Ayurvedic management of childhood atopic dermatitis - A case report

Abstract

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common, chronic skin disorder that can significantly impact the quality of life of affected individuals as well as their families. Not only patients are affected by the social stigma of a visible skin condition, but the intense itching characteristic of the disease often leads to significant sleep disturbances. If the itch can be controlled, the rash can be more readily treated. As per Ayurvedic classics, Atopic dermatitis can be incorporated under the category of twak vikara (skin disease). In this article, a case of 7 year old boy with dry, itchy and scaly skin with excoriative lesions who was treated with parisheka (affusion sudation) and internal medicaments. The parisheka (affusion sudation) was prepared out of Karanja (Pongamia pinnata Pierre.) and Nimba patra (Azadirachta indica A. Juss.) which are kushtahara (alleviates skin lesions) and kandughna (anti-pruritic). Encouraging results were observed in the form of reduction in itching and dryness of skin.