Chinese medicine describes skin concerns using traditional pattern language. The five patterns below are examples of that vocabulary, not five medically established eczema subtypes or a way to diagnose yourself from photographs.
A qualified medical clinician can assess a rash and discuss appropriate care. This article does not promise that herbal medicine will improve eczema or other symptoms. Widespread redness, fever, or a rapidly worsening rash needs prompt medical assessment.
Traditional Pattern Descriptions
Fetal Heat : Appears between 2 and 6 months of age. Lesions typically begins on the face with swollen, weepy or crusty papules that are intensely itchy, disturbing baby’s sleep. They are often very thirsty, have dark urine, and the skin flares when they get sick or constipated.
Hot Blood with Wind: Dry, flakey, diffuse red flat or rough and bumpy lesions that bleed when scratched. Little weeping unless except when very aggravated. The itch can be intense and disturb sleep.
Damp Heat : Well defined, red, damp, swollen lesions that scab, ooze and crust yellowish fluid. Lesions tend to congregate on the palms and soles, lower body, and skin-folds.
Blood Deficiency Dry Wind : Chronic long standing eczema, often affecting the elderly. Dry, lichenified (thickened) skin with pale lesions that are prone to cracking.
Toxic Heat: Widespread erythroderma covering the majority of the body with scaly red or purple-red lesions that is very hot to the touch, though the patient will feel chilled, unable to regulate their temperature.
All photos are from dermnetnz.org