Your Skin Talks to You – What Chronic Skin Conditions Reveal About Your Health
Written by Sebastian Liew, Medical Herbalist
Dr Sebastian Liew * is the first medical herbalist to have significantly pioneered Western herbal medicine in Singapore and Asia. He is a distinguished fellow member of the Complementary Medical Association (UK). Liew has run a thriving clinical practice for over twenty years, specialising in chronic diseases, all with a whole-person approach.
I personally have a soft touch for those who are suffering from skin conditions such as eczema, acne, and psoriasis. This is probably because I suffered from chronic palmar dermatitis for over 10 years, starting in primary school. Secondly, I inherited a constitutional weakness from my mum, who used to suffer badly from eczema for years without a permanent cure, and I was often devastated by sensitive skin and periodic eczema flare-ups. Thirdly, and for some reason, I have been given the opportunity to treat many clients who suffer from serious and chronic skin diseases.
Here is one story of healing to ponder:
Chronic face eczema shared by an occupational therapist
My skin troubles started when I was 18, triggered by metal in costume jewelry. For two years, people often asked, “Are you having chicken pox?” illustrating the severity of my skin issues. Though I recovered from the initial outbreak, my skin remained sensitive, experiencing periodic flare-ups on various parts of my body. Each time, I depended on either topical or oral steroids, sometimes both, to control the symptoms. Over the years, I used steroids for as much as 23 years of my life.
In March 2016, the worst flare-up struck. My face developed swollen, painful, angry red patches. Oddly, only my face was affected. Although I suspected a food trigger, such as oyster or soya sauce, foods I was never allergic to before, the cause remained uncertain. Following my usual approach, I consulted a doctor and received a week-long course of oral steroids.
The symptoms improved but were not resolved completely. The doctor increased the steroid dosage for a second cycle but warned about the risks of sustained high doses. Though the high-dose steroids cleared my symptoms noticeably, the issues returned as soon as I stopped the medication. Faced with the prospect of more steroids, a different solution was needed, one that offered true resolution beyond symptomatic relief.
So here starts my journey with Dr Sebastien Liew. Through him, I learnt a lot about my own body as I went through my healing. I found out that I have a new “fast poison,” meaning food that causes an immediate reaction.
I also got to know my “slow poison,” something that I had never suspected. I have been shown that non-pharmaceutical alternatives can work just as well, and in fact better. It has been nine months now, and my worst is over. Every now and then, I still get minor allergic reactions, but I am proud to say that I have been able to resolve them in nature’s way.
I will be forever grateful to Dr Liew for giving me a new lease of life.
As you can see, in every one of my case histories, there is a transformation in lifestyle and outlook when the patient adopts a holistic approach, such as naturopathy or holistic herbalism.
My focus is on healing the whole person, not just treating symptoms. Skin disease signals the need to improve gut health, diet, emotions, sleep, relationships, self-understanding, unresolved emotional wounds, and spiritual connection in order to achieve lasting wellness.
According to traditional European medicine (TEM), the single most important symptom associated with “bad blood” is skin disease. Any form of eruption, even of the slightest type, such as acne, pimples, or boils, is taken as a manifestation of toxins poisoning the blood.
Over the years, through my clinical practice, research, and understanding of traditional herbal medicine, I have found that there are three main “wrongs” in skin diseases:
Deficiency in the excretion of toxins from the body, principally through the liver and the gut system. This results in food intolerance, inflammation, and increased intestinal permeability.
Poor absorption of nutrients, which is discussed in detail in my book From Leaf to Life.
Very often, repressed stress and emotions.
The above metabolic condition is compounded by low thyroid activity, which may not show on a standard blood test and requires differential diagnosis, aging skin, which tends toward dryness after 40 years of age, hormonal imbalance, stress, and environmental and constitutional weakness.
The food intolerance test is a common test I use in my clinic and is very helpful if you have a history of allergies and poor digestion. In general, avoid all dairy, including yogurt, wheat gluten such as pasta, bread, biscuits, and cakes, peanuts, vinegar, pork, soy milk, and all forms of sugar. Certain fruits may also trigger an allergy, such as pineapple, strawberry, plum, peach, kiwi, and banana.
Nutrient absorption can be enhanced by herbs such as dandelion and fennel. I usually put these into a tincture and take one teaspoon in water 15 minutes before each meal.
Many people think that all cases of eczema are caused by heat. This is not necessarily true, as low thyroid activity or low metabolism can be a strong contributor to poor skin condition. Low metabolism may be indicated by a deeply coated tongue, sensitivity to cold, difficulty perspiring, fatigue, poor response to stress, high cholesterol, low blood pressure, and poor digestion. Such conditions may respond well to warming herbs such as turmeric and echinacea. Using plant-based essential fatty acids, not fish oil, can enhance cellular oxygen uptake.
This is one of the chief reasons you should seek professional help with natural medicine if you have a chronic condition. Self-healing or medication can be helpful, but certain skin diseases are very complex, and it takes two hands to help.
Have you ever wondered why your skin itches more easily after 50? This may be caused by the aging process and hormonal imbalance. Herbs such as violet and sage can help maintain the skin’s resilience.
In Singapore and many parts of Southeast Asia, the weather is usually hot and humid, which increases susceptibility to fungal infections. I usually add the herb thuja or black walnut to my creams and oils.
I have also found that bath and shower filters are helpful for removing chlorine. Have you ever wondered why your skin itches or feels dry after a shower? It could be the water. I have seen, including in myself, many cases of improvement in skin condition after using a shower filter to remove chlorine. It is also worth considering a filtering system for your drinking water.
Relaxing and trusting the process is essential, as chronic stress worsens eczema and acne. Work with a healing-centred natural medicine practitioner and reflect on what your body is signaling about your lifestyle or emotions. True healing comes not just from treating symptoms, but from understanding the message behind them.
Read more from Sebastian Liew
Sebastian Liew, Medical Herbalist
Sebastian Liew is the first medical herbalist (since 2004) who has significantly pioneered phytotherapy in Singapore and possibly across Asia. With credentials from the Naturopaths and Herbalists Association of Australia, the TGA, and the University of New England, he is a distinguished fellow member of the Complementary Medical Association in the UK.
As a Doctor of Naturopathy*, he embodies the role of a natural medicine coach and teacher, dedicating his life to guiding clients to recover from chronic illnesses with a whole-person approach, and discover their inner healing potential, their innate ability to heal and shine.
His lifelong vision is to: Cure the Sick, Heal the Wounded, and Inspire the Weak.
