International Journal of Homoeopathic Sciences

Introduction: Keloid (in this case, caused by hypertrophic burn scars) is a dermal fibro proliferative disorder characterized by abnormal wound healing and collagen deposition.
Globally, around twenty lakh (20,00,000) people suffer burn injuries every year, of which more than one lakh (1,00,000) people lose their lives. In India alone, cases of burn injuries remain around sixty thousand (60,000) annually. Of these, more than 50,000 receive hospitalization and adequate treatment, while approximately 10,000 people die as a result of thermal injury, which constitutes one of the major causes of accidental deaths in India. 
Burn injuries may also leave the person vulnerable to prolonged morbidity and both temporary and permanent disability. This often leads the sufferer and their family to a considerable economic burden. Besides the burn wounds and any short or long-term complications arising as a result of the same, burn scars present many individuals with various complications, including impaired function, restricted joint mobility, and growth, altered physical appearance, and psychological distress.
Hypertrophic scarring (HSc) post-burns remains a common challenge among such individuals. What is concerning here is that though HSc is almost certain after a burn injury, the treatment options still remain limited. While most HSc patients will receive some form of pressure garments as a treatment strategy, it is rarely found to work.
On the other hand, at times, Homeopathy has proven to be effective in managing not just short-term but long-term scarring, that is, hypertrophic burn scars. Homeopathic remedies such as Causticum, Carbolic acidum, Arnica, and Staphysagria have shown notable effects on wound healing and the cicatrization process.
Cicatrization (also spelled cicatrization) refers to the process of wound healing through the formation of scar tissue, which involves:
•    Closure of a wound by the growth of new connective tissues (mainly collagen).
•    Replacement of damaged skin with fibrous scar tissue.
This leaves the area with a visible scar called a hypertrophic burn scar. When these scars continue growing and extend beyond the affected wound area, they are referred to as keloids.
This case report highlights the positive results and, therefore, the role of the homeopathic medicine Causticum in treating post-burn HSc and keloids, demonstrating a visible reduction in the scar. This case report also serves to document the effectiveness and clinical value of homeopathy in managing post-burn scarring. New and continued reporting of such outcomes can help compile a comprehensive, evidence-based database to support the fact that Homeopathy can treat HSc and Keloids and will also help with more structured future research in this field.
Case summary: A 4 year and 11 month old male child presented in March 2021 with extensive keloid masses and scarring below the abdomen after accidentally falling in a tub of hot water. Having a second degree burn around the right waist, inner thigh, groin, and penis areas, the patient was subjected to allopathic treatments in the beginning and an eight month course of homeopathic treatment. Not getting any satisfactory results, the patient was then brought to Dr. Vikas Singhal for classical individualized homeopathic treatment. Here, as per the Repertorisation Chart indicating the Similimum Medicine as CAUSTICUM, the patient received treatment with Causticum in 1M - CM, followed by Bacillinum 10M as intercurrent medicine and ultimately Thiosinaminum 6X tablets to improve the affected skin coloration to conclude the treatment.