A 12 Year Battle with Steroid Dependent Lichen Planus Treated with Homeopathy

Lichen planus is an immune-related disease, and its eruptions mostly begin as reddish-purplish lesions accompanied by itching. Gradually, these lesions turn brownish or blackish. If anyone has a similar condition, this case study may prove helpful.

This is the case of Mrs. N.S. (Patient identification number 46068), a 29-year-old lady who visited the Life Force Vashi center in August 2021 for her chronic complaint of lichen planus. She has been suffering from the condition since 2010. She presented with multiple active reddish-brown eruptions on her legs, feet, arms, back, waist, and abdomen. These were associated with severe itching. She had used steroid-based ointments for a few months and had previously applied steroid creams on an SOS basis.

Physical generals:

She followed a non-vegetarian diet. She was very fond of sweets and disliked bitter tastes. Her appetite was low. Bowel movements, urination, menses, and perspiration were all normal. Her sleep was sound.

She was an IT professional, and her husband also worked in the IT sector. Her father was a government employee, and her mother was a homemaker. She had one brother and one sister.

Mental generals:

Mentally, she was a confident and expressive individual. She was short-tempered and became anxious during the consultation. She tended to cry when angry.

In her family history, there were arthritis complaints on her mother''s side. There was no specific past history of any major illness.

After evaluating her case in detail, Dr. Shah prescribed individualized homeopathic medicine and advised a few blood tests. Her reports showed severely low vitamin D and B12 levels, along with elevated cholesterol, for which she was advised appropriate supplements and dietary measures.

Follow-ups:

During her first follow-up, she reported worsening of the eruptions and increased itching that had spread all over her body. Upon inquiry, it was revealed that she had abruptly stopped the use of steroid ointments, which she had been dependent on for a few months. She was advised to continue the steroid ointment for a few more weeks in tapering doses before discontinuing to avoid withdrawal flare-ups. The medicines were adjusted accordingly.

In her December 2021 follow-up, there were no new eruptions, and some improvement was noted in the older lesions. However, itching persisted, especially on her legs and hands.

By March 2022, after a few more months of treatment, she reported good progress. Both the eruptions and itching had reduced significantly. The disease progression had stopped. She was not using any conventional oral or topical medications during this time. She had also completed her course of vitamin supplements.

In June 2022, her condition had improved by approximately 70–80%. Most eruptions had become inactive, with only a few active spots remaining. The itching had reduced considerably. Only hyperpigmented, inactive lesions were visible. Her medicines were continued as per her symptoms.

By October 2022, she reported that no new eruptions had appeared. All previous lesions were inactive, and there was no itching. Only the hyperpigmented marks remained. As her condition was nearly resolved, she was advised to discontinue the treatment and apply coconut oil to the pigmented spots for skin recovery.

She was extremely satisfied with the outcome and expressed her gratitude for the excellent results achieved through homeopathic treatment.

Conclusion:

This case illustrates homeopathy plays a vital role in improving immunity and promoting internal healing in chronic diseases like lichen planus.

- Case study written by Dr. Priyanka Agarwal, Associate Doctor to Dr. Rajesh Shah, MD (HOM)