Homeopathic management of contact dermatitis with secondary infection: A case study

Dr Shivangi Parihar

Abstract – Contact dermatitis is an inflammatory skin condition caused by exposure to irritants or allergens. Symptoms included erythema, pruritis, edema, and vesiculation, which may lead to chronic scaling and lichenification with repeated exposure. Homeopathy offers a holistic and individualized approach to managing contact dermatitis with secondary infection by addressing both local symptoms and the patient’s constitutional state. This case – based analysis emphasizes the miasmatic background, mental disposition, and modality- specific symptoms for remedy selection. Hahnemann emphasizes that treating the underlying causes (the internal diseases) through individualized remedies is the only way to achieve lasting cure.

Keywords – Contact dermatitis, homeopathy, individualized treatment.

Introduction – Eczema is characteristic inflammatory reaction of skin characterized invariably clinically, by itching, oozing, crusting, and recurrence and histologically, by spongiosis, acanthosis, latensification and perivascular infiltrate. The term “dermatitis” and eczema are used interchangeably.

But literally, dermatitis includes all types of inflammations of skin including eczemas1 . Contact dermatitis – Contact dermatitis is a common inflammatory skin condition characterized by erythematous and pruritic skin lesions after contact with a foreign substance. It is a cutaneous inflammation on exposure to a substance. Its severity ranges from mild, short-lived condition to severe, persistent and job-threatening state.

Homeopathic view
Dr. Hahnemann says, in the introduction to organon of medicine, for without the most minute individualization, homoeopathy is not conceivable, every individual is characterized by some unique features which serve to denote that particular individual from other individuals belonging to the same class or group. In homeopathy we do not stop diagnosis of the disease but go further to diagnosis the patient as well.¹⁰

Aphorism no 5 emphasizes the importance of identifying the cause of condition- whether it is external irritant (in contact dermatitis) or internal constitutional factors (as seen in chronic dermatitis or eczema)

Aphorism no 7, in dermatitis cases caused by external factors (like allergens, irritants, or environmental exposure), he said that these maintaining causes must be identified and removed for effective treatment.

In aphorism no 188-203 of organon of medicine, Hahnemann explains that local manifestation like skin condition must be treated by addressing the internal disorder through the use of individualized remedies.

Kent in his lectures mentioned that it is the man who is sick not his organ or tissue, man is prior to the organ the will and the understanding, and the house which he lives in, Man is his body. Each and everything that appears before the eyes is but the representative of its cause, and their is no cause except in the interior. Cause does not flow from the outermost of man to the interior, because man is protected against such state of affairs. A state of disorder represents its nature to man by signs and symptoms, and these are things to be prescribed upon. Tissue changes do not indicate the remedy, and so as physicians we must learn to examine symptoms which are prior to morbid anatomy, to go back to the very beginning.¹¹

Case
A 66-year-old female patient, presenting with itching, burning and crakes on the right hand and fingers. Scanty watery discharge after scratching. Thickened skin with scaly appearance. Bluish discoloration on finger. Gradual onset 1 years, initially mild dryness, which worsened to cracking, burning and oozing. Complaints are aggravated when she is using detergent or washing hands. When she avoids using water or detergents then she feels better.

• Modality – agg. Washing hands, winter, night, detergents, cold air
• Amel- cream, avoid detergents
• History- Asthma since 12 years

Physical general-

• Thermal – Chilly
• Thirst – 6-7 lit per day
• Desire – Sour food
• Aversion – Sour food, spicy food
• Perspiration – Scanty
• Fear – of height, dark, being alone
• Dreams – Does not remembered
• Stool – Normal
• Appetite – Diminished
• Sleep – Disturbed because of itching

Mind and disposition – She is mild and timid in nature. But restlessness and irritability due to discomfort, she become quietly irritable or impatient when physical symptoms persist, especially if the skin infection disrupts daily life. She is generally composed but attentive to small details, especially concerning cleanliness and skin care. She dislikes being left alone. She is emotionally connected with her granddaughter, spending daily time together. she moved to another city for her education. She feels emotionally and physically distanced from her daughter. She feels sadness and lonely.

Totality of symptoms –

1. Itching, pain, cracked skin on the right hand and finger with scanty watery discharge after scratching.
2. bluish discoloration of finger. Thickened, scaly skin
3. Aggravated by washing hands, in night, winter, detergents
4. Amelioration: creams, avoiding detergents
5. Chilly patient – sensitive to cold air, and thirsty.
6. Mild and timid nature but becomes quietly irritable and restless due to physical discomfort
7. Fear of being alone, dark, height
8. Fastidious, restless
9. Ailments from grief
10. Desire for company

Prescription –Arsenic album 200/SD

Discussion
In this case of Irritant Contact Dermatitis, we have the itching, and dryness of psora, the pustular eruptions as of sycosis and the disorder of squamous cell (ulcers) as of the syphilitic eruption if untreated. Based on the totality of the symptoms, arsenic album is the most suited remedy. It covers the physical, emotional, and miasmatic aspects of the case.

Conclusion
Hahnemann emphasized that skin diseases are not merely local affections but external manifestations of internal, systemic disorder. Irritant Contact Dermatitis is successfully treated with Homoeopathic medicines based on case taking and individualizing the patient. Homoeopathic treatment has shown the ability to improve Irritant Contact Dermatitis internally and helped to remove the predisposition state of the Irritant Contact Dermatitis.

Dr. Shivangi Parihar (MD Scholar)
Guide – Dr. Rakesh sonkusare
Department – organon of medicine Government homeopathy medical college and hospital, Bhopal (M.P.)

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