title: Successful treatment of pediatric psoriasis with Indigo naturalis composite ointment.
abstract: The treatment of psoriasis in children is still an intractable problem and demands a long-term therapy with prolonged efficacy that is free from serious adverse events. Many modes of therapy are currently in use but the disease is often resistant to treatment owing to the unacceptable toxicity that leads to poor compliance. Therefore, to develop an alternative treatment is indispensable. Traditional Chinese medicine has been documented for over 1000 years to provide various effective treatments for inflammatory skin diseases. Herein, we report an 8-year-old boy with recalcitrant pediatric psoriasis who, after multiple treatment failures with conventional antipsoriatic medications, showed remarkable clinical improvement with 8 weeks of topical treatment with Indigo naturalis composite ointment. Remission has lasted for over 2 years until now. Our patient's response suggests that topical Indigo naturalis composite ointment may provide a safe and effective alternative treatment for pediatric psoriasis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yin-Ku
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Hung-Rong
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Yen
authors.forename: Wen-Rou
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Sien-Hung
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Jong-Hwei Su
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Pang
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D029883:Indigofera; D008297:Male; D009824:Ointments; D008517:Phytotherapy; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D009824:Ointments