Baras (Vitiligo) is a chronic depigmenting skin disorder that affects 1-2% of the world population. It involves a complex interaction of environmental and genetic factors leading to progressive destruction of melanocytes characterized by chalky or milky white lesions. There is strong evidence of genetic predisposition of Baras (Vitiligo) from monozygotic twins and family studies.

Baras (Vitiligo) may develop at any age; onset has been reported from birth to 81 years of age. The peak age of onset is between 10 and 30 years; in 50% of cases, lesions develop within the first two decades of life.

Baras (Vitiligo) causes cosmetic disfigurement in patients, which may significantly impair their quality of life (QoL). The social stigma and matrimonial discriminations are associated with Baras (Vitiligo). The everyday stress and stigma associated with Baras (Vitiligo) may have psychological consequences such as depression and negative self-image. Furthermore, many cultures assume that patients with depigmented areas of skin carry leprosy, and therefore those with Baraṣ (Vitiligo) may be thrown out of society, for example into an ‘untouchable’ class.

There is no safe and effective treatment for Baras (Vitiligo) available in any system of medicine to regain pigmentation. Treatment options available across the systems have their own limitations in offering relief to this cosmetic problem. The incidence of side effects is too high as reported both with topical as well as systemic therapy, at the same time, surgical options available are self-hazardous, unless disease becomes stable, and there is hardly any medication available in conventional medicine to control the disease process and to check the aggravation. The steroids and PUVA therapy which are usually employed for the above purpose are hepato-toxic and carcinogenic in the long-term use.  

There is a need to focus on two issues one is to arrest the disease process and the other is to induce re-pigmentation. So, there is an ample need to search for a safe and effective drug, which may induce cosmetically acceptable re-pigmentation and control the disease process.

Keeping in view the magnitude of the problem and the need to regain the cosmetically acceptable pigmentation, and based on recent reports which suggest the efficacy and safety of various single as well as compound Unani formulations in the management of  Baraá¹£ (Vitiligo), a clinical study titled “A Single-Blind, Randomized, Parallel Group, Controlled Clinical Study to compare the Efficacy and Safety of a Unani Drug – Atrilal (O+T) with Conventional Drug – Psoralen (O+T) in the Treatment of Baras (Vitiligo)” has been designed.