Keywords
Psoriasis; COVID-19; Pfizer-Biontech COVID-19 Vaccine; Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM); Alternative Treatment; Indigo Naturalis
Abstract
This report documents the case of a 28-year-old male who developed widespread psoriasis following getting the second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in 2022. Despite half a year of treatment with Western medicine, there was no improvement in symptoms. In 2023, the patient sought Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) treatment. The initial examination by the Chinese medicine practitioner revealed that the psoriasis affected 17% of the Body Surface Area with a PASI (Psoriasis Area and Severity Index) score of 16.4. The TCM diagnosis identified the condition as predominated by dampness with spleen deficiency. The treatment plan involved the internal administration of Chinese herbal formulas, including Chai Hu Gui Zhi Gan Jiang Tang and Wu Ling San, along with the topical application of Indigo Naturalis gel. After six months of treatment, his psoriasis condition significantly improved, with the PASI score decreasing to 2.9. By January 2024, the condition had fully recovered. Globally, approximately 125 million adults are affected by psoriasis, and there has been an increase in cases of psoriasis worsening or emerging post-vaccination. This case demonstrates the effectiveness of TCM and herbal treatments in managing vaccine-induced psoriasis and COVID-19-related psoriasis. It also opens new avenues for research into applying alternative treatment in modern medical practices.
Citation
Chen FS, Chiu PH, Chen TC, Chung HY, Li PY (2024) Successful Treatment of Psoriasis Flare-Up Following COVID-19 Vaccination with Traditional Chinese Medicine: A Case Report. SM J Infect Dis 7: 4.