Diseases of Skin, Hair and Nails

1. The diseases of the skin are every important for a physician to deal with ; hence the need for special mention of certain relevant and important points. Except in rare cases, all skin diseases come from within. These should, therefore, be treated by internal medicine from within. The skin does not live an independent life of its own. The eruptions thereon are merely manifestations of an internal derangement. A perfectly healthy body must possess a perfectly healthy skin and a diseased skin cannot possibly exist upon a perfectly healthy body. Thus the treatment of skin diseases by outer applications is a serious and dangerous professional error. The disappearance of the disease by outer application amounts to its suppression which might strike inward attacking some other organs of the body with grave consequences. To treat skin diseases by outer application or by lotions is wrong in theory and harmful in practice.
2. The skin has an important function to perform. It is an excretory organ, and being spread out all over the body is often made use of by Nature to keep the internal organs free from disease. Each portion of the skin corresponds vitally to some internal organ or part, so the skin disease is often the outward expression of internal disease.
3. The diet for a person suffering from skin diseases is milk and vegetables.  Meat or eggs should be avoided. Great care must be taken to keep the digestive system in good order.
4. Washing of affected parts with soap should be avoided. Part should be cleaned with bran water.