Treatment

In the old school, the consensus of opinion seems to be that when treatment is admissible in the idiopathic form, benefit is only to be derived by stimulating the functions of the sudoriparous glands, and by the application of suitable emollients to relieve the existing dryness of the skin. In the symptomatic form the exciting cause should be removed, and the treatment directed to the relief of the subjective symptoms present. They claim that the activity of the sweat-glands may be restored mainly by diaphoretics. Resort should also be made to friction and to the use of alkaline, Turkish, or other hot baths.

Internal remedies may assist in some cases, and those heretofore found of benefit are:
Aethusa. - The skin has a dry, white, leathery appearance.
Natrum carb. - The skin of the whole body becomes dry and cracked.
Phosphorus. - The skin is dry and wrinkled.
Plumbum. - Dry skin, with absolute lack of perspiration.
Potass, idd. - The skin is dried up, and rough, like hog skin.