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Skin Diseases

Skin Diseases

Skin is the largest organ of the human body. Its size and external location makes it susceptible to various disorders. Skin diseases are mostly caused by infections like bacteria, fungi etc. All the skin diseases in Ayurveda have been classified under the broad heading of Kushta which  are further  classified into  Mahakushta and Kshudrakushta. Ayurveda has its own unique principles of diagnosis and treatment of various skin diseases under the heading of Kuṣṭha. Skin disease is a common disease and it affects all ages from the paediatric to the elderly and causes  harm  in  a  number  of  ways.  Beside  this,  people suffering from skin disease also suffer from social stigma. Skin (Twak) has been given a great importance since time immemorial owing to the aesthetic value attributed to skin, complexion and beauty by the society. Ayurveda has given prime importance to Ahara (diet) and vihara (lifestyle) in the maintenance of health and prevention of diseases. In the recent past, the relation between diet and skin ailments has been well established in contemporary medicine.  Skin disorders having complex pathophysiology have a lengthy process of treatment.

Common skin diseases

Sidhma (Psoriasis) Kushta:  Skin lesions resembling alabu pushpa (Lagenaria siceraria) with white colour and flaking of powdery skin on scratching

Eka kushta (Ichthyosis vulgaris): Skin disease characterized by widespread lesions with lack of perspiration and fish scale like appearance

Kitiba Kushta (Lichen planus): Hyperpigmented skin lesion which is coarse (like callous), rough and hard with intense itching

Vipadika (skin fissures): Skin condition characterised by cracking and fissuring of skin of palm and soles associated with severe pain

Dadru (Fungal infections): Skin lesion resembling atasi flower (Linum usitaissimum), with elevated circular lesions which cluster and spread along the skin

Pama (Scabies): Whitish/ reddish/bluish black coloured lesions manifesting in buttocks/ palms/ soles associated with itching and saddened appearance of skin.

Vicarcika (Eczema): Skin lesion characterised by papular eruptions with itching and discharge

Shwitra (Leukoderma): Skin condition characterised by de-pigmented areas without other symptoms

Indralupta (Alopecia): Lesion characterised by loss of hair in scalp or such other areas.

Yuvanapidika (Acne vulgaris): Thick and hard eruption that appear on the skin of young people with fatty pultaceous material inside

Darunaka (Dandruff): Skin lesion characterised by dryness of scalp associated with itching and flaking.

Premonitory Symptoms

1. Presence or absence of perspiration 

2. Skin becomes either very smooth or rough

3. Loss of usual color or complexion

4. Itching

5. Pricking pain

6. Loss of sensation of touch

7. Burning sensation

8. Horripilation

9. Appearance of elevated patches

10. Giddiness

11. Severe pain or injury

12. Quick formation of ulcers and which don’t heal for a long period.

Causes of skin diseases

1.     Aharaja nidana- food related causes

2.     Viharaja Nidana- regimen related causes

3.     Manasika Nidana- psychological causes.

Food related causes

·       Excess intake of salty, sour foods

·       Incompatible foods

·       Heavy foods such as pizza, cheese, bakery products

·       Drinking excess quantity of water, juices or soft drinks

·       Foods which are not suitable to prakriti (constitution), Desa (native to the place) that is eating food which is not native to the place

·       Intake of cold and hot food together or intake of cold food soon after intake of hot food or vice versa

·       Use of curd especially after heating and in autumn, and spring seasons

      Lifestyle related causes

·       Habit of regularly indulging in day sleep other than summer

·       Suppression of natural urges

·       Indulging in physical exercises and exposing to the extreme heat after having overloaded the stomach with food and drink

·       Sexual activities after intake of food

Management of skin diseases

Herbs have a great potential to cure different kinds of skin diseases. Skin diseases arise from the vitiation of three doshas (humors). The ancient Ayurvedic text has emphasized on Shodhana therapy (purificatory) for the skillful management in Kushta. Kushta is difficult to cure, but by the application of Shodhana therapy, cure of the diseases becomes easier due to removal of the root cause, hence Shodhana has great importance in Bahudosha avastha (multifactorial condition).  According to Ayurveda, Vamana (medicated  emesis) should  be administered  once every fortnight;  Virechana  (medicated  purgation)  once  in  a month; Raktamokshana (blood-letting) should be done twice in a year and Nasya (Nasal instillation) once in three days in chronic cases of Kustha considering the involvement and  strength  of  dosha-dushya  avastha  (pathogenesis). Following purification therapies, a distinctive Ayurvedic rejuvenation treatment (rasayana cikitsa) aids in eliminating and preventing the advancement of skin conditions. Depending on the severity, either purifying or soothing therapies involving internal medication and external applications like lepana (medicated paste), Parisheka (pouring medicated liquid), Avacurnana (dusting with powders) and dhuma (fumigation) are utilized to address skin diseases.

› Psoriasis: Psoriasis is a chronic immune-mediated inflammatory condition mainly affecting the skin and joint. Various sites of the body such as scalp, face, trunk, limbs, palms, and soles are involved in psoriasis. Plaque psoriasis (Psoriasis vulgaris), Inverse psoriasis, Guttate psoriasis, Pustular psoriasis, and Erythrodermic psoriasis are a few of the clinical patterns reported in psoriasis cases. The chronic nature, recurring pattern, and visibility of psoriasis produce a great adverse impact on the psychological and social aspects of a patient’s life. Psychosocial disability affects their daily work as well as social interactions. In Ayurveda psoriasis is considered to be a Sidhma disease. Most of the formulations described in Kushtha cikitsa have efficiently been used by physicians to treat different skin ailments. However, due to the complex pathophysiology and chronic and relapsing nature of psoriasis, the multimodal treatment approach has been adopted covering the Jirnajwara chikitsa, Vatarakta chikitsa, and Rasayana chikitsa along with Kushta chikitsa.

› Eczema: Eczema is an inflammation of the skin seen in a variety of dermatoses with widely diverse etiologies. Clinically, eczematous dermatoses are characterized by a variable intensity of itching and soreness, and, in variable degrees, a range of signs including dryness, erythema, excoriation, exudation, fissuring, hyperkeratosis, lichenification, papulation, scaling and vesiculation. The general predisposing causes are age, familial predisposition, allergy, debility, climate and physiological factors. Familial sensitiveness or genetic predisposition is a major factor for the prevalence of eczema in some individuals. General debility lowers the resistance of the individual and may cause eczema. Climatic conditions like heat, cold, moisture and also psychological stress and strain may be a provocative factor. There can be other types of causes such as chemicals, plant material, cosmetics, clothing, infectious organisms and even medicaments etc., which may also contribute in a significant way in causation as well as worsening of symptoms. In Ayurveda, the symptoms of eczema are closely associated with a condition called vicarcika. The root cause of this ailment lies in the imbalance of Vata and Kapha doshas. Therefore, treatments such as sodhana (purification), samana (pacification), and rasayana cikitsa (rejuvenation therapy) are recommended to address this imbalance and effectively treat the disease.