Can hypnotherapy ease eczema?

By DR ROSEMARY LEONARD
PUBLISHED: Apr 19, 2011

Q: My boyfriend had stress-related eczema in his teens. 

It’s now under control but flares up occasionally and he uses steroid cream. During his sleep he scratches his head and arms to the point where he breaks the skin. Would hypnotherapy stop him doing this?

A: Hypnotherapy can sometimes be helpful in breaking addictive habits such as smoking but I think it would be of limited value in sorting out your boyfriend’s eczema.

The inflammation that occurs with this condition is often triggered by contact with something that irritates the skin and the most common cause is house dust mites.

These tiny insects are found in soft furnishings such as carpets and curtains but they are also often found in mattresses, duvets and pillows. This can worsen eczema at night-time.

In the past it was thought synthetic fillings were better for eczema than feather ones. However both types contain similar numbers of mites so the best solution is to put special “anti-allergy” covers on bed linen underneath standard covers.

Make sure all his clothes and bed linen are washed using a non-biological detergent. If fabric conditioner is used it should be suitable for sensitive skin. Skin prone to eczema is often very dry and regular use of non-perfumed moisturisers is very important.

Soap and many shampoos can be drying as well so he should use special moisturising products, again with no added perfume.

Long-term use of steroid creams, especially strong ones, can lead to thinning of the skin but scratching at eczema can be just as damaging. Not only can it make inflammation worse but it can also lead to the skin becoming infected.

Encourage your boyfriend to see his doctor who can prescribe appropriate treatments to stop the inflammation and do not be alarmed if this includes a short course of strong steroids.