No two patients with eczema or psoriasis are identical. One person's skin may itch worse at night and improve with cold applications, while another's is aggravated by cold and better with warmth. These distinctions guide remedy selection. The location, sensation, discharge, modalities and the patient's mental and emotional state are all taken into account before a remedy is chosen.
Sulphur
Sulphur is one of the most frequently prescribed remedies for chronic skin conditions and is particularly suited to patients whose skin is dry, rough, unhealthy-looking and intensely itchy. The itching tends to be worse from heat, warmth of the bed and bathing, and scratching provides only momentary relief before burning sets in. This remedy is often indicated in long-standing eczema and psoriasis, especially in patients who have a history of suppressed skin eruptions through steroid creams or ointments. The skin may look dirty even after washing, and the patient often has a strong body odour.
Graphites
Graphites suits patients whose skin conditions involve a thick, honey-like or sticky discharge from the affected areas. It is a strong remedy for eczema that affects the bends of joints, behind the ears, on the eyelids and around the nostrils. The skin cracks easily, bleeds at the folds and tends to be rough and hard. This remedy is often appropriate for patients who are overweight, chilly, prone to constipation and who feel worse in the cold. The skin problem in these patients frequently alternates with digestive complaints or joint symptoms.
Arsenicum Album
Arsenicum Album is indicated when the skin is dry, scaly and burning, and the patient feels an intense burning pain that is paradoxically relieved by warm applications rather than cold. It is used in psoriasis, eczema and urticaria where the skin looks pale, parchment-like and peeling. Patients who need this remedy are typically anxious, restless and very sensitive to cold. Their complaints tend to worsen between midnight and 2 a.m. and they are often meticulous or perfectionistic in nature. Itching without eruption, or with very little visible change on the skin, also points to this remedy.
Natrum Muriaticum
Natrum Muriaticum is a deep-acting remedy often prescribed in chronic skin conditions that have a clear emotional component, particularly grief, suppressed feelings or prolonged stress. The skin tends to be oily on the face and scalp but dry elsewhere, and acne along the hairline and chin is a common presentation. It is also useful in eczema that appears in the bends of joints with a raw, inflamed appearance. Patients who need this remedy often crave salt, dislike sympathy, feel worse at the seaside and tend to internalise emotional difficulties rather than expressing them.
Sepia
Sepia is particularly useful for skin conditions in women, especially those that appear or worsen around hormonal transitions such as puberty, pregnancy or menopause. It suits chloasma and pigmentation patches on the face, eczema that is worse before menstruation and acne that is linked to hormonal imbalance. The skin may appear yellowish or sallow. Patients who respond well to Sepia are often exhausted, emotionally flat, indifferent to their family and feel better after vigorous physical activity. There is frequently a sense of bearing-down in the pelvis and a marked aggravation from cold, damp conditions.
Rhus Toxicodendron
Rhus Tox is a well-known remedy for skin conditions involving small, fluid-filled blisters that itch intensely and are associated with burning and restlessness. It is indicated in acute urticaria, contact dermatitis and herpes-like eruptions where the vesicles are clustered and the surrounding skin is red and swollen. The itching is characteristically worse at night and in cold, wet weather, and the patient is restless, unable to stay still because movement temporarily eases the discomfort. Patients needing this remedy often feel stiff after rest and are worse in damp conditions, which also triggers their skin flares.
Important: The remedy descriptions on this page are provided for educational purposes only. Homeopathic prescribing is based on a detailed individual case assessment, and the same remedy will not be suitable for every patient with the same diagnosis. Self-prescribing based on a general description is not advisable and can delay proper treatment. Please consult a qualified homeopathic practitioner before starting any remedy.