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Rosacea is a common cutaneous disorder affecting the face. It is more frequently encountered in fair-
skinned races and in females. The aetiology is unknown. The treatment of rosacea can be difficult and
includes topical treatments like benzoyl peroxide, clindamycin and metronidazole as well as systemic
treatments like retinoids. We present three cases of rosacea treated homeopathically. They all had the
papulopustular variant of rosacea. They comprised one male patient and two female patients. The
treatments were individualized and included the homeopathic medicines Lachesis for the male patient
and Causticum as well as Lycopodium for the female patients. Remission was seen in all three cases
and was maintained after cessation of treatment. In conclusion, the cases show that homeopathy may
be another alternative to the care of patients with this common, but difficult to treat disorder.
Key words: Rosacea, homeopathy.
factor in the pathogenesis of this disease, but its She received the homeopathic medicine
exact role is not yet well elucidated. Lycopodium, at M potency, to be administered
weekly and was asked to use Aloe vera cream as
needed. At her 6-week follow-up visit, the lesions
RESULTS were healed (Figs. 4C,D). She continues to remain
in remission. Her hand dermatitis also has improved.
Case presentations
Case 3
Case 1 A 34-year old woman presented with a facial
A 53 year-old retiree presented with a one-year eruption of sudden onset, associated with
history of facial eruption. The eruption began in occasional itching. She also felt stinging and
the area between the eyebrows and spread to the redness with sun exposure.
cheeks. It was associated with itching and stinging She had been prescribed courses of systemic
sensations, made worse by shaving. antihistamines and hydroxychloroquine tablets.
His past medical history was significant for a Her past medical history was insignificant.
lumbar disc pathology and blindness in the right On examination, she was found to have a papular,
eye following an accident. erythematous eruption, with mild underlying
He had stopped smoking 4 years earlier and had edema (Fig. 5).
smoked for 34 years, between 20-60/day. He also She received the homeopathic medicine
consumed home-made wine regularly. Causticum, at M potency on a weekly basis for
Physical examination showed a middle-aged 6 weeks. At 6 weeks, she had shown improvement
male in good health, with central facial erythema, with almost complete clearing of the lesions (Fig. 6).
papules and telangiectasis, mostly on the “butterfly 8 months after cessation of treatment, she remains
area” of the face. There was a slightly left in remission.
predominance to the eruption (Fig. 1).
He received the homeopathic medicine
Lachesis, at M potency on a weekly basis for 6 DISCUSSION
weeks as well as Aloe vera cream, as needed.
He was seen 3 months later and already the Rosacea is a chronic disease of varying
symptoms were gone and the lesions much severity. It can be difficult to treat, especially
ameliorated (Fig. 2). He had also since stopped where there is underlying edema.
using the remedy. At 6 months after cessation of The treatment of rosacea includes topical agents
the use of the homeopathic medicine, the patient like benzoyl peroxide, clindamycin and metronidazole
remained in remission (Fig. 3). as well as systemic medicines like retinoids,
metronidazole and doxycyline1,10. Some of these
Case 2 therapies target the underlying inflammation seen
in rosacea such as the macrolides erythromycin
A 32 year-old female presented with a 10-year and azithromycin8,9.
history of facial rash previously diagnosed as This may be due to the ability of this class of
seborrheic dermatitis. It was aggravated by sun drugs to inhibit neutrophil chemotaxis and
exposure, cold weather, dust and anger. She had degranulation as well as cytokine production8.
received a topical steroid (dermovate) cream for Lifestyle changes include the avoidance of trigger
this, with only transitory effect. Her past medical factors such as stress, spices and sun exposure11.
history included a hand dermatitis that had also Laser therapy may also be effective11.
been unsuccessfully treated with allopathic and The use of natural therapies in for the treatment
homeopathic agents. of patients is not new and is on the increase12.
She smoked about 10 cigarettes/day, for the Homeopathy is a safe, natural system of therapy
past 11 years. first founded by the German physician Samuel
On examination, a young female in good Christian Hahnemann (1755-1843)13. He began the
general health, with erythematous plaques and search for an alternative, safe, mild kind of
pustules in the butterfly and zygomatic areas, treatment, as an alternative to the treatments given
especially on the right side was seen (Figs. 4A,B). in his day, such as bleeding and purging, which
She had no visible hand lesions. benefits to the patients he could not see.
Rosacea and homeopathy 209
Fig. 1. Case 1 before treatment. Fig. 2. Case 1 at 6 months after treatment. Fig. 3. Case 1 after treatment.
C D
A B
Fig. 4. A) Case 2 right profile before treatment, B) Case 2 right profile after treatment, C) Case 2 before treatment full face,
D) Case 2 full face after treatment.
Further and continued investigation, as well as 11. Odom R, Dahl M, Dover J, Draelos Z, Drake L, Macsai
M, Powell F, Thiboutot D, Webster GF, Wilkin
larger studies, would be required to determine the J. Rosacea, Part 2: Standard management options
role that homeopathy may have to play in the according to subtype. Cutis 2009;84: 97-104.
management of skin diseases. Judging by the case 12. Eisenberg DM, Davis RB, Ettner SL, Appel S, Wilkey S,
reports presented in this paper, homeopathy is a van Rompay M, Kessler RC. Trends in Alternative
Medicine Use in the United States, 1990-1997. Results of
treatment modality warranting serious a follow-up national survey. JAMA 1998;280(18):1569-1575.
consideration and it is hoped that this paper will 13. Hahnemann SC. Die chronische Krankheiten:
help to stimulate wider studies in this direction. teoretische Grundlagen. Karl F. Haug Verlag, 2001
14. Montagner L, Aïssa J, Ferris S, Montagner J-L, Lavallée
C. Electromagnetic signals are produced by aqueous
nanostructures derived from bacterial DNA sequences.
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