Irritant contact dermatitis treated with constitutional homoeopathic medicine – A case report

Contact dermatitis (CD) is a skin disorder characterised by papules and vesicles on an erythematous base. It is often precipitated by an exogenous cause and has a global prevalence of 1.7–6.3%. Irritant CD (ICD) is a type of CD caused by repeated exposure to irritants such as acids, alkalis and oxidants (chemical burns) or low-grade irritants such as soaps, detergents and solvents. Cases of ICD have been reported to be treated successfully with homoeopathic medicines. In this case, a male patient aged 55 years presented with the complaints of blackish-brown discolouration and thick lichenified lesion on the dorsal aspect of the left forearm with sticky thick discharge. Case taking and repertorisation done on the basis of totality of symptoms led to prescription of the constitutional homoeopathic medicine Sepia. The dose and the potency were modified per the patient’s requirements. The patient reported relief in all complaints; there was a significant change in the visual analogue scale for the itching and the dermatology life quality index. This case illustrates the utility of homoeopathic constitutional medication in treating chronic allergic dermatological conditions. Further, larger scale studies are required to enable generalisation of the findings.