Eczema - Damp-Heat Infiltration Pattern

Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Eczema · Damp-Heat Infiltration Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 7 min

Body Area: Skin

Pattern Overview

Damp-Heat Infiltration is the most common pattern in acute eczema, characterized by skin barrier disruption with immune inflammation, weeping lesions, redness, intense itching, and exudation. The core pathogenesis is accumulation of Damp-Heat in the skin, causing acute inflammation, exudation, and severe itching.

Key Symptoms and Differentiation Points

| Differentiation Dimension | Manifestations |

| :— | :— |

| Primary Symptoms | Weeping lesions, redness, intense itching, exudation, erythema |

| Associated Symptoms | Feverishness, thirst, yellow urine, constipation, irritability |

| Tongue and Pulse | Red tongue with yellow greasy coating, slippery and rapid pulse |

| Pathogenesis | Damp-Heat accumulating in the skin |

| Etiology | Poor diet, spicy and rich food intake, alcohol consumption, external Damp-Heat |

Acupuncture Point Prescription

| Point | Location | Function |

| :— | :— | :— |

| Quchi (LI11) | Lateral end of the elbow crease | Clears Heat and detoxifies |

| Hegu (LI4) | Dorsum of the hand, between the 1st and 2nd metacarpals | Disperses Wind and clears Heat |

| Yinlingquan (SP9) | Below the medial condyle of the tibia | Transforms Dampness and drains Heat |

| Xuehai (SP10) | On the medial thigh, 2 cun above the patella | Cools Blood and stops itching |

| Sanyinjiao (SP6) | 3 cun above the medial malleolus | Regulates Dampness and nourishes Blood |

Clinical Recommendation: Filament needle, reducing method; may combine with pricking and cupping to drain Damp-Heat.

Herbal Formula

Base Formula: Long Dan Xie Gan Tang (龙胆泻肝汤) or Bi Xie Shen Shi Tang (萆薢渗湿汤)

Composition:

Gentian Root (Long Dan Cao), Scutellaria (Huang Qin), Gardenia (Zhi Zi), Alisma (Ze Xie), Akebia (Mu Tong), Plantago (Che Qian Zi), Dioscorea (Bi Xie), Licorice (Gan Cao)

Action: Clears Damp-Heat, detoxifies, and stops itching.

Modifications

| Associated Symptoms | Additions/Subtractions |

| :— | :— |

| Severe weeping lesions | Add Fu Ling, Zhu Ling to promote diuresis |

| Intense itching | Add Bai Xian Pi, Ku Shen to stop itching |

| Erythema | Add Jin Yin Hua, Lian Qiao to clear Heat and detoxify |

| Feverishness | Add Shi Gao, Zhi Mu to clear Heat and generate fluids |

Western Mechanism Reference

Skin barrier disruption with immune inflammation, elevated IgE, eosinophil infiltration, and IL-4/IL-13 elevation. Damp-Heat Infiltration corresponds to acute eczema with exudative inflammation, where Th2-type inflammation and elevated IgE contribute to skin barrier disruption and severe itching.

References

  1. Dermatology of TCM - Acute Eczema with Damp-Heat.

  2. Zang-Fu Pattern Differentiation: Liver-Gallbladder Damp-Heat → Clearing Pathway.

  3. WHO. (2023). Skin health. World Health Organization.

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