Q Honestly, scratching has become almost a habit and I feel I'll never fix it in my lifetime. Can such old habitual dermatitis really get better?
A Even an old habit, once the itch itself decreases, the scratching behavior naturally follows and decreases. By addressing the root of the itch and correcting the scratching habit together, even thickly hardened skin gradually softens and can fully improve.
Detailed Answer
Even if scratching has become a long-entrenched habit, it can fully improve. The scratching habit is hard to suppress by will alone, but once the itch itself decreases, the frequency of the hand reaching out naturally drops. Adding habit correction — switching to a different behavior instead of scratching in stressful situations — breaks the link of the vicious cycle, and the thickly hardened skin softens over time. Rather than expecting a one-time cure, it is better to set a realistic goal of reducing the itching and scratching frequency to recover daily quality of life.
Korean Medicine Clinic Perspective
At Dongjedang, we believe the longer the habit, the more important it is to address the root of the itch. In a situation where merely blocking scratching has its limits, by adding an internal-medicine approach that calms the body's root such as dryness and Heart-fire (simhwa) to lower the itch itself, the hand reaches less even without forcibly enduring by will, and we believe even old habitual dermatitis can fully improve.
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