The role of Bovista in the management of melasma associated with pigmented cosmetic dermatitis

Melasma is an acquired pigmentary disorder characterised by symmetrical hyperpigmentation on the face, commonly affecting young women. Emollients, topical bleaching agents, and chemical peels are often used in conventional medicine to treat it, but they usually provide only minimal or temporary improvement. Allergic contact dermatitis from cosmetics is an important precipitating and aggravating factor, often leaving residual pigmentation and complicating the clinical picture. We present the case of a 27-year-old female with blackish discolouration of the cheeks and forehead, diagnosed as melasma, who reported aggravation after the use of cosmetic creams. She was treated with the homoeopathic medicine Bovista, which is strongly indicated in skin affections from cosmetic use, without the aid of conventional topical agents. It is clearly apparent from this evidence-based case report that Bovista has a positive role in the treatment of melasma associated with cosmetic allergy. This finding can provide the basis for conducting large-scale studies with different study designs regarding the management of melasma with Bovista and other individualised homoeopathic medicines.