A CASE REPORT OF SEVERE FORM OF ASTEATOTIC ECZEMA WITH ALLERGIC CONSTITUTION TREATED SUCCESSFULLY USING HOMOEOPATHY

Asteatotic eczema is a common form of pruritic dermatitis (xerosis). It is commonly present in geriatric age group³. In geriatric age group 70% of population is affected with skin condition, among them common forms presented are dry, itchy skin². Most of times, it is present in mild forms. It begins with dryness of skin. If it becomes severe in form, there occur fissures in skin. In geriatric age there is decreased activity of sebaceous glands and sweat glands. This leads to moisture depletion in skin of these people. To maintain this moisture, the keratin layer requires a significant water concentration. Excess water loss can cause fissures & splits in outer layer of skin (stratum cornuem). These fissures are deep and can lead to damage of capillaries, which ultimately lead to bleeding. In this case Asteatotic eczema is present with allergic constitution which is a rare presentation. Allergy of detergent powder was the exciting factor in this case. In conventional mode of treatment is topical application of emollient containing creams & moisturizers⁴. Sometimes in severe forms corticosteroids are also prescribed⁵. Homoeopathy can completely cure even severe form of Asteatotic Dermatitis.