Homoeopathy in the treatment of tinea cruris and tinea corporis – A case series

Background: Dermatophytosis is a fungal infection affecting keratinised tissues such as the epidermis, hairs and nails. It is particularly prevalent in tropical regions due to favourable conditions for fungal growth, such as warmth and humidity. Dermatophytes metabolise keratin leading to various pathological clinical presentations, such as tinea pedis, tinea corporis and tinea cruris. Case reports, case series and studies published on treatment of tinea corporis add to the evidence-based effectiveness of Homoeopathy in treatment of the condition. Objective: The objective of the study was to assess the therapeutic efficacy of individualised homoeopathic medicines in the clinical management of cases presented with tinea cruris and tinea corporis. Methods: The present case series includes 26 cases of dermatophytosis. KOH mount test was used as the diagnostic tool for confirming tinea infection. Clinical Cure, Skindex-16 and Global Evaluation Response were the main outcome assessment tools. The causal relationship between intervention and outcome was assessed through MONARCH criteria. Results: Out of 26 cases, nine cases (34%) experienced complete disappearance of lesions, 14 cases (53.8%) showed symptomatic improvement and progression of lesions was seen in three cases (11.5%). The collated data of these 26 cases showed a significant reduction in mean Clinical Cure Composite Score (pruritus, erythema and scaling) (p = 0.000) and Skindex-16 composite scores (p = 0.00) were observed. Conclusion: This series provides evidence supporting the usefulness of Homoeopathy treatments for dermatophytosis, particularly tinea cruris and tinea corporis. Employing clinical assessments, standardised evaluation metrics and photographic documentation ensures a thorough and objective evaluation of treatment usefulness and patients’ quality of life.