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Homœopathic Links 2025; 38(04): 199-206
DOI: 10.1055/s-0044-1782220
Case Report

Homoeopathic Management of Acne Vulgaris in Teenagers: A Case Series

Authors

  • Nabanita Debnath

    1   Department of Practice of Medicine, National Institute of Homoeopathy, Kolkata, West Bengal, India

  • Kapil Das

    2   Regional Research Institute of Homoeopathy, Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy, Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India, Agartala, India

  • M. S. R. Piraveen

    1   Department of Practice of Medicine, National Institute of Homoeopathy, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
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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.

Keywords

acne vulgaris - GAGS - T-QoL - MONARCH - homeopathy - case series

Patients' Consent

Formal consents were obtained from patients and their respective guardians.


Editors' Note

Emerging evidence suggests that acne may have broader systemic implications beyond the skin, particularly through shared metabolic and inflammatory pathways relevant to vascular health. A cross-sectional study demonstrated that adults with acne show a significantly higher prevalence of metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance, both established vascular risk factors. Reviews of acne comorbidities further highlight that key inflammatory mediators such as IL-17, TNF-α and NF-κB are shared between acne and also report that severe acne frequently coexists with obesity, dyslipidemia, and other metabolic-syndrome (MetS) features, reinforcing its systemic inflammatory profile. In addition, Mendelian randomization data (used to assess the causal association between risk factor and health outcome) indicate causal links between blood lipid metabolism and acne risk, suggesting that systemic metabolic regulation contributes meaningfully to acne pathophysiology. These studies support shared inflammatory and metabolic pathways between acne and conditions that increase vascular risk (like MetS).


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Publication History

Article published online:
26 December 2024

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