Patchy To Perfect Skin Transformation Journey Of A Lichen Planus Pigmentosa Patient

Mr. S.M.O., a fifty-five-year-old male, (Patient ID: 33037) , visited LifeForce Homeopathy Chembur clinic in August 2017 for the treatment of  Lichen Planus Pigmentosa (LPP) and Lichen Planopilaris.

The patient had been suffering from patchy discoloration of the skin around his neck, chest, and behind his right ear for the past year, with significant worsening over the last month. The condition presented as hyperpigmented macules with some papular eruptions that were gradually spreading and causing intense itching. He had previously been treated with topical steroids, including Clonate ointment and Halovate ointment, along with Teczine tablets (antihistamine) for fifteen to twenty days, but had discontinued all treatments six to seven months prior due to lack of improvement.

The patient also presented with associated complaints of Lichen Planus Pilaris affecting his scalp for the past eight months. This manifested as six to seven small hyperpigmented papules with scarred alopecia distributed across the scalp, accompanied by hair fall that had worsened over the past four months. Additionally, he had been managing Hyperlipidemia since 2010 with Atorvastatin 10mg daily; however, his compliance with the medicine was irregular. He also had diabetes mellitus since 2010, well-managed with antidiabetic medicines.

Regarding his general constitution, Mr. S.M.H. had a non-vegetarian diet with an average appetite, a particular craving for sweets, and no specific aversions. He experienced profuse perspiration all over his body, which seemed to aggravate his skin condition. His thermal state indicated he was generally hot. He had a habit of tobacco use since 1996, consuming it five to six times daily, and had used gutka until stopping in 2014. His bowel movements were satisfactory, and micturition was asymptomatic. Physically, he presented as a large-framed, obese, and stout individual.

Mr. S.M.H. worked as a chief accountant in the automobile spare parts industry for seventeen years and lived with his wife, who was a housewife, and two daughters in a nuclear family setup. He described having marital harmony and appeared settled in life. His childhood and adolescent years were reportedly happy and well-supported.

The family history revealed his father has hypertension and cardiomyopathy, his mother and brother had diabetes, and his sister had rheumatoid arthritis, but no family history of skin disorders was reported. His past medical history was significant for jaundice, but no surgical interventions were recorded.

Mentally, the patient presented as mild-natured, gentle, sober, confident, polite, and expressive. He demonstrated good memory and appeared to have normal intellectual functioning. However, he exhibited some irritability and was short-tempered. His emotional state appeared stable overall.

Dr. Rajesh Shah studied the case in detail, considering the patient''s constitutional symptoms, the progressive nature of the skin condition, associated comorbidities, and his mental-emotional state. After thorough case analysis, a homeopathic remedy was prescribed to address the underlying susceptibility and stimulate the body''s healing response, along with guidelines on diet and lifestyle modification.

For the first follow-up in September 2017, the patient showed initial improvement in his Lichen Planus Pigmentosa, with lesions becoming more macular in appearance. The spreading had reduced, and the itching intensity had improved. His Lichen Plano Pilaris also showed some improvement.

During the follow-up in November 2017, further improvement was noted in both conditions. The LPP lesions showed better resolution, particularly around the neck area, where improvement was marked. The Lichen Plano Pilaris showed significant improvement with only two major eruptions remaining. Hair fall had reduced considerably.

In January 2018, sustained improvement was maintained in the skin condition. The patient reported that the LPP lesions were stable and not spreading further. The itching had reduced to minimal levels. The scalp condition continued to show improvement with better hair growth patterns.

Follow-up in April 2018, the patient demonstrated an excellent response to treatment. The Lichen Planus Pigmentosa lesions had significantly improved with minimal residual hyperpigmentation. The condition was stable with no further progression or new lesions appearing. His Lichen Plano Pilaris showed marked improvement with better hair regrowth in previously affected areas. The patient''s overall quality of life had improved substantially, and his confidence had returned.

Given his prior recovery from Lichen Planus Pigmentosa and Lichen Planopilaris under LifeForce''s care, the patient recently visited the clinic to begin treatment for a new ailment.

This case demonstrates the effectiveness of constitutional homeopathic treatment in managing chronic dermatological conditions like Lichen Planus Pigmentosa and Lichen Planopilaris. The individualized approach, considering the patient''s complete symptom picture, constitutional factors, and associated conditions, led to significant improvement.

- Case study written by Dr.Nafisa D, Associate doctor to Dr.Rajesh Shah, MD (Hom)