Management of Vaccine-Induced Eczema Flare-Up with Herbal Traditional Chinese Medicine: A Case Report 疫苗激发的湿疹治疗
A 25-year-old woman, originally from overseas, had been dealing with eczema for a decade and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis for five years. She had been managing her mild eczema with moisturizers and antihistamines until she received her 4th COVID-19 vaccination in 2022. After the third jab, she experienced a flare-up of eczema on her arms and legs. Despite treatment efforts with dermasone cream and oral steroids (prednisolone), her condition worsened. In search of relief, she also experimented with various treatment creams from online sources.
On physical examination, the patient displayed multiple scattered reddish plaques and papules across her arms and legs, with some skin thickening indicating chronic inflammation or repeated scratching (Fig Baseline). The steroid cream was discontinued, and she was prescribed a tailored Herbal Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) regimen. Due to travel distance inconveniences, follow-up appointments were scheduled every two months.
In the initial three months, the patient experienced symptoms of steroid withdrawal, with a noticeable increase in inflammation observed at the three-month visit. However, by the fifth month, the herbal medicine began to show significant effectiveness, leading to considerable improvement in the skin condition. The redness reduced, and the lesions and erosions became minimal, indicating a reduction in itchiness and irritation.
Over time, the affected skin transitioned from pronounced redness to subdued pink, closely resembling the surrounding unaffected skin. The reduction in lesion visibility and erosion further demonstrated successful healing. However, the patient failed to return for her scheduled follow-up appointment at month seven, resulting in lost follow-up.
This case underscores the efficacy of Herbal Traditional Chinese Medicine in managing vaccine-induced eczema flare-ups. It demonstrates significant improvement in inflammation, redness, and lesion visibility, providing relief from itchiness and irritation. Nonetheless, regular follow-up visits are crucial for optimal management and monitoring of the condition. For a comprehensive medical assessment, consulting a healthcare professional is recommended.
Privacy
In situations where the disease information had already been made publicly available (as evidenced by prior articles), genuine names of individuals have been utilized. Conversely, in instances where there was no pre-existing public disclosure or at the explicit request of patients for privacy, pseudonyms have been employed. Furthermore, identities have been deliberately obscured, and certain contextual details and diagnoses have been modified to hinder any attempts at identification. It is essential to emphasize that the patients and encounters described in this work are authentic, and their consent for publication was duly obtained. As responsible authors, we earnestly implore all our readers to honor the privacy and confidentiality of these individuals. Additionally, certain scenarios, assessments, and clinical interventions have been altered to safeguard the anonymity of both patients and healthcare providers.
