Dermatrol (Damp)™

TCM herbal formula for weeping and purulent skin conditions — antiallergic; antipruritic; anti-inflammatory; antibiotic (antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal); antitoxin and antidote; clears heat and eliminates toxins; dispels wind and relieves itching; strengthens Spleen and dispels dampness

⚠️ Contraindicated in patients with cold or deficiency cold signs. Contraindicated during pregnancy and nursing. Not for long-term use — do not take continuously for more than two months. Contains Dang Gui (Radix Angelicae Sinensis) — patients on anticoagulant or antiplatelet therapies such as Coumadin (warfarin) should use with caution or not at all due to higher risk of bleeding and bruising. Skin disorders may also be caused by cholestasis, chronic renal failure, hyper- or hypothyroidism, diabetes, iron deficiency, and polycythemia vera — these conditions should be ruled out or confirmed and treated.

CLINICAL APPLICATIONS

* Any skin conditions that appear visibly wet and purulent, or contain pus, abscesses, or oozing fluids

* Skin conditions considered wet, such as infectious eczema, lesions, ulcers, carbuncles, furuncles, cellulitis, rash, candidal infections, contact and stasis dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis, herpes zoster, and acne vulgaris

Background: The skin is the largest organ in the body and functions as a protective barrier. Skin health is affected by both external factors (infection by bacteria, virus, and parasites; allergens from poison ivy, poison oak, cosmetics, cleaning agents, or skin creams; insect bites; trauma) and internal factors (inhalation of allergens such as dust, pollen, and dander; ingestion of allergens such as peanuts, nuts, fish, wheat, eggs, and milk; certain drugs such as penicillin, sulfa drugs, aspirin, and opioids; autoimmune diseases; emotional or physical imbalance). Most skin disorders have either wet or dry characteristics. Skin disorders with damp/wet characteristics may have open lesions with infection, inflammation, ulceration, pus, and abscesses — they often affect areas with excessive moisture such as toes, buttocks, armpits, groin, and under the breast.

TCM differentiation: Acute dermatological disorders are generally due to wind-heat and toxic heat invasion — usually associated with physical contact or oral ingestion of allergens. Chronic dermatological conditions involve accumulation of dampness from improper diet or Spleen weakness in metabolizing and transporting water. Dermatrol (Damp) addresses both acute and chronic skin conditions with wet lesions through four groups of herbs: (1) drain dampness and strengthen Spleen; (2) expel wind and relieve itching; (3) clear heat and eliminate toxins; (4) tonify blood and nourish yin.

Clinical note: Designed by Dr. Jimmy Wei-Yen Chang — effective for over 90% of patients with various dermatological conditions with damp/wet lesions. After symptoms improve, identify and treat the underlying cause to prevent recurrence. Yin Care (topical herbal solution) may be applied topically to help relieve itching. Sleep by 10:00 p.m. to enter deep sleep by 1:00 a.m. (Liver time per the Chinese Anatomical Clock) to fully restore Liver detoxification functions.

Key herb-level clinical data:

— Group 1 — Drain dampness / strengthen Spleen: Che Qian Zi (Semen Plantaginis / Plantago Seed), Chuan Mu Tong (Caulis Clematidis Armandii / Clematis), Fu Ling (Poria), Yi Yi Ren (Semen Coicis / Coix / Job's Tears), Ze Xie (Rhizoma Alismatis / Alisma), Sheng Jiang (Rhizoma Zingiberis Recens / Fresh Ginger) — diuretic and anti-inflammatory; reduce skin swelling and water retention; Sheng Jiang promotes and facilitates human normal epidermal keratinocytes and dermal fibroblasts cell growth (10-shogaol)

— Group 2 — Expel wind / relieve itching: Bo He (Herba Menthae / Peppermint) — increases local blood circulation to skin, relieves itching and pain; Jing Jie (Herba Schizonepetae / Schizonepeta) — antipruritic, inhibits itch-scratch response induced by substance P; treats measles, pruritic rash, and itching; Lian Qiao (Fructus Forsythiae / Forsythia) — antipruritic, inhibits itch-scratch response induced by substance P; Chai Hu (Radix Bupleuri / Bupleurum), Qian Hu (Radix Peucedani / Peucedanum), Chuan Xiong (Rhizoma Chuanxiong), Jie Geng (Radix Platycodonis / Platycodon), Du Huo (Radix Angelicae Pubescentis / Angelica Pubescens), Qiang Huo (Rhizoma et Radix Notopterygii / Notopterygium), Fang Feng (Radix Saposhnikoviae / Saposhnikovia) — antihistamine; antipruritic

— Group 3 — Clear heat / eliminate toxins:

  — Huang Qin (Radix Scutellariae / Scutellaria Baicalensis): remarkable antiallergic agent — inhibits histamine and leukotriene release from mast cells with greater potency than Intal (cromolyn); inhibits passive cutaneous anaphylaxis reaction by downregulating inflammatory mediators; anti-inflammatory; antibacterial; antiviral; antifungal (Candida albicans)

  — Huang Lian (Rhizoma Coptidis / Coptis / Goldthread): anti-inflammatory; antibacterial (berberine, MRSA); antiviral; antifungal

  — Huang Bo (Cortex Phellodendri Chinensis / Phellodendron): anti-inflammatory; antibacterial (berberine, MRSA); antiviral

  — Jie Geng (Radix Platycodonis / Platycodon): treats allergies by inhibiting inflammatory cytokines and Syk-dependent signaling cascades (in vivo and in vitro)

  — Shu Di Huang (Radix Rehmanniae Praeparata / Prepared Rehmannia): inhibits systemic allergic reactions in a dose-dependent manner — inhibits histamine release from peritoneal mast cells and significantly suppresses TNF-α production

  — Di Huang (Radix Rehmanniae / Rehmannia): treats rashes, urticaria, and contact dermatitis; topical application shows marked anti-inflammatory and antiallergic activities for atopic dermatitis — suppresses cytokines, chemokines, and adhesion molecules

  — Niu Bang Zi (Fructus Arctii / Burdock / Arctium Lappa): antiallergic — reduces release of inflammatory mediators through inhibition of degranulation and cys-leukotriene release; treats atopic dermatitis by inhibiting IL-4 and IL-5 expression; anti-inflammatory (arctigenin, iNOS inhibition)

  — Zhi Mu (Rhizoma Anemarrhenae / Anemarrhena): strong antiallergic — inhibits passive cutaneous anaphylaxis reaction induced by antigen-IgE complex (steroidal timosaponins); anti-inflammatory; antibacterial; antiviral (RSV); antifungal

  — Fu Ling (Poria): anti-inflammatory — inhibits lipoxygenase, COX, and elastase activities (therapeutic targets in dermatological disorders)

  — Lian Qiao (Fructus Forsythiae / Forsythia): anti-inflammatory — inhibits lipoxygenase, COX, and elastase; antibacterial; antiviral

  — Chai Hu (Radix Bupleuri / Bupleurum): reduces inflammation by decreasing capillary permeability caused by histamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine; antiviral

  — Gan Cao (Radix et Rhizoma Glycyrrhizae / Licorice): glycyrrhizin and glycyrrhetinic acid — marked anti-inflammatory effects by enhancing cortisone duration (~1/10th potency of cortisone); antitoxin — glycyrrhizin detoxifies drug poisoning (chloral hydrate, cocaine, barbiturates, mercury, lead), food poisoning (tetrodotoxin, snake, mushrooms), and others (enterotoxin, herbicides, pesticides); Gan Cao + Fang Feng + Lu Dou — effective antidote for arsenic poisoning

  — Tian Hua Fen (Radix Trichosanthis / Trichosanthes Root): clears heat; drains pus; dispels abscesses; antibacterial; antiviral (anti-HIV trichobitacin, anti-coxsackievirus)

  — Long Dan (Radix et Rhizoma Gentianae / Gentiana): antibacterial; antiviral (RSV polysaccharide)

  — Mu Dan Pi (Cortex Moutan / Moutan Bark): anti-inflammatory (mast cell mediator suppression, atopic eczema); antibacterial

  — Zhi Zi (Fructus Gardeniae / Gardenia): anti-inflammatory (TNF-α inhibition in endothelial cells); antibacterial; antifungal

  — Chi Shao (Radix Paeoniae Rubra / Red Peony Root): anti-inflammatory; cools blood

  — Shi Gao (Gypsum Fibrosum / Gypsum): clears heat; reduces fire

— Group 4 — Tonify blood / nourish yin: Bai Shao (Radix Paeoniae Alba / White Peony Root), Dang Gui (Radix Angelicae Sinensis / Angelica Sinensis / Dong Quai) — antipimple and antieczema via NF-κB, MDA, IL-1β, iNOS, TNF-α regulation; Di Huang, Geng Mi (Semen Oryzae / Rice), Shan Yao (Rhizoma Dioscoreae / Dioscorea / Chinese Yam) — anti-inflammatory (COX-2 inhibition); Shan Zhu Yu (Fructus Corni / Cornus / Cornelian Cherry) — anti-inflammatory; Shu Di Huang — with abundant blood, wind cannot rise to cause further itching; Chuan Xiong + Zhi Qiao (Fructus Aurantii / Bitter Orange) — promote qi and blood circulation, remove stagnation; Zhi Gan Cao — harmonizes formula; regulates and balances endocrine system to facilitate release of endogenous corticosteroids

WESTERN THERAPEUTIC ACTIONS

* Antiallergic — Huang Qin (greater than Intal/cromolyn, histamine↓, leukotriene↓, passive cutaneous anaphylaxis↓); Jie Geng (Syk-dependent signaling↓, IgE-mediated); Shu Di Huang (histamine↓, TNF-α↓, dose-dependent); Di Huang + Shu Di Huang (atopic dermatitis, cytokines↓, chemokines↓); Niu Bang Zi (degranulation↓, cys-leukotriene↓, IL-4↓, IL-5↓); Zhi Mu (IgE-antigen complex, passive cutaneous anaphylaxis↓)

* Antipruritic — Jing Jie + Lian Qiao (substance P itch-scratch response↓); Bo He (local blood circulation↑, itching↓)

* Anti-inflammatory — Huang Qin, Huang Lian, Huang Bo (topical skin disorders); Fu Ling + Lian Qiao (lipoxygenase↓, COX↓, elastase↓); Chai Hu (capillary permeability↓); Gan Cao (glycyrrhizin/glycyrrhetinic acid, cortisone-enhancing, ~1/10th cortisone); Dang Gui (NF-κB↓, IL-1β↓, iNOS↓, TNF-α↓); Mu Dan Pi (mast cell mediators↓); Niu Bang Zi (arctigenin, iNOS↓); Shan Yao (COX-2↓); Zhi Zi (TNF-α↓)

* Antibacterial — Huang Bo, Huang Lian (berberine, MRSA); Huang Qin; Tian Hua Fen; Jing Jie; Lian Qiao; Long Dan; Mu Dan Pi; Zhi Zi; Zhi Mu

* Antiviral — Huang Lian; Chai Hu; Che Qian Zi; Fang Feng; Huang Bo; Huang Qin; Lian Qiao; Long Dan (RSV); Tian Hua Fen (anti-HIV, anti-coxsackievirus); Zhi Mu (RSV)

* Antifungal — Huang Lian; Huang Qin (Candida albicans); Niu Bang Zi; Zhi Zi; Zhi Mu

* Antitoxin / antidote — Gan Cao (glycyrrhizin: drug, food, herbicide, pesticide poisoning); Fang Feng (antitoxin); Gan Cao + Fang Feng + Lu Dou (arsenic poisoning antidote)

* Dermal healing — Sheng Jiang (10-shogaol: keratinocyte and dermal fibroblast cell growth↑)

CHINESE THERAPEUTIC ACTIONS

* Clears heat; eliminates toxins (Huang Qin, Huang Lian, Huang Bo, Lian Qiao, Long Dan, Tian Hua Fen, Zhi Zi, Shi Gao)

* Dispels wind; relieves itching (Jing Jie, Fang Feng, Bo He, Chai Hu, Du Huo, Qiang Huo)

* Strengthens Spleen; dispels dampness (Fu Ling, Yi Yi Ren, Ze Xie, Che Qian Zi, Chuan Mu Tong)

* Cools blood; clears heat in blood level (Chi Shao, Mu Dan Pi)

* Tonifies blood; nourishes yin (Bai Shao, Dang Gui, Di Huang, Shu Di Huang, Shan Yao, Shan Zhu Yu)

* Promotes qi and blood circulation; removes stagnation (Chuan Xiong, Zhi Qiao)

DOSAGE

Standard: 3–4 capsules three times daily. In acute cases, increase to 6–8 capsules three times daily. Do not take continuously for more than two months.

Supplementary formulas: Severe itching — add Silerex. Acne — add Dermatrol (Clear). Enhance antibacterial function — add Herbal ABX. Enhance antiviral function — add Herbal AVR. Severe inflammation — add Astringent Complex. Fire signs (red eyes, red tongue, anger, constipation) — add Gardenia Complex and Gentle Lax (Excess). Damp accumulation from Spleen and Stomach qi deficiency — add Pinellia Complex. Chronic condition with purple surrounding skin and purple tongue — add Circulation (SJ). Weakened immune system, wei qi deficiency, or chronic deficiency with inability to heal lesions — add high dose Immune +. Chemical exposure (paint, nail polish, glue, drugs, bleach, aerosol) — add Herbal DTX. Stress-related skin condition — add Calm.

Nutrition: According to the five elements theory, the Spleen (earth element) generates the Lung (metal element) — skin health governed by the Lung depends on a healthy Spleen. Avoid the following foods that damage the Spleen and worsen skin conditions: shellfish (crabs, oyster, scallops, clams, lobster, shrimp — enter the yangming Stomach channel); fermented foods (cheese, fermented tofu); dairy (milk, cream, yogurt, cheese, ice cream); all sugar (cake, dessert, candy); meat (lamb, beef, goose, duck); deep-fried or greasy food; certain fruits (mango, durian); stimulants (coffee, alcohol, energy drinks); carbohydrates (white rice, bread — damage Spleen and produce dampness); spicy/pungent/aromatic vegetables (pepper, garlic, onions, basil, rosemary, cumin, fennel, anise, leeks, chives, scallions, thyme, saffron, wormwood, mustard, chili pepper, wasabi). Avoid any food that causes discomfort or allergic reaction.

Tao of Nutrition (Dr. Maoshing Ni and Cathy McNease): Increase consumption of potatoes, broccoli, dandelion, mung beans, seaweed, pearl barley, azuki beans, corn silk, water chestnuts, winter melon, and watermelon. Mash fresh potato and apply locally, changing every 4 hours, for 3 days. Apply honey to affected area. Apply mashed daikon radish to affected area. Make tea from dandelion and corn silk. Boil soup from seaweed and winter melon, drinking at least once daily for 10 days. Externally: wash with equal portions of salt and borax dissolved in warm water, 2–3 times daily — do not use internally.

Lifestyle: Sleep by 10:00 p.m. to enter deep sleep by 1:00 a.m. (Liver time per the Chinese Anatomical Clock) to fully restore Liver detoxification functions. Avoid being overly tired from work or stress. Do not scratch or irritate lesions — may lead to scar formation and further infection. Use cool or lukewarm water when bathing, mild or moisturizing soap, limited bathing duration and frequency, and avoid tight or irritating clothing.

Related Reading

Also see: Dermatrol (Clear) – for acne and dry skin conditions | Silerex – for severe itching | Herbal ABX – for bacterial infection | Herbal AVR – for viral infection | Astringent Complex – for severe inflammation and swelling | Gardenia Complex – for fire signs | Herbal DTX – for chemical exposure and toxin-related skin conditions | Circulation (SJ) – for chronic conditions with blood stagnation | Skin Health Collection | Hair, Skin & Nails Support Collection.