There seem to be very few people in the world who do not wish for better skin. Some of us seek only to clear up the odd zit or three. Others have to deal with painful outbreaks on their faces or bodies nearly every day of their lives. At Cupping Birmingham, we hope to achieve by two things by blogging about this particular topic. One, to educate the masses on the names and causes of some common skin conditions. And two, to reduce the amount of people who have to suffer in this manner by encouraging them to consider our Hijama treatment.

Some skin conditions have a specific name whilst other skin related symptoms usually appear as a result of a separate illness. Not all can be treated with Hijama but here are a few of those that can:

• Acne
• Athlete’s Foot
• Excessive flushing or redness
• Eczema
• Painful or itchy rashes
• Psoriasis
• Scaly or rough skin
• Ringworm
• Urticaria or hives

All of the aforementioned skin disorders and others have different causes. Some result from bacteria getting clogged in the pores of the skin or hair follicles or due to the presence of fungus, parasites and micro-organisms on the surface of the skin. Coming into contact with viruses or the skin of an infected person can result in outbreaks as well as being exposed to allergens or other known or unknown irritants. Many people are not aware that some skin conditions are linked to weakness of the individual’s immune system, their lifestyle and whether or not they have any health conditions that affect their thyroid gland, kidneys and other systems in the body. Even genetics can play a part when it comes to the development of skin disorders.

Although acne is usually associated with puberty and high school students, many adults have be known to escape the physical manifestation of their hormonal changes during their teenage years, only to later get struck by episodes of ‘adult acne’. Women often suffer from outbreaks of painful spots or boils when they approach the start of their monthly cycle. Fungal infections, such as Ringworm, have been diagnosed more often in children whereas Athlete’s Foot normally afflicts those who are in shoes all day, such as working adults or, as the name suggests, sport enthusiasts. Eczema, Urticaria, also known as hives, and sometimes even Psoriasis are allergic reactions to particular foods or substances, which are called allergens or triggers.

Regardless of its cause or occupation of the patient suffering from it, we tend to treat most skin conditions in the same way. At Cupping Birmingham, our practitioners usually treat the systemic points, found upon the nape of the neck and on either side of the spine, directly behind the lungs. This is the general form of treatment due to it being systemic in nature, which means that the whole body can be influenced by placing cups on these locations. It is often used when the affected skin is spread all over the body and the blood needs to be filtered in order to combat any pathogens or imbalances that may be causing the skin condition, such as the presence of viruses or excess hormones.

However, when the damaged or irritated skin is found in a single area or forms as one or two patches, Hijama practitioners can offer a more localised treatment. Whilst trying to avoid placing the cups on broken or inflamed skin, practitioners can apply them close to the affected site. The bodily tissue treated by Hijama encompasses approximately a ten centimetre radius around where the cup has been placed. In this way, Hijama is able to benefit skin conditions without practitioners having to apply cups the actual area that is damaged.

We hope that this information has benefitted you, our dear readers, and we would love to hear from you. Comments, questions and weekly topic suggestions are always welcomed and greatly appreciated.

Thank you for reading!