Main ClinicChronic Skin Conditions

ATOPIC DERMATITIS

Adult Atopic Dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis that calms down and then flares again—can it keep recurring in adulthood?

Atopic dermatitis is a chronic dermatitis that repeatedly improves and worsens. We help gradually reduce dependence on steroids while supporting the skin’s ability to heal on its own.

+82-2-792-1904

Adult Atopic Dermatitis — **1904**Four generations
of Hoechundang care

POINT 01
Check immune status, inflammation, and waste products first with iris, Ryodoraku, HRV, and body composition tests
POINT 02
Support the steroid withdrawal process of gradually reducing dependence on steroids with Korean medicine treatment
POINT 03
Combine customized herbal medicine and skin detox herbal medicine with Korean herbal topical preparations, acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, and phototherapy

01SELF CHECK

Are you struggling with these symptoms?

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Tap the items that apply to you.

02WHY IT HAPPENS

What kind of condition is atopic dermatitis?

Atopic dermatitis is a chronic dermatitis characterized by erythematous papules and oozing wounds accompanied by severe itching. It is known to decrease with age, but recently, the number of adult patients has also been increasing beyond children and adolescents. A key feature is reacting very sensitively to external irritants or allergy-triggering substances.

It is not only a skin problem

Chronic skin conditions are a sign that other causes inside the body are appearing through the skin. That is why we do not look only at the skin, but search for causes and create a treatment plan from a broader perspective.

01
Common Sites
It commonly appears on the folds of the arms and legs, the neck, and the face.
02
Causes
It is strongly influenced by genetic factors and environmental factors such as living environment, food, and stress, but the exact cause has not yet been identified.
03
Factors Affecting Progress
Progress varies depending on the skin condition, irritating factors, whether other allergic diseases are present, and whether there is a bacterial infection.
04
Connection with Other Allergic Diseases
Some people who had atopic dermatitis in infancy or early childhood may develop other allergic diseases such as asthma or rhinitis as they grow.

03WHY TREAT EARLY

The vicious cycle of scratching, applying ointment, and flaring again

When oozing scabs form on the folds of the arms and legs or around the neck, they itch frequently, leading to repeated scratching. As wounds form, the affected area can expand. Long-term steroid use can weaken skin tissue, and symptoms may spread due to secondary bacterial or viral infection. The longer the period of steroid exposure, the more time recovery may require.

Symptoms that may appear together

Oozing · oozing scabs
Wounds that spread from scratching
Weakening of skin tissue
Secondary infection
Reduced response to medication

PROCESS

How Care Proceeds

01
Consultation · Pulse Diagnosis
We listen carefully to your symptoms, lifestyle habits, and treatment history, then assess your condition through pulse and tongue diagnosis.
02
Detailed Testing
We check organ function, energy level, and autonomic nervous system balance with tests suited to your condition.
03
Pattern Identification · Diagnosis
We combine your test results and constitution to find the underlying cause of your symptoms.
04
1:1 Customized Prescription
We design the needed treatments for each person, including herbal medicine, acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, and moxibustion.
05
Progress Management
We monitor your progress through regular tests and consultations and adjust prescriptions as needed.

04DIAGNOSIS

These tests are used in atopic dermatitis care

We evaluate whether the skin’s immunity is naturally weak, whether your constitution tends toward frequent skin trouble due to a weak intestine, and whether inflammation or waste products have accumulated in the body. Based on the results, we create a comprehensive treatment plan.

TEST 01
Iris Genetic Constitution Test
We comprehensively assess genetic strengths and weaknesses, constitutional imbalance, changes in the body’s internal environment, emotional responses, and autonomic nervous system balance. It is a simple, noninvasive test that can be performed even while wearing contact lenses.
TEST 02
Ryodoraku Meridian Function Test
We measure meridian function at major acupoints on the hands and feet. This helps estimate how much energy and natural healing capacity the body has to overcome skin symptoms on its own.
TEST 03
Heart Rate Variability (HRV) Autonomic Nervous System Test
We check the balance between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves. When stress and tension disrupt the autonomic nervous system, the body can become more sensitive, so autonomic nervous system stability is also included as a treatment goal.
TEST 04
Cellular Health Immunity Test (InBody S10)
We measure cellular function, immune and nutritional status, circulation, body water, and body fat to check overall cellular health that may affect atopic dermatitis.

If you bring any blood test or allergy test results, along with the medications and ointments you are currently using, we can provide more thorough care.

05TREATMENT

This is how atopic dermatitis treatment proceeds

We support steroid withdrawal, meaning we gradually reduce dependence on steroids while strengthening the skin’s own recovery capacity. The role of Korean medicine treatment is to help oozing wounds heal well and support healthy new skin growth.

Treatment goals

01
Restoring Natural Healing Capacity
We strengthen the skin’s defense capacity, which can easily break down from external irritants, by correcting the balance of the five viscera and six bowels and the circulation of qi and blood (氣血).
02
Whole-Body Inflammation Management
Skin inflammation is not only a matter of the skin barrier; it is connected to blood and lymph circulation, hormones and metabolism, and gut health, so we look at the whole body together.
03
Reducing Accumulated Waste Products
If waste products from food are not eliminated in time, they can contribute to skin inflammation, so detoxification is used to support elimination and circulation.

One-on-One Personalized Herbal Medicine

Korean medicine looks at the person more than the disease name. Depending on constitution, symptom severity, duration of illness, and lifestyle habits, we prescribe herbal medicine to reduce causes and herbal medicine to support immune function and later management.

Skin Detox Herbal Medicine

This is prescribed for those whose accumulated waste products affect the skin. It is prepared daily by decoction in our in-house Herbal Medicine Research Institute and is also used to help maintain improvement after treatment.

Acupuncture · Moxibustion · Cupping · Pharmacopuncture

Acupuncture and moxibustion help improve constitution, support qi and blood circulation, and aid skin regeneration. When needed, cupping is used to draw out blood stasis (瘀血, stagnant blood), and heat-clearing detox pharmacopuncture is applied to lesion areas to help calm heat sensation and inflammation.

Phototherapy

This uses ultraviolet light to help healthy skin cells grow again.

Korean Herbal Topical Preparations

Ointments made from herbal ingredients are applied to the lesions to help reduce itching. They are selected according to the condition of the oozing wounds.

Jaungo · Jaungo Cream — A representative Korean herbal ointment made with Lithospermum root, Angelica root, Sophora root, and other ingredients, used to help soothe, regenerate, and moisturize the skin. The cream with added ginseng ingredients focuses on relieving itching and inflammation.
Ilhwanggo — A cooling-feeling ointment made with Angelica dahurica root, Dictamnus root bark, mint, Houttuynia, and other ingredients, focusing on reducing inflammation and itching.
Cheongyeolgo — Made with Scutellaria root, Coptis rhizome, Phellodendron bark, gardenia, and other ingredients, and prescribed when there is oozing or pus along with itching.

Home Care · Lifestyle Management

We prescribe herbal ointments and creams for home use, along with an organic aroma oil spray. We identify individual aggravating factors such as living environment, food, and stress, and help guide lifestyle correction.

CONSULTATION

Consider a consultation before symptoms become long-standing

If you bring your test results, we will review your current condition together.

+82-2-792-1904 KakaoTalk

06EXPERTISE

We look beyond the skin for causes

Intractable skin disease clinic, paper on Jaungo for radiation dermatitis

4th-Generation Korean Medicine Doctor · Korean Medicine Internal Medicine Specialist
Dr. Hansung Ryu, Chief Director
- Specialist Training, Korean Medicine Cancer Center, Kyung Hee University Korean Medicine Hospital at Gangdong
- Training at a Harvard Medical School-affiliated hospital (Joslin Diabetes Center)
- Training at the Block Center (Integrative Cancer Center, USA)
- Researcher in the Development of Korean Medicine Standard Clinical Practice Guidelines for Cancer Symptom Relief
SkinDigestive SystemDiabetes · MetabolismConstitutional Immunity & CancerPain · Traffic Accidents

Dr. Hansung Ryu, Chief Director, a Korean internal medicine specialist, provides care at the intractable skin disease clinic.
Atopic dermatitis occurs when lifestyle factors overlap with organ imbalance and reduced immunity. We also assess issues of the liver, stomach, and large intestine and reflect them in the treatment plan.
Drawing on training experience at a Harvard Medical School-affiliated research center, we combine Korean medicine treatment with lifestyle correction and home care education.

Related research

Poster presentation at the 18th International Congress of Oriental Medicine (Okinawa, Japan)
Efficacy and safety of Jaungo, traditional medicinal ointment, on radiation dermatitis in patients with breast cancer: a prospective, randomized controlled, single blinded, pilot study
Hye Kyung Oh, Han Sung Ryu (Hansung Ryu), Lyun Ki Hyun, Jin Ok Kim, Deok-Sang Hwang, Moonkyoo Kong, Seong Woo Yoon, et al.
This is a prospective, randomized controlled pilot study that evaluated the efficacy and safety of applying the Korean herbal ointment Jaungo to radiation dermatitis in breast cancer patients. It is not about atopic dermatitis, but a study on a topical preparation (Jaungo) mentioned on this page, and the original page does not include numerical results.

These are research findings reported in academic papers and do not guarantee individual treatment effects.

WHY HOECHUNDANG

Why Choose Hoechundang Kyunghee Ryu Korean Medicine Clinic

01
For 4 Generations Since 1904
For 4 generations, we have carried on Hoechundang’s treatment principle of seeing the stomach and intestines as the foundation of health.
02
Family Medical Team from Kyung Hee University Korean Medicine Hospital
Dr. Bongha Ryu, Honorary Director, who twice served as director of Kyung Hee University Korean Medicine Hospital and as a presidential physician; Dr. Hansung Ryu, Chief Director, a Korean medicine internal medicine specialist; and Dr. Seungwon Baek, Director, first author of an SCI-level paper on women’s health, provide care together.
03
Prepared In-House at Our Herbal Medicine Research Lab
Based on the research of our affiliated Herbal Medicine Research Institute, we prepare prescriptions in-house and use verified herbal ingredients at a level supplied to Kyung Hee University Korean Medicine Hospital.
04
15 Acupuncture and Moxibustion Treatment Rooms
We expanded our treatment rooms so patients can receive a variety of treatments, such as acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, Cupping, large moxibustion, radiofrequency, thermal dome therapy, Chuna Manual Therapy, and traction therapy, with minimal waiting.

07FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

QShould I stop using steroid ointment right away?

Rather than stopping suddenly, the principle of steroid withdrawal is to gradually reduce dependence. During that time, we provide Korean medicine treatment together to help the skin build its own recovery capacity.

QI have used steroids for a long time. Will treatment take a long time too?

The longer the period of steroid exposure, the more treatment time tends to be needed. After checking your current condition through testing and examination, we will explain the treatment plan.

QIs childhood atopic dermatitis different from adult atopic dermatitis?

Some cases improve in adulthood, but many people continue to have chronic dermatitis with repeated improvement and worsening. Atopic dermatitis in infancy or early childhood may also lead to other allergic diseases such as asthma or rhinitis as the person grows.

QWhat should I do at home during treatment?

Care for your skin with the prescribed herbal ointment, cream, and aroma oil spray, and follow the food and lifestyle guidance provided during your visits. Reducing wounds caused by scratching is also important.

CONSULTATION

Consider a consultation before symptoms become long-standing

If you bring your test results, we will review your current condition together.

+82-2-792-1904 KakaoTalk

RESERVATION