When you have eczema or psoriasis, the skin is where you see the problem. So naturally, that’s where you treat it.
A stronger cream. A different prescription. A longer course. Something to calm the redness, reduce the itch or slow the flare.
And often, it works — until it doesn’t. In Episode 2 of this five-part series exploring the Five Healing Pillars, Dr Irene Prantalos, Chinese Medicine Practitioner, looks beyond the visible skin to explore what may be happening further upstream.
She explains what inflammation actually is, how immune signalling can become dysregulated, and the cascade of processes that can ultimately produce the redness, itching, scaling and inflammation you see on the skin.
You’ll also explore why suppression can sometimes appear highly effective at first, yet become less satisfactory over time — and why repeatedly quieting the visible signal doesn't necessarily address the processes driving it.
This isn't about ignoring the skin. It's about understanding that the skin may be where inflammation becomes visible, without being where the story begins.
In this episode:
- Why we instinctively treat skin conditions at the skin — and why that instinct makes sense
- What inflammation actually is and why the body creates it
- How dysregulated immune signalling can contribute to a visible flare
- The cascade that can turn internal inflammatory signals into changes you see on the skin
- Why the first course of a treatment can sometimes feel dramatically different from later courses
- The difference between suppressing a visible signal and understanding what may be contributing to it
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What to consider when topical treatment alone no longer seems to be enough
This episode is educational and does not constitute individual medical advice. Nothing discussed in this episode is a recommendation to alter, reduce or discontinue prescribed treatment.
