22/01/2026
A 14-year-old female presented with widespread depigmented patches involving the face, trunk, and extremities, consistent with vitiligo, for the past several months. The condition was associated with marked social anxiety, characterized by fear of peer evaluation, avoidance of social interactions, low self-esteem, and emotional distress, significantly affecting her school performance and quality of life.
Treatment Response
The patient was followed up regularly over a period of 8 months under individualized homoeopathic treatment, with close monitoring of both dermatological and psychological parameters. she was under observation for 2 years.
Within the first 2–3 months, the patient showed noticeable improvement in her emotional state. Episodes of anticipatory anxiety, fear of social situations, and avoidance of peer interactions reduced significantly. She became more communicative, showed improved self-confidence, and resumed attending school functions and social gatherings without marked distress. Sleep pattern and appetite also improved, indicating overall emotional stabilization.
From the fourth month onward, gradual but consistent repigmentation was observed. Initially, perifollicular pigmentation appeared at the margins of vitiliginous patches, especially over the face and upper limbs. Over subsequent months, the patches showed progressive reduction in size and intensity, with merging of pigmented areas and improved skin tone uniformity. No new lesions appeared during the treatment period, suggesting arrest of disease progression.
By the end of 8 months, there was significant clinical improvement in both domains:
Dermatologically, widespread patches showed partial to marked repigmentation, especially on exposed areas, leading to visible cosmetic improvement.
Psychologically, social anxiety symptoms reduced substantially, with improved peer interaction, enhanced self-esteem, and better emotional resilience.
The patient tolerated the homoeopathic medicines well, with no adverse effects reported. Overall, the case demonstrated a holistic therapeutic response, highlighting the role of individualized homoeopathic treatment in addressing both the autoimmune skin pathology and associated psychosocial distress in an adolescent patient.
DLQI (Dermatology Life Quality Index-Children): Baseline score indicated a very large impact on quality of life; post-treatment score showed a marked reduction, reflecting improved self-image and daily functioning.
SAS-A(Social Anxiety Scale for Adolescents): Initial scores were in the clinically significant range; post-treatment scores reduced to the mild/non-clinical range, indicating improved social interaction and confidence.
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