Main ClinicChronic Skin Conditions

ECZEMA

Eczema (Nummular Eczema)

Itchy, oozing eczema—does it come back when you stop medication?

Eczema is a chronic, recurring dermatitis involving immunity, inflammation, and waste product status in the body. We first look for the causes, then provide treatment to help the skin build its own ability to recover.

+82-2-792-1904

Eczema (Nummular Eczema) — **1904**Four generations
of Hoechundang care

POINT 01
Checking skin immunity and constitutional predispositions (素因) with iris, Ryodoraku, HRV, and body composition testing
POINT 02
A prescription that combines constitution-tailored herbal medicine with skin detox herbal medicine from our In-House Herbal Medicine Research Lab
POINT 03
Combining Korean herbal topical preparations such as Jaungo, Ilhwanggo, and Cheongyeolgo with acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, and phototherapy

01SELF CHECK

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02WHY IT HAPPENS

Why does eczema occur, and why does it keep recurring?

Eczema (濕疹) is dermatitis with redness and swelling accompanied by itching. Its patterns vary enough that treatment methods and prognosis can differ depending on aggravating factors, the affected area, and its appearance. The exact cause has not been clearly identified, but it is known to occur when multiple factors overlap and damage the skin tissue.

In Korean medicine, we also assess constitution

Eczema tends to occur more readily when skin immunity or circulation declines in constitutions that are dry and heat-prone, or damp and heat-prone. Therefore, a constitutional approach is also needed in treatment.

01
Exogenous Eczema
This refers to cases triggered by external irritants, such as contact dermatitis, allergic eczema, or infectious dermatitis.
02
Endogenous Eczema
This refers to cases in which internal predispositions play a major role, such as nummular eczema, seborrheic dermatitis, atopic dermatitis, and pompholyx.
03
Environmental · Lifestyle Factors
A humid environment, frequent use of water or detergents, and contact with external substances such as food or clothing can become aggravating factors.
04
Internal Body Factors
Along with genetic factors, food, psychological stress, and reduced immunity can affect skin tissue damage.

03WHY TREAT EARLY

If left for a long time, the skin changes and the cycle of recurrence becomes longer

When early itching, redness, and swelling persist, the area around the lesion can crack, and bleeding or scarring may remain. Long-standing eczema may lead to pigmentation or lichenification (苔癬化), where the skin becomes thickened. Long-term steroid use can weaken skin tissue, so caution is needed because secondary bacterial or viral infections may spread the affected area.

Symptoms that may appear together

Cracking · Bleeding
Scars
Pigmentation
Lichenification (thickening of the skin)
Secondary infection
A vicious cycle that worsens the more you scratch

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 performed for eczema care

We first check whether your skin immunity is constitutionally weak, and whether inflammation or waste products have accumulated in the body. We then combine the results to create a treatment plan before starting care.

TEST 01
Iris Genetic Constitution Test
We comprehensively assess genetic strengths and weaknesses, constitutional imbalance, and autonomic nervous system balance. We examine whether skin immunity is constitutionally weak or whether you have a constitution with weak intestines that may be prone to frequent skin troubles. This is a noninvasive test that can be performed even while wearing contact lenses.
TEST 02
Ryodoraku Meridian Function Test
We measure meridian function at key acupuncture points on the hands and feet to understand overall vitality and the deficiency-excess (虛實) pattern of the condition. We check whether vitality has declined significantly, leaving the skin with insufficient strength to recover on its own.
TEST 03
Heart Rate Variability (HRV) Autonomic Nervous System Test
We check the activity and balance of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves. Because eczema is strongly affected by psychological factors, stress, and tension, stabilizing the autonomic nervous system is important.
TEST 04
Cellular Health Immunity Test (InBody S10)
We measure cellular function, immune and nutritional status, circulation, body water, body fat, and muscle loss. We also review nutritional deficiency or excess and fluid balance to help identify the causes of symptoms.

When you visit, please bring any previous test results, such as blood tests or allergy tests, and information on medications you are currently taking so we can provide more detailed care.

05TREATMENT

Eczema treatment proceeds this way

Rather than relying on steroids, we set treatment goals in the direction of reducing recurrence. We combine herbal medicine, acupuncture and moxibustion, topical preparations, and lifestyle management around the following three pillars.

Treatment goals

01
Skin Immune Recovery
We help strengthen the spleen and stomach (脾胃, digestive system) and build self-recovery capacity so the skin can calm oozing and swelling on its own.
02
Reducing Hidden Inflammation
Even when inflammation levels are normal on blood tests, hidden inflammation may be present in the body, so we also consider circulation, metabolism, and gut health.
03
Waste Product Elimination
If waste products accumulated from improper eating habits are not eliminated well, they may contribute to skin inflammation, so detoxification is used to support circulation.

One-on-One Personalized Herbal Medicine

We prescribe by considering constitution, severity of symptoms, duration of the condition, and lifestyle habits. Depending on the situation, we use therapeutic herbal medicine to reduce causes and herbal medicine that supports immunity to make later management easier.

Skin Detox Herbal Medicine

This is prescribed when waste products in the body have accumulated and are affecting the skin. It is decocted (湯煎, boiling herbal medicine) daily at our In-House Herbal Medicine Research Lab and prescribed promptly to those who need it; it is also used to help maintain the condition after treatment.

Acupuncture · Moxibustion · Cupping · Pharmacopuncture

We use acupuncture and moxibustion to support constitutional improvement, qi and blood (氣血) circulation, and skin regeneration. When needed, cupping is used to remove stagnant blood stasis (瘀血, pooled blood), and heat-clearing detoxification (淸熱解毒, clearing heat and releasing toxins) pharmacopuncture is used to address heat sensation and inflammation in the skin.

Phototherapy

Using ultraviolet light, this helps support the regeneration of healthy skin cells and build the skin’s self-recovery capacity.

Korean Herbal Topical Preparations

An ointment prepared with herbal ingredients is applied to the lesion area to help ease skin symptoms such as itching. It is selected according to the oozing pattern and degree of inflammation.

Jaungo · Jaungo Cream — A representative Korean herbal ointment made with ingredients such as lithospermum root, angelica root, and sophora root. It helps soothe, regenerate, and moisturize the skin, and the cream with added ginseng components focuses on relieving itching and inflammation.
Ilhwanggo — Made with ingredients such as angelica dahurica root, dictamnus root bark, peppermint, and houttuynia, and has a cooling sensation. It is prescribed for conditions such as folliculitis, eczema, tinea cruris, and dermatophytosis.
Cheongyeolgo — Made with ingredients such as scutellaria root, coptis rhizome, phellodendron bark, and gardenia fruit. It is prescribed when there is pus or oozing with itching.

Home Care · Lifestyle Management

We prescribe herbal ointments and creams, as well as an organic aroma oil spray, so you can manage your skin at home. We also guide you on individualized regimen care (攝生, food and lifestyle management) and lifestyle habit corrections that may address personal aggravating factors.

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 view skin conditions through an internal medicine lens

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 our clinic for difficult-to-treat skin conditions.
Eczema develops when lifestyle factors such as food and stress overlap with organ imbalance and reduced immunity. We look into the liver, stomach, and large intestine to find the causes.
Based on training experience at a Harvard Medical School-affiliated research center, we provide Korean medicine treatment, lifestyle habit correction, and home care education together.

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 applied the Korean herbal ointment Jaungo to radiation dermatitis in breast cancer patients and evaluated its efficacy and safety. It is not about eczema, but about the topical preparation on this page (Jaungo), 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

QDermatology medication calms it down. Do I still need Korean medicine treatment?

Antihistamines and steroids can help reduce immediate itching. However, because they are medications that calm symptoms, recurrence is common after stopping them, and some people feel that the same medication is not as effective as before. Korean medicine treatment aims to address immunity, inflammation, and waste product status that may affect recurrence.

QAre eczema and atopic dermatitis different diseases?

Eczema can be classified by cause into exogenous types (contact dermatitis, allergic eczema, etc.) and endogenous types (nummular eczema, seborrheic dermatitis, atopic dermatitis, pompholyx, etc.). Atopic dermatitis also broadly belongs to endogenous eczema. Please also refer to the disease information that matches your symptoms.

QCan I have the iris test while wearing contact lenses?

Yes. The Iris Genetic Constitution Test is a simple, noninvasive test, and we will guide you so you can receive it comfortably even if you come wearing contact lenses.

QHow should I manage it at home?

We prescribe ointments and creams made with herbal ingredients, as well as an organic aroma oil spray, for home care. We also guide you on lifestyle habits and regimen care methods.

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