Fire dragon cupping for insect bite dermatitis: a case report

This paper reports a case of insect bite dermatitis treated with fire dragon cupping. The patient presented with patchy circular erythema on the lateral aspects of both lower extremities, predominantly from the lateral aspect of the right thigh to the buttock. Slight desquamation was observed at the center of the local erythema, accompanied by swelling, induration, tenderness, increased skin temperature, and intolerable itching and burning pain. The treatment principle was to remove the pathogenic factors and detoxify, promote blood circulation and resolve erythema. Fire dragon cupping was administered once every 3 days, twice a week. After the first treatment, the patientʹs skin itching and burning pain were significantly relieved, erythema on both lower extremities subsided, hyperpigmentation was observed, and skin temperature returned to normal. The scores of skin symptom scale, visual analogue scale (VAS) for itching and dermatology life quality index (DLQI) were all improved. Two treatments were given, and the patient achieved near-complete resolution on day 11 of treatment, with partial residual hyperpigmentation. No recurrence was reported at 1-month follow-up.