Pyoderma gangrenosum is a disease that causes tissue to become necrotic, causing deep ulcers that usually occur on the legs. When they occur, they can lead to chronic wounds. Ulcers usually initially look like small bug bites or papules, and they progress to larger ulcers. Though the wounds rarely lead to death, they can cause pain and scarring.

The disease was identified in 1930. It affects approximately 1 person in 100,000 in the population. Though it can affect people of any age, it mostly affects people in their 40s and 50s.^[1]

Types of Pyoderma gangrenosum

There are two main types of pyoderma gangrenosum:^[1]

• the normal ulcerative form, which occurs in the legs
• an ‘atypical’ form that is more superficial and occurs in the hands and other parts of the body

Other variations are^[2]:

• Peristomal pyoderma gangrenosum is 15% of all cases of pyoderma
• Bullous pyoderma gangrenosum
• Pustular pyoderma gangrenosum^[3]
• Vegetative pyoderma gangrenosum^[4]

Causes of Pyoderma gangrenosum

Though the etiology is not well understood, the disease is thought to be due to immune system dysfunction, and particularly improper functioning of neutrophils. At least half of all pyoderma gangrenosum patients also suffer from illnesses that affect their systemic function.^[1] For instance, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis, myeloma sufferers have the condition.

Associations

The common conditions associated with pyoderma gangrenosum are:

• Inflammatory bowel disease:
  • Chronic ulcerative colitis
  • Crohn’s disease
• Arthritides:
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Seronegative symmetrical polyarthritis
• Haematological disease:
  • Myelocytic leukaemia
  • Hairy cell leukaemia
  • Myelofibrosis
  • Myeloid metaplasia
  • Monoclonal gammopathy (IgA)^[5]

Treatment of Pyoderma gangrenosum

A number of treatment options exist.^[6]

Homeopathy Treatment for Pyoderma gangrenosum

Keywords: homeopathy, homeopathic, treatment, cure, remedy, remedies, medicine

Homeopathy treats the person as a whole. It means that homeopathic treatment focuses on the patient as a person, as well as his pathological condition. The homeopathic medicines are selected after a full individualizing examination and case-analysis, which includes the medical history of the patient, physical and mental constitution, family history, presenting symptoms, underlying pathology, possible causative factors etc. A miasmatic tendency (predisposition/susceptibility) is also often taken into account for the treatment of chronic conditions. A homeopathy doctor tries to treat more than just the presenting symptoms. The focus is usually on what caused the disease condition? Why ‘this patient’ is sick ‘this way’. The disease diagnosis is important but in homeopathy, the cause of disease is not just probed to the level of bacteria and viruses. Other factors like mental, emotional and physical stress that could predispose a person to illness are also looked for. No a days, even modern medicine also considers a large number of diseases as psychosomatic. The correct homeopathy remedy tries to correct this disease predisposition. The focus is not on curing the disease but to cure the person who is sick, to restore the health. If a disease pathology is not very advanced, homeopathy remedies do give a hope for cure but even in incurable cases, the quality of life can be greatly improved with homeopathic medicines.

The homeopathic remedies (medicines) given below indicate the therapeutic affinity but this is not a complete and definite guide to the homeopathy treatment of this condition. The symptoms listed against each homeopathic remedy may not be directly related to this disease because in homeopathy general symptoms and constitutional indications are also taken into account for selecting a remedy. To study any of the following remedies in more detail, please visit the Materia Medica section at Hpathy.

None of these medicines should be taken without professional advice and guidance.

Homeopathy Remedies for Pyoderma gangrenosum :

Crotalus-h, Lachesis, Vipera, Secale cor, Staphylococcinum, Arsenic-alb, Anthacinum, Cyclamen.

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} Jackson JM and Callen JP. 2006. Emedicine: Pyoderma Gangrenosum. Retrieved on January 23, 2007.
2. ^ Brooklyn T, Dunnill G, Probert C (2006). “Diagnosis and treatment of pyoderma gangrenosum”. BMJ 333 (7560): 181–4. doi:10.1136/bmj.333.7560.181. PMID 16858047. 
3. ^ Shankar S, Sterling JC, Rytina E (2003). “Pustular pyoderma gangrenosum”. Clin. Exp. Dermatol. 28 (6): 600–3. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2230.2003.01418.x. PMID 14616824. 
4. ^ Langan SM, Powell FC (2005). “Vegetative pyoderma gangrenosum: a report of two new cases and a review of the literature”. Int. J. Dermatol. 44 (8): 623–9. doi:10.1111/j.1365-4632.2005.02591.x. PMID 16101860. 
5. ^ https://www.gpnotebook.com/simplepage.cfm?ID=-771358647&linkID=28508&cook=no
6. ^ Reichrath J, Bens G, Bonowitz A, Tilgen W (2005). “Treatment recommendations for pyoderma gangrenosum: an evidence-based review of the literature based on more than 350 patients”. J. Am. Acad. Dermatol. 53 (2): 273–83. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2004.10.006. PMID 16021123.