Main ClinicChronic Skin Conditions
URTICARIA
Urticaria
Urticaria that settles down and then swells up again may be a signal from your body
If urticaria continues for more than 4–6 weeks, it may be time to check whether something else is going on inside the body. We treat by looking at your constitution, gut function, and immune status together.
of Hoechundang care
- POINT 01
A diagnosis that separates your innate constitution from the internal functions currently causing problems, such as the stomach and large intestine
- POINT 02
Constitution-Tailored Herbal Medicine and Skin Detox Herbal Medicine decocted daily at our In-House Herbal Medicine Research Lab
- POINT 03
Korean Herbal Topical Preparations to help relieve itching, combined with acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, and phototherapy
01SELF CHECK
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02WHY IT HAPPENS
How is urticaria classified?
Urticaria is a vascular reaction in the dermis of the skin, with swelling appearing first, followed by itching or, in more severe cases, stinging pain. If it continues for several days to several weeks or longer, it is classified as Chronic Urticaria. In Korean medicine, it is called eun-jin (癮疹), and was understood as subtly appearing within the skin, mainly caused by wind (風), heat (熱), and dampness (濕).
It is also connected to gut health
Skin problems often come from reduced immune function or poor diet and lifestyle habits, and the cause may be found in the gut. When stomach and large intestine function decline, nutrient absorption can be affected, which may lower immunity and lead to skin conditions.
- 01
Acute Urticaria
It often disappears in about 1 week. The most common causes are food, medication, and microbes.
- 02
Chronic Urticaria
It continues for 6 weeks or longer, and sometimes for several years. About 70% of cases have no identifiable cause and are considered related to infection, metabolic or endocrine abnormalities, and psychological factors. Reports suggest the remaining 30% are related to autoimmune mechanisms.
- 03
Cold · Heat Urticaria
When the skin comes into contact with cold substances or hot stimulation, it becomes red and swollen, with itching and stinging that can be hard to tolerate. It is common in adults and gradually improves over 2–5 years, but recurrence is common.
- 04
Cholinergic Urticaria
When body temperature rises from heat exposure or sudden emotional changes, the skin becomes itchy, stinging, and red. It is characterized by raised wheals that look like insect bites and do not last more than 24 hours, and recurrence is frequent.
- 05
Dermatographism
When physical stimulation is applied to the skin, it becomes itchy, swollen, and red along the marks within a few minutes. The marks may also disappear without a trace within minutes.
03WHY TREAT EARLY
If it lasts more than 4–6 weeks, the cause should be found
Anyone can develop urticaria at least once due to environmental changes or food. However, if it continues for about 4–6 weeks, it is necessary to check whether something else is going on inside the body. Scratching can lead to secondary infection, and if secondary infection has already occurred due to repeated steroid exposure, recovery becomes more difficult.
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 urticaria care
We look separately at your basic constitution and the internal functional problems currently causing symptoms. We evaluate gut status, inflammation and waste products, and autonomic nervous system balance to create a treatment plan.
TEST 01Iris Genetic Constitution Test
We comprehensively assess genetic strengths and weaknesses, constitutional imbalance, and autonomic nervous system balance. We also check whether you have a constitution with a weak gut that is prone to frequent skin trouble. The test can be done even while wearing contact lenses.
- TEST 02
Ryodoraku Meridian Function Test
At major acupoints on the hands and feet, we assess the function of the organs, overall vitality, and deficiency or excess (虛實) patterns of illness. If your vitality is very low, we treat this area together.
TEST 03Heart Rate Variability (HRV) Autonomic Nervous System Test
We check the activity and balance of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves. Urticaria is strongly affected by psychological factors, stress, and tension, so stabilizing the autonomic nervous system is important.
TEST 04Cellular Health Immunity Test (InBody S10)
We measure cellular function, immune and nutritional status, body water, and body fat to check overall cellular health that may affect urticaria.
When you visit, please bring any previous test results, such as blood tests or allergy tests, and information on medications you are taking so we can provide more thorough care.
05TREATMENT
Urticaria treatment proceeds this way
The goal of constitution improvement is to help prevent problems that may arise from your constitution and to reduce problematic parts of your current lifestyle. Rather than relying on steroids, we treat in a direction that helps reduce recurrence.
Treatment goals
- 01
Supporting the Gut and Immunity Together
We care for stomach and large intestine function and balance the five zang and six fu organs, helping build the body’s self-healing capacity so the skin does not swell easily in response to external triggers.
- 02
Calming Hidden Inflammation
Even when blood tests are normal, inflammation may often be latent inside the body, so we also examine circulation, hormones, and metabolic status.
- 03
Waste Product Elimination
When waste products from food accumulate, they may trigger skin inflammation, so detoxification helps circulation and elimination.
One-on-One Personalized Herbal Medicine
We prescribe by considering your constitution, current body condition, severity and duration of symptoms, and lifestyle habits together. We use therapeutic herbal medicine to reduce the causes and herbal medicine that supports immunity to make later management easier.
Skin Detox Herbal Medicine
This is prescribed for people whose internal waste products affect the skin. It is decocted and prepared daily at our In-House Herbal Medicine Research Lab, and is also used to help maintain the improved condition after treatment.
Acupuncture · Moxibustion · Cupping · Pharmacopuncture
Acupuncture and moxibustion help improve constitution, support qi and blood (氣血) circulation, and activate immunity. When needed, cupping is used to draw out blood stasis, and heat-clearing detoxification (淸熱解毒) pharmacopuncture is used to lower heat sensations and inflammation in the skin.
Phototherapy
Using ultraviolet light, it helps healthy skin cells regenerate and supports the skin’s self-healing capacity.
Korean Herbal Topical Preparations
We apply ointments prepared from herbal ingredients to help reduce itching.
- Jaungo · Jaungo Cream — A representative Korean herbal ointment made with ingredients such as Lithospermum root, Angelica root, and Sophora root. It is often used first to soothe the skin. The cream with added ginseng components focuses on relieving itching and inflammation.
- Ilhwanggo — An ointment with a cooling sensation, made with ingredients such as Angelica dahurica root, Dictamnus root bark, mint, and Houttuynia cordata. It focuses on reducing inflammation and itching.
- Cheongyeolgo — Made with ingredients such as Scutellaria root, Coptis rhizome, Phellodendron bark, and Gardenia fruit, and prescribed for itching caused by inflammation.
Home Care · Lifestyle Management
We prescribe herbal ointments and creams, as well as organic aroma oil sprays, for home use. We also review areas of regimen care (攝生, food and lifestyle management) and lifestyle habits that may be contributing to the problem.
CONSULTATION
Consider a consultation before symptoms become long-standing
If you bring your test results, we will review your current condition together.
06EXPERTISE
Internal medicine care that also looks at the gut and immunity
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
- Korean internal medicine specialist Dr. Hansung Ryu, Chief Director, provides care at the clinic for difficult-to-treat skin conditions.
- Urticaria occurs when food and stress overlap with internal organ imbalance and reduced immunity. Understanding liver, stomach, and large intestine issues can help us approach the cause.
- Based on training experience at a Harvard Medical School-affiliated research center, we provide Korean medicine treatment, lifestyle correction, and home care education together.
Related research
Efficacy and safety of Jaungo, traditional medicinal ointment, on radiation dermatitis in patients with breast cancer: a prospective, randomized controlled, single blinded, pilot study
This was a prospective, randomized, controlled pilot study evaluating the efficacy and safety of the Korean herbal ointment Jaungo applied to radiation dermatitis in patients with breast cancer. It is not about urticaria, 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
QDo I need care even if my urticaria settled down after a few days?
Acute Urticaria often disappears in about 1 week. However, if it continues for more than 4–6 weeks or recurs frequently, it is a good idea to look for causes inside the body.
QI was told the cause is unknown.
It is known that about 70% of Chronic Urticaria cases are difficult to identify by cause. Therefore, we examine constitution, gut function, autonomic nervous system status, and immune status together to set the treatment direction.
QI’m taking dermatology medication. Can I still receive care?
Yes. If you bring information about your current medications and previous test results, we can provide more thorough care tailored to your current condition.
CONSULTATION
Consider a consultation before symptoms become long-standing
If you bring your test results, we will review your current condition together.
RELATED
Related skin conditions
- Chronic Skin ConditionsEczema (Nummular Eczema)Itchy, oozing eczema—does it come back when you stop medication?Learn more
- Chronic Skin ConditionsAdult Atopic DermatitisAtopic dermatitis that calms down and then flares again—can it keep recurring in adulthood?Learn more
- Chronic Skin ConditionsPsoriasisAre the white flakes you left alone because they were not itchy spreading more and more?Learn more
- Chronic Skin ConditionsSeborrheic DermatitisIs seborrheic dermatitis, with itching and flaking on the face and scalp, coming back again?Learn more
RESERVATION
Urticaria:
start with a consultation
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