Eczema + Steroid Withdrawal Syndrome
“I’ll be forever grateful to the friend who referred me to Dr Erikson as I really think my skin would still be a complete mess without his treatments!

I suffered fairly bad eczema as a child which I mostly grew out of in adulthood. I started to get the odd little patch in my mid-late 20s which I treated with my mum’s prescription steroid cream with no issues.

I then moved from UK to Canada and my eczema started to flair up more, I think due to environmental changes. I treated it with the same cream of my mum’s that I always had but unfortunately it just got worse and worse. After a year of using this cream I looked into it and realized it was a really potent topical steroid and should never be used on the face or neck which were two areas I had started to use it.

I stopped using the cream immediately and just days later my skin erupted into the worst eczema I had ever had in my life. My face was BRIGHT RED and so itchy and it would go through cycles of SEVERE itching like I’ve never had before, oozing and then flaking off. It also spread quickly all over my body even in places where I hadn’t been using the cream. It really affected my daily life and I was very miserable. All the traditional doctors wanted to do was to put me back on stronger steroids (pills) which I was convinced wasn’t the best approach. I self diagnosed from lots of research that I had ‘Red Skin Syndrome’ or ‘Topical Steroid Withdrawal’. I was really at my wits end when my friend recommended Dr Erikson, and had been suffering this already for about 3 months with no sign it was going to self resolve.

I was reassured from the first meeting with him and felt really confident in his treatment methods. It was chalk and cheese compared to speaking with any of the traditional doctors I had been to, finally someone ‘got it’. Within days of using just his topical herbal creams I could notice a significant difference in my comfort levels, it took down the itching and was the only cream I had used (out of countless ‘eczema specific’ creams) that actually helped to moisturize and relieve the symptoms.

I have now been taking the herbal teas twice daily and using the creams for about 3 months now and my skin is 98% better. I really couldn’t be happier! I hardly use the creams anymore as I don’t really need to and I have gone from 2 to 1 sachet of tea per day. It was completely the opposite with the steroid cream… I just kept having to use more and more and it was getting worse and worse. Just a few stubborn but mild patches to clear up and then hopefully all this will be behind me.

I can’t thank you enough Dr Erikson you’ve really been an absolute life saver!”

Emily Heap

Nummular Eczema
“I went to Dr Erikson in September 2013 with acute eruptions on my skin that had been diagnosed for several years as psoriasis, which turned out to be a totally incorrect diagnosis. I first went to a dermatologist in 2008 who, along with many other specialists in Vancouver, confirmed that I had psoriasis and proceeded to treat me for it, to no avail. The ointments they prescribed gave me some relief but, after a while, my skin became thin and cracked and the problem persisted.
I kept going back to my GP in considerable pain and she kept sending me to specialists who kept on prescribing ointments and finally one suggested I take cortisone injections. She also told me: “You will never be cured”. This option did not feel right to me and so I went to a naturopath in Vancouver who began a regime of homeopathic medicine, put me on a very restricted diet but this, too, had little impact. I felt healthier and lost weight, but unfortunately my skin condition worsened.
In short, I spent nearly five full years trying to find relief for my condition.
When I went to Dr. Erikson in September 2013, I was in acute pain, itchy beyond description, with bleeding sores and most critically, I was in despair. I felt there was no way out for me. I had asked a friend who is a doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine if she could suggest someone because I had heard that there was a good record of healing in this school of medicine. My friend sent me Dr. Erikson’s name and, when I looked at Dr Erikson’s website, I liked the feeling I got of a caring medical practitioner, one who understood the very specific miseries that accompany skin afflictions and conditions.
Dr. Erikson’s diagnosis and treatment changed my life. He said I did not have psoriasis; instead I had a specific kind of eczema (nummular eczema with vitiligo underneath). I began to drink his herbal tea and within the first three days of his treatment I began to heal. Thereafter, he continued to treat me, from September 2013 to December 2014 and slowly but surely I began to get better. As of December 2014, I no longer take any medication. I have small areas that are dry and need extra moisturizing than the rest of my body but nothing more. I have normal skin now, am free of sores and itches and I eat everything – in moderation.
A major element in his treatment is that he shares information. He takes photographs of the skin eruptions (discreetly, so that one’s identity is not disclosed) and shows these to the patient every time one visits. In this way, one gets an excellent sense of the progress being made. He has no hesitation in explaining any kind of question one might have –whether it is about his medicine or the origins of Chinese dermatology or his own experiences as a healer.
Dr. Erikson is a highly skilled, experienced and compassionate physician. He instills hope but is also realistic; he understands and accepts one’s limitations and lifestyle and does not advocate radical new regimes of diet or lifestyle that may be impossible to maintain. He is a healer. I know he changed my life and I will be grateful to him forever.”

Almas Zukiuddin (Past Burnaby resident)

Pompholox eczema
“Just a quick note to let you know my skin is doing great. I stopped using any lotions and they healed on their own. Plus I went swimming and they recovered fairly quickly.
Thanks again for all your help and sticking through it! My digestion and health overall has been better too. It was really worth all the time and money and you were always empathetic and a good listener. Hope you and your family are well.”

Vancouver Patient who suffered with pompholox eczema

Paediatric eczema
“The herbal baths that Dr.Erikson prescribed for our 4 month old baby girl made a big difference! We saw a difference in her face within a week. She is now 5 months and her eczema has cleared almost 95%. Last couple nights she slept through 3-4 hrs, woke for feed and went back to sleep with no fuss, big difference from waking every 30 mins- 1 hr. We haven’t had to swaddle her either. She is still itching on some areas, but she is no longer constantly scratching herself and most importantly we no longer have to use the steroid creams regularly.

My husband and I were skeptical at first. However, we were desperate. Using steroid creams was not helping us control the eczema and the side effects made us felt uneasy. We saw three different doctors, all told us different things and continued to prescribed one steroid cream after the other. We were so sleep deprived because our baby was waking so often. When she is able to sleep, I would spend the time to research about eczema. Everything on the internet said to just moisturize and use steroid cream. I tried cutting out all foods that I thought could trigger her eczema. At one point I was just eating chicken and rice because I was so afraid her eczema would react. I was so desperate that I even tried to cut out rice to see if it made a difference. Then I became worried that she wasn’t getting all the nutrients. It was so frustrating. Bath time was so stressful for her and us. She would cry uncontrollably. We tried switching products after products, all did not make a difference. Finally my husband brought up the idea of using Chinese medicine because he knew my mom had made me drink a few herbal medicine after labour that seem to help me feel better. I went on the internet again and found dr.erikson’s story about baby boy and his mom dealing with baby eczema. It sounded exactly like what we were going through. Reading the testimonial, I thought maybe some of the babies coincidentally outgrew the eczema at the same time they saw dr.erikson. Even though I was skeptical, I saw that he was located in white rock, which is fairly close to home, I thought might as well give it a try.
After seeing Dr.Erikson for the first time, he told us to stop all lotions and steroid creams. Stopping steroid creams I understood, but was shocked to hear him say to stop applying lotion. I mean, moisturizing is the number one thing for eczema. He explained that we needed to just let our baby’s skin breathe and take a break from all the lotion that we were using. He gave us a cream which he said has nutrients for the skin and some herbs to boil and bathe our baby in. Within a week, we saw a difference on our baby’s face. It feels so good to see your baby play without having to constantly stop her from scratching herself. Bath time is now fun for our baby. She loves kicking and splashing the water. I’m so glad we don’t have to swaddle her anymore. She hated being swaddled and would always break free, but it was the only way to get her to stop scratching herself at night. We look at our baby now and still can’t believe her skin healed so quickly and feels so soft! Thank you Dr. Erikson! You have truly made a difference in our lives.”

K. Thai

Atopic eczema
“I can’t thank you enough for everything that he has done for me this year. You gave my life back. You showed me that even when things seem like they will never get better, that with enough time and patience (and the right herbs!), that they can get better. Thank you for all your kindness, patience, advice, and most of all, just listening to me when I needed to vent. Words cannot express my appreciation…”

Vancouver eczema patient

Adolescent atopic eczema
“My son is doing very well and his skin has come along nicely! Thanks to you and your team who have sacrificed your lives in studying health and wellness! The herbs must have done some great work from the inside out!”

Langley eczema patient’s mother

Atopic eczema
“I would highly recommend Dr. Erikson! His ability to listen and his caring manner were qualities that I appreciated during each of my visits. After trying many different traditional and naturopathic remedies, I decided to see Dr. Erikson in the hope that he could help me. When I first saw him, I was suffering from ongoing problems with eczema. Since starting his specially made herbal tea, I have seen drastic improvements. In fact, it has virtually disappeared over the past 15 weeks. Thank you so much Dr. Erikson!”

 NM

Atopic eczema  

“I began seeing Dr. Erikson in July 2009 after nearly 3 years of trying to have a baby. We went through 4 miscarriages- 3 miscarriages using Clomid and 1 miscarriage after 2 cycles of injectables. The stress of monthly doctor’s visits, blood tests, temperature taking, etc. had me so depressed and really changed the person I was.

Even worse, the introduction of all the hormone injections and coming off the pill after years of use caused my skin to break out in terrible cystic acne. I was depressed about my body failing as a woman to carry a baby to term, and also depressed about how I looked. I decided to try acupuncture just as a break from the medical visits and to relax my body.
I was at first skeptical that Trevor could help my skin and my fertility issues, but he changed my mind very quickly! Within one month of Chinese herbs and acupuncture, my acne significantly improved. And the next month I was pregnant naturally!!! I could not believe it after so many years and medical interventions I used. I now have a beautiful 4 month old baby boy and I could not be happier.

I cannot say enough great things about Dr. Erikson. Thank you so much for changing my life.”

Tricia

“I went to see Dr. Erikson when my skin was really flaring up with acne and I’d tried just about everything to get rid of it, from homeopathy to antibiotics and every brand of skin cream on the market.  It was also a time in my life when my husband and I were thinking of trying to start a family so when Dr. Erikson told me that the herbs he could prescribe for my skin would also enhance my fertility, I was motivated to try it out!  He also gave me two types of natural skin creams to use, which I used day and night.
My skin started to clear up after about three months and was noticeably improved after six months, to the point where I hardly had to wear makeup anymore to hide the blemishes.  And best of all, we got pregnant!
I’m very grateful to Dr. Erikson for his caring approach to both my skin and my fertility.”

JR, Vancouver, BC

“The last weeks of July 2010, I was feeling burned out. I was wearing a lot of hats; wife, mother, volunteer, preparing for a vacation, taking the kids to lessons & summer camps – we had a lot going on, but  I still pushed through the fatigue.
I let my 2 year commitment to breast feed my youngest son extend an extra couple of months past his 2nd birthday & most likely put extra pressure on my body making that tiny little bit of milk. I had some emotional stress that I was dealing with as well.
August 1st, I burnt my forearm on a frying pan & a few days later, the thick scab that had accumulated rubbed off by accident…in order keep it clean, I covered it & mistakenly used adhesive tape that wasn’t hypo-allergenic (which I’ve reacted to in the past). In turn, I got a horrible reaction surrounding the burn & thus, a cascading effect…
I started getting a rash , first showing up on my arms & lower legs. It would start to itch & if I gave in to scratch, the bumps would elevate/swell for a period of time & then come back down & turn red afterwards, often bleeding. After a month, it had spread to 75% of my body – my arms from wrists to shoulders, my legs from ankle to buttocks, my ears, jawline & neck. Later on, it moved to my stomach & sides. The itching it caused was enough to make me lose my mind – there would be small time periods of relief during the day & then insatiable itching that seemed to come from deep underneath my skin. Because of intense itching that could not be ignored, I couldn’t shave my legs for 10 weeks because I had hundreds of scabs all over them. The itching was the worst when I woke in the morning & in the evening after dinner & through the evening. I was beginning to lose sleep over it.
The first time I sought medical help, I went to a clinic & was told that that rash wasn’t anything, perhaps a minor allergic reaction. By the day, things were getting worse.The second time I went to same medical clinic, I was told to take Benedryl for a week, every 4 hours – not an easy thing to do while taking care of young children, but I was starting to feel a bit desperate, so I took the Benedryl and drowsily made my way through the week, but still…things were steadily getting worse. I felt like my body was being taken over by this reaction & I was so frustrated.
I tried a number of things at home – epsom salts & baking soda/oatmeal bath with scalding water to try to ‘burn’ the itch out. I poured calamine lotion all over my body…none of these things seemed to help. The only method I found that gave me some temporary relief was to pour baking soda in my hands, sprinkle a bit of water over it & harshly exfoliate my arms and legs. It stung like crazy & left me pasty & bleeding, but it was the only thing I could do to make the itch leave at night so I could try & sleep for a little while. By this time, there were a few hours in the night where I couldn’t sleep, although I was exhausted & I was starting to bruise from itching so deeply.
I went to the clinic of my Western family doctor, who amazingly addressed that what I was experiencing, was a problem on the inside of my body coming out. I was told I had “Adrenal Fatigue”, (the body/immunity was weakened & couldn’t deal with normal stresses properly). I was given a prescription for 30 days of Prednisone. I had researched enough about this drug for a family member in the past, to know that it might take away the skin problem, but would leave my immunity out of balance, which was already the issue? – so not very logical… but on the other hand, a life-saving drug for many other things.I wanted a second opinion, so the same day, I went to my Naturopath. I was diagnosed with the same condition. I decided to go the Naturopathic route & take the adrenal/thyroid/histamine blocker approach that they prescribed for 2 weeks, to see if anything improved & externally, it did not.
I felt so defeated. I was a mess. It had been almost 5 weeks of dealing with all of this. The sleep that I was losing at night was compacting. I had been proactive in making appointments & second opinions, but not getting any answers. My husband & I had spent almost $500 on Benedryl, supplements, topical agents, appointments, etc. In my heart I knew how lucky we are as Canadians to have so many medical luxuries & I didn’t want to forget that, but I was exhausted on the other hand of being my own doctor & trying to find someone who would take the time & look past selling products & services! My final step before giving in to the Prednisone prescription was going to see Dr. Trevor Erikson, who specialized in dermatological issues.
I met with Dr. Erikson. I was so emotional from my ordeal & he was genuinely sympathetic, both listening & asking fantastic questions – really endeavoring to get to the bottom of my reaction. He agreed that my body was under stress & immunity imbalanced. He let me know that because of my history of allergic skin reactions, my body might actually be having an allergic reaction to my allergic reaction!
My body was seeping histamines at an incredible rate, under my skin & it was worse in higher body temperatures. And finally, someone with a solid diagnosis! Severe urticaria. It had already been close to 6 weeks of having this reaction & he knew that we had to get a handle on everything as there was possibility of developing a chronic condition. I felt no pressure whatsoever to take Dr. Erikson’s recommendation of prescription Chinese Medicine, which was so refreshing. He gave me all the information on both sides of treatment that I needed to make my decision.
I knew that with my particular condition, the Chinese Medicine could take 6 weeks to 6 months (worst case scenario) to see my body fully recovered. I was given the cost information up front and it was reasonable. I knew what the commitment would be for cooking the medicine… Everything I needed to know was right in front me, nothing hidden and I appreciated it so much.
I decided to give Chinese Medicine a try. With my particular tea prescription, the taste could only be described as watered-down tar – like stale cigarettes in water, aging in a barrel for a long, long time…It definitely blew “Buckley’s” out of the water! It was like nothing I’d ever experienced before, but it was working! I am very happy to say that not even 2 months into taking it, my itching & bumps were gone. (And with each period of improvement, ingredient tweaks changed the taste considerably, for the better!)
I can honestly say that I have never received medical support & treatment better than what I have had with Dr. Erikson.
Through the last few months, I’ve felt that my overall health & wellness has been the focus in all my interactions there. Dr. Erikson has kept a photographic journal of my skin reactions and shared it (with my permission) with colleagues in Europe & around the world. So not only was I getting his expertise, but also that of other trusted professionals.
In a recent monthly visit to follow up on my progress, I was shown a picture of my skin the first time it was photographed. I was amazed to see the incredible external progress – it was night & day in comparison.I receive numerous follow-up emails asking “How is your skin doing this week?” or “Do you need me to get your next dosage put together?” I have never experienced that before.
I truly feel that I am getting better care than what I am paying for. It’s fantastic that I have the option of having my tea herbs delivered right to my doorstep. I feel like I have gained a wealth of knowledge in having dialogue & having my questions answered in my appointments. I have felt respected & heard. I have been able to count on Dr. Erikson’s knowledge & honesty. I have been treated with professionalism & like family, really –  I can’t say enough about how I have felt cared for.
Currently, I am slowly being weaned off the ingredients dealing with Urticaria. I am confident that in a short time, I will be healed from all of this completely. I am so grateful for his gifts & proficiency in helping me achieve health & wellness.”

Amy Sicolo

Colitis (Inflammatory Bowel Disease)
“Dr. Erikson – you treated me for an active bowel (colitis, with more than 15 movements per day) more than a year ago and a related rash on my lower right leg (most likely lichen planus). After 10 years of traditional North American medicine with little resolve, within several weeks of your treatment program there was an immediate improvement. I was amazed, as I was skeptical of Chinese medicine. My gut has continued to improve ever since and it is to the point now where my bowel movements are regular and predictable. Best of all I am able to eat pretty much everything, although moderation for some foods is prudent. The ancillary benefit to this is I no longer have to rise at 5:00 AM every morning for a bowel movement and able to sleep a full 7 1/2 hours +, which has greatly improved my overall health. Your treatment has greatly improved my quality of life and I would highly recommend you.”

Andrew Block

“Before seeing Dr. Erikson I was struggling with the embarrassment of peri-oral dermatitis and no menstruation for the last 2 years due to PCOS. After seeing him for only 3 months, my face had almost completely cleared and my skin was no longer the oily mess it used to be. After working with him for a little longer, he had also brought back my menstruation and worked with me until it was completely back to normal. Every visit, Dr. Erikson supplied me with a wealth of knowledge, which helped change my over all experience with health and my quality of life.”

Jodi Dumbleton

“I can’t say enough about his knowledge of the complicated immune / skin condition called psoriasis. I had a case that covered 90% of my body and nothing I tried was working for over 4 months, it was just getting worse. I started working with him to heal it from the inside out and after 2 months my whole entire body has cleared and nothing has returned! I can’t say enough about how grateful I am for his specialist knowledge and would recommend him to anyone battling chronic skin conditions. Thank you for being so kind and present during our conversations!”

Jessica Cooper

“I am still psoriasis free – not even one spot thanks to you, Mr. Miracle Worker!”

Vancouver psoriasis patient

“I developed psoriasis in September of 2016. My lower legs were particularly affected with deep red, large botches like bad burns. Often thick, white crust also appeared. I had to keep my legs covered to avoid embarrassment. I do not go to doctors but my husband insisted after six months so I went online and discovered Dr. Erikson specializing in skin disorders and Chinese herbal treatment.
I started his treatment of herbs and cream on May 10th 2017 and within two weeks the symptoms started to go away. By the end of two months they disappeared.
I also used his cream for various skin issues on my grandchildren which worked so well my daughter bought the cream for her family.
Dr. Erikson is very professional as well as being thorough and thoughtful with each consultation. My husband is a big skeptic of nontraditional medicine but is especially impressed with Dr. Erikson’s knowledge and expertise. We are very grateful and would recommend him wholeheartedly.”

RC, (Surrey, BC)

“My psoriasis started very suddenly at the age of 58. Within two weeks I had my whole upper body covered with red psoriasis marks – my back, stomach, chest, hands and face. My head was very itchy and covered with dandruff, which I have never had before.
I went to see my Western medicine Doctor in Sechelt, who told me that he can prescribe me some cortisone based cream, which would help a little bit, but would not cure my problem. He told me that when you get psoriasis it is for lifetime, you will never get rid of it. I was desperately looking for help. A Doctor of Chinese medicine in Sechelt referred me to Dr. Trevor Erikson, a Chinese medicine Doctor in White Rock who exclusively focuses on both acute and chronic skin diseases. She knew that Dr. Erikson had very high success rates treating psoriasis patients.
My first visit was very pleasant and Dr. Erikson gave me much hope that he would be able to alleviate my psoriasis with Chinese herbal medicine. All I had to do was drink a very professionally packaged Chinese herbal drink twice per day. In six months Dr. Erikson was able to completely rid my body of psoriasis. I got my life back. Dandruff and all the red marks on my skin were gone.
I hope that many people will see my testimonial and contact Dr. Erikson. Psoriasis is very nasty skin condition and it effects your life big time. I will be thankful to Dr. Erikson the rest of my life.”

Jari Virkela (Gibsons, BC)

“I have had mild psoriasis for many years but in  2009 I started developing more severe psoriasis. In Feb 2009 small patches of psoriasis started on my right lower leg and on my back and steadily grew and by November 2009 my leg had a 4 inch by 10 inch bright red, itchy area and my back was covered from the top,  down my spine to the tailbone. I was developing patches near my clavicle  and now had to be careful about the kinds of necklines I could wear.
I found Dr. Trevor Erikson  via the psoriasis clinic he trained at in England. I first went to see him Nov 27, 2009 and he took some photos, started me on some Chinese herbs (Nov 30) and some skin lotions. I found Dr. Erikson to be a very personable man, easy to talk to, straight forward and honest. Three weeks later I saw him again and was happy to report that after only  a week of the herb tea my psoriasis was not as red. After 5 days of taking the herbs I was able to wear a dress with a nice neckline to my husbands staff Christmas party.
I continued taking herbs (a different batch every 3 weeks) December, January, February and March. At each 3 week checkup there were very obvious improvements in my skin. Setbacks were very minor and I could usually relate them to some
food that I was eating.  By March 16, 2010, only 15 weeks after I took my first cup of herb tea,  my psoriasis had almost completely cleared up.
I am still amazed at the speed and steadiness that I have improved and will be forever grateful to Dr. Erikson for his help in resolving my problems.”

GR