"Il mistero del IV chakra": uno strano caso di dermatite irritante

The authors report the case of an erythemato-oedematous dermatitis involving the inner side of both breasts and the pre-sternal region. The dermatitis appeared after prolonged and repeated contacts (several hours a day) with a voluminous amethyst. The patient, a naturopath, applied the amethyst in these sites, which correspond to the area of IV chakra, to purify. Allergodiagnostic investigations and chemical analysis (atomic absorption spectroscopy and pH analysis of a solution similar to sweat, containing amethyst dust) were performed in order to clarify the etiology of the dermatitis. As all these investigations resulted negative, a diagnosis of irritant contact dermatitis was done.