.
- An RSA autonomic nervous system test evaluates your metabolic state, stress index, and autonomic balance to precisely identify internal causes.
- Combined with traditional Korean medicine diagnostics (tongue, pulse, and abdominal examination), we comprehensively assess your skin and overall health, then provide treatment tailored to your individual skin type and symptom severity.
02RI&
Saam Acupuncture
Saam acupuncture addresses heat-toxin (熱毒) and impaired blood circulation — major causes of atopic dermatitis — to support skin recovery. With continued treatment, it aims to support the skin's resilience and help manage recurrence.
03RI&
Soothing & Anti-inflammatory Pharmacopuncture
Herbal pharmacopuncture solutions with anti-inflammatory properties — such as soothing pharmacopuncture and centipede (Ogong) pharmacopuncture — are injected directly into the skin to help calm inflammation. This treatment especially helps reduce redness, ease discomfort, and support skin regeneration. It is injected directly into the inflamed area, and the degree and pace of change vary from person to person.
04RI&
Customized Herbal Medicine
This treatment looks at the causes of eczema and atopic dermatitis according to your constitution and aims to improve them and restore skin health. By addressing immune hypersensitivity and heat-toxin, it aims to reduce inflammation and support the skin barrier to help prevent recurrence. It can also be prescribed in pill (hwan) form, making it easy to take consistently over the long term.
05RI&
Herbal Topical Treatment
In atopic and eczema-prone skin, the skin barrier is weakened and reacts sensitively to external stimuli. Our topical treatments, based on ingredients derived from medicinal herbs, focus on helping to calm the skin and restore the damaged skin barrier.
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Lifestyle & Dietary Guidance
We provide personalized lifestyle coaching to minimize skin irritation and reduce inflammatory reactions.
Daily Care for Eczema & Atopic Dermatitis
Moisturizing & cleanliness
- Apply moisturizer 2–3 times a day
- Take short, lukewarm showers
- Use mild cleansers
- Keep fingernails short
Avoiding aggravating environments
- Wash bedding and curtains weekly in hot water of 60℃ or above (to remove dust mites)
- Keep indoor humidity at 50–60% and temperature at 20–22℃
- Watch out for allergens such as pet hair and pollen
- Reduce irritation from sweat, friction, and UV rays
- Wear cotton clothing rather than synthetic fibers or wool
Skin-friendly eating habits
- Cut down on processed foods, instant foods, and sugary foods
- Eat omega-3-rich foods such as fish and nuts
- Get antioxidants from fresh vegetables and fruit
- Drink plenty of water every day (to prevent dry skin)
- If a food allergy is suspected, restrict the food only after consulting a specialist
Stress & immune management
- Keep a regular sleep schedule
- Do moderate aerobic exercise
- Practice relaxation techniques to ease mental tension
Skin Analysis SKIN ANALYSIS
Multi-Angle Imaging
photographs your skin from several angles
UV & Visible Light Imaging
shows conditions that are hard to see with the naked eye, such as sun damage and pigmentation
High-Resolution Imaging
lets us look closely at pores, wrinkles and pigmentation
Saved Results
stores each analysis so changes can be compared over the course of care
Used in Consultation
we explain your skin condition and care options based on the results
prescribed to suit your constitution and symptoms
Herbal prescription and preparation
Individual prescriptions are prepared with pharmaceutical-grade herbal ingredients manufactured under the MFDS herbal Good Manufacturing Practice (hGMP) standard.
Each prescription is decocted separately.
Pharmaceutical-grade herbs
Prescribed by constitution and symptoms
Decocted per prescription
Progress checks while you take it
Eczema & Atopic Dermatitis Q&A
Are atopic dermatitis and eczema the same thing?
Eczema is a broad term for skin inflammation accompanied by itching, redness, flaking, and oozing. Atopic dermatitis is one type of eczema — a chronic inflammatory skin disease involving both genetic predisposition and immune hypersensitivity.
In other words, atopic dermatitis is always a form of eczema, but not all eczema is atopic dermatitis. Eczema also includes contact dermatitis, nummular eczema, hand eczema, and other types, each with different causes, affected areas, and treatment approaches. Even when the visible symptoms look similar, it is important to identify the exact type through an accurate diagnosis and receive treatment suited to it.
What is the goal of treating atopic dermatitis and eczema?
Atopic dermatitis and eczema are chronic conditions in which impaired skin barrier function and immune imbalance interact, and current medical treatment aims to control symptoms and prevent recurrence. Topical steroids work well for quickly relieving acute symptoms, but repeated long-term use can progressively thin the skin barrier and lead to 'steroid-dependent skin.' In that state, the skin flushes easily at the slightest irritation, itching intensifies, and flare-ups become more frequent.
Korean medicine treatment does not merely suppress surface symptoms; it focuses on adjusting immune balance and constitution while gradually restoring the weakened skin barrier. Combined with consistent lifestyle management — sleep, diet, stress, and a moisturizing routine — it aims to help the skin regain its resilience and keep symptoms stable (results vary).
Does atopic dermatitis naturally improve with age?
In childhood atopic dermatitis, symptoms sometimes ease or disappear as the immune system matures with growth. However, in many cases it persists into adulthood, and adult-onset atopic dermatitis is also not uncommon. In particular, ongoing sleep deprivation, severe stress, irregular eating habits, and dry environments can lead to adult atopic dermatitis or make symptoms worse. Leaving it untreated in the hope that 'it will get better with time' allows skin barrier damage to accumulate, making later treatment more difficult — so it is important to begin treatment at the right time.
Why does eczema keep coming back in the same spot?
Recurring eczema in the same area is not simply a surface skin problem — it means the skin barrier there has already been damaged and now reacts easily to external stimuli. When a damaged skin barrier heals incompletely, its threshold for irritation drops, creating a vicious cycle in which even minor triggers cause repeated inflammation. Furthermore, if immune hypersensitivity or imbalances in internal organ function remain unresolved, topical treatment alone can hardly prevent recurrence. What is needed is an approach that restores the skin barrier of the recurring area step by step while also addressing the internal causes.
Do I have to take herbal medicine for atopic dermatitis or eczema?
Although atopic dermatitis and eczema show on the skin's surface, they involve complex internal factors — immune hypersensitivity, weakened skin barrier function, and imbalances of heat and dampness within the body. Topical steroids and antihistamines can temporarily suppress itching and redness, but unless the internal environment changes, the skin may keep reacting to the same triggers.
Herbal medicine treatment focuses on rebalancing the immune system and internal organ function, aiming to stabilize your constitution so the skin becomes less reactive to external stimuli. Combined with topical treatment, it aims to help lengthen the intervals between flare-ups and reduce their severity.
What if herbal medicine doesn't suit me?
Responses to herbal medicine can vary with each person's constitution, skin condition, and lifestyle. At Myeongdong RI& Korean Medicine Clinic, herbal medicine for atopic dermatitis and eczema is prescribed in 15-day units, and we closely monitor your skin and constitutional response throughout the course.
Prescriptions are prepared with pharmaceutical-grade herbal ingredients. While you take the medicine, we comprehensively monitor your skin's response and overall condition, fine-tuning your prescription with care.
