Homoeopathic cure for melasma – a case report

Dr Tarkeshwar Jain, Dr Prastuti Jaiswal, Dr Ayushi Malhotra

ABSTRACT
Melasma is one of the most common skin problems occur due to excessive exposure to sunlight or after delivery. Patient attended out-patient department (OPD) chiefly for complaints of blackish discolouration over face with thin, transparent leucorrhoea. After unsatisfactory outcome with modern medicine for one year, patient turned to homoeopathic treatment. After detailed casetaking and repertorization, Sepia succus 200CH was given along with Placebo, and gradually, the medicine was repeated as per the response upon the patient. Within 3–4 months of homoeopathic treatment, the patient started improving and continues to be free from her complains at the time of last visit in OPD (Fig.2 & Fig. 3).

Keywords: Case report, Melasma, Leucorrhoea, Homoeopathy, Sepia succus.

CASE PROFILE-

PRESENT COMPLAINT AND HISTORY OF PRESENT COMPLAINT-  A 35-year-old female attended outpatient department (OPD) of Dr. Girendra Pal Homoeopathic Hospital and Research Centre in July 2019 with the complaints of Black discoloration of face(forehead, both cheeks) for 3-4 years with itching, occasionally, Uses allopathic ointments on face for about one year,  along with white discharge from vagina for 2-3 years which is thin, profuse transparent, aggravated in morning (on waking) associated with pain in lumbar region that increases in morning.

PAST HISTORY – Patient at the age of 15 years had Intermittent fever which was cured after homoeopathic treatment.

FAMILY HISTORY – Mother was hypertensive and father was diabetic. She has three Siblings who are healthy and alive.

PERSONAL HISTORY – Patient belong to lower class and works as farmer has her own land. She is exposed to sunlight for long duration as she has to work in field for many hours.

PHYSICAL GENERALS- Her appetite is good having three meals per day with normal thirst of 3-4 litres /day. She has desire for spicy food (add extra red chilli to her food) with aversion to soyabean. She has profuse sweat mainly in hands. Bowel movements are satisfactory with retention feeling after urination with frequent urging. Pain in lower abdomen in hypogastrium mainly after urination. Patient is chilly (craves hot drinks, prefers summer, and cannot tolerate cold, wants extra coverings). Her sleep is unrefreshing, full of dreams. Her menstrual cycle is regular of 28 days, but flows is scanty with dark clotted blood.

MENTAL SYMPTOMS – She gets irritable easily when others do not listen to her, wants to be alone. She do not like company of her family members as she thinks no one in the family understand her.

LOCAL AND SYSTEMIC EXAMINATION- Tongue was slightly white coated. All the vitals are normal. On skin examination, hyperpigmentation is present on forehead and both cheeks which is black in colour.

PROVISIONAL DIAGNOSIS: Melasma

DISCUSSION
Melasma is common in person who are very much exposed to sunlight, after delivery, stress and hormonal imbalance. In the previous study9, melasma was treated with lycopodium with repetition when required. In this case, patient presented with blackish discolouration of face due to exposure to direct sunlight diagnosed as chloasma. Sepia succus was selected as a similimum on the basis of totality of symptoms assessed on mental and physical aspects. Sepia succus 200 was prescribed with repetition of medicine when required which shows reduction in hyperpigmentation of face along with discharge from vagina.

CONCLUSION
This case report shows that homoeopathic along with lifestyle management can contribute towards treatment of melasma. It re-confirms the importance of individualized homoeopathic approach in managing melasma cases.

REFERENCES

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AUTHORS

Dr. Tarkeshwar Jain, Head of Department of Materia Medica, Dr. M.P.K. Homoeopathic Medical College, a constituent college of Homoeopathy University, Jaipur.

Dr. Prastuti Jaiswal, Assistant Professor, Dr. M.P.K. Homoeopathic Medical College, a constituent college of Homoeopathy University, Jaipur.

Dr. Ayushi Malhotra, MD Scholar, Department of Materia Medica, Dr. M.P.K Homoeopathic Medical College, a constituent college of Homoeopathy University, Jaipur.

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