Homoeopathic Management of Acne Vulgaris in Teenagers: A Case Series

Abstract Acne vulgaris is a chronic inflammatory skin condition affecting teenagers, with significant impact on self-esteem. Even in mild form, acne has a detrimental psychological effect on patients. Acne vulgaris affects 85% of adolescents, often starts in preadolescence, and persists into adulthood. In conventional method, topical retinoids and other treatment modalities are available; however, these are fraught with potential side effects and expensive, and therefore an alternative method of treatment is required. A case series of three teenagers with acne vulgaris treated with individualized homoeopathy is presented here. The cases are reported according to the Homeopathic Clinical Case Reports (HOM-CASE) guidelines and followed up with photographic documentation. Severity of disease and its impact on quality of life (QoL) was assessed using the global acne grading system (GAGS) and the Teenager's Quality of Life (T-QoL). The Modified Naranjo Criteria for Homeopathy (MONARCH) inventory was used as a tool for assessing the causal relationship between homeopathic intervention and clinical outcome. All cases of acne vulgaris were successfully treated with individualized homeopathy within 2 months' duration without any complication. Eruptions resolved with decrease in both the GAGS and T-QoL scores. Individual curative response of the homeopathic medicine in each case assessed through MONARCH, demonstrated a positive causal attribution of homeopathy. This case series highlights successful outcomes using individualized homeopathic treatment, showing remarkable improvement of acne vulgaris in teenagers. Hence, this case series could serve as a basis for further research into the role of individualized homeopathic medicine in the treatment of acne vulgaris in teenagers.