Psychosomatics of eczema
Eczema, or atopic dermatitis, is a common skin condition: dry, itchy, red, sometimes cracked skin. It cannot be cured completely, but flare-ups can be kept under control with emollients and the treatment a doctor prescribes. If your skin weeps, has pus, feels hot, or you have a temperature, see a doctor the same day. The Ladder method adds questions about boundaries and closeness.
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When to see a doctor
Start with a GP or a dermatologist: they diagnose it by examining the skin and choose treatment. The NHS advises seeing a doctor if you have symptoms of eczema or treatment is not helping. If an allergy is suspected, the doctor will refer you to an allergist.
In the Ladder method
In the Ladder method eczema is not explained by "a lack of love" or "what was left unsaid", and it is not your fault that it appeared. It has clear causes: heredity, the skin barrier, allergens. But the NHS names stress and hormonal changes among the factors that bring on flare-ups, so questions for yourself make sense here.
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The skin is the border between you and the world. In the book "Psyche, Brain, Body" skin is linked with the theme of contact: when you want to come closer and are afraid, or when there is too much closeness and you want to fence yourself off. This is an image, not a cause of the illness, and it does not replace a dermatologist.
On the ladder this shows up as steps like "if I let someone close, I will get hurt" and "I cannot say it is too much for me". You can work through them while a doctor chooses treatment.
These are questions for reflection, not an explanation of what causes the condition and not a treatment.
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How it shows up
Book a doctor’s appointment if you notice:
- Strong itching, especially at night
- Dry, flaky, cracked skin
- Red or grey patches on the elbows, knees and hands
- Thickened skin where you scratch
- Periods of flare-ups and calm
- Weeping patches, crusts, small pustules
What medicine knows
Atopic eczema (atopic dermatitis) is a common skin condition that causes itching. It can start at any age but is most common in young children. It is not contagious. The skin becomes dry, red or grey, scaly, cracked, sometimes thickened, and may blister or bleed. It most often affects the elbows, knees and hands (NHS).
The cause is not always known. You are more likely to have eczema if your parents have it, or if you or a close relative has asthma or hay fever. Flare-ups are set off by contact with irritants and allergens (soap, washing detergent, some fabrics, pets, pollen, dust mites), heat and temperature changes, skin infections, stress and hormonal changes such as pregnancy (NHS).
Treatment is built on emollients (moisturisers) at least twice a day, washing without soap, short nails and avoiding what irritates your skin. A doctor may prescribe steroid creams or other treatment for flare-ups. You should not change your diet without a doctor's advice (NHS).
There are other types of eczema too: contact, discoid, pompholyx (dyshidrotic) and varicose eczema. A doctor decides which type you have.
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Frequently asked questions
Can eczema flare up from stress?
Yes. The NHS names stress and hormonal changes among the things that can make eczema worse, along with allergens, heat and infections. Stress is not the only cause, so treatment from a doctor and skin care stay the basis.
What does eczema mean in psychosomatics?
There is no proven "meaning" of eczema. In the Ladder method the skin is a reason to ask yourself about boundaries and contact: where you feel too crowded and where you lack warmth. It is a question for yourself, not a diagnosis.
Is eczema contagious?
No. The NHS says clearly that atopic eczema is not contagious: you cannot catch it or pass it on. If the skin weeps, feels hot and hurts, it may be an infection, and you need a doctor.
Related topics
Psychosomatics does not replace tests and treatment. Only a doctor can make a diagnosis.