In Ayurveda skin is considered as one of the five gyanendriyas which is responsible for sparsh gyan. It is an important organ of communication with the external world. Important functions of skin include protection, thermal regulation, excretion, vitamin D formation, perception of stimuli etc. Skin reveals both external and internal pathological state of an individual. It is one of the essential sense organ as skin covers the whole body. According to Ayurveda all skin diseases come under Kushtha rogadhikar. Kushtha is mainly a tridoshaja vyadhi.   Shvitra (vitiligo) is not a disease of present era but its description is available since Vedic period. The word Shvitra has its root in the Sanskrit word ‘श्वित्र’¹which means white. Acharya Charaka has mentioned Shvitra in Kushtha rogadhikar. According to काश्यप संहिता Shvitra is श्वेतभावात् श्वित्र² this means reflection of white color. This is more similar to Vitiligo in modern science, popularly known as Leucoderma or white spots. It is a chronic disorder characterized by patches of the skin losing their pigment. Cardinal symptom is white colored patches whose cause in modern science is unknown. Worldwide incidence of vitiligo is observed in 2% of world population. It does not spare any age or sex.

                         Vitiligo is a common autoimmune pigmentary disorder of great socio-medical importance. Due to side effects and limitations of the contemporary science, some harmless and potent medicines are expected from Ayurveda. Ayurveda has such potent formulations for the treatment of such auto immune diseases with chronic in nature.  Here formulations namely Chitrak Rasayan from Ash.Hr U 39/65 and Bakuchyadi lepa from Ch.Chi 7/169 which are indicated for shvitra have been taken for study.  

NEED OF STUDY

In present era due to modernization the prevalence of skin diseases has become very common due to faulty dietary habits and lifestyles, excessive use of chemicals, unhygienic practices, overuse of antibiotics and steroids. Ayurveda play an important role in this aspect as it is a life science whose purpose is to prevent the disease and to cure the diseases well described in Ayurveda in Ch.Su 30/26.                                       

 Shvitra is a cosmetic disfigurement so it affects human’s life psychology & have negative impact on quality of life. Acharya Charaka has said regarding the relationship between the Mann and twacha. Twacha is considered as chetah samvayi that is skin has the eternal relationship between the twacha and Mann. Therefore more than physical deformity it produces mental anxiety, depression and other problems which affect quality of life. Patient of skin diseases always experience physical, emotional, and socio-economic embarrassment in the society which further leads to aggravation of the symptoms of the existing diseases. It is a common cause of loss of work due to social stigma. Since shvitra is a progressive disease, its treatment should be started as early as possible. Treatment in modern science for dermatology has greatly advanced but there is no specific cure for shvitra (vitiligo). Treatment like steroids and PUVA are used in modern science which produce serious side effects in body and are relatively expensive. So people are looking towards Ayurveda so that they can be treated with least side effects and get permanent cure of their illness. So it becomes a burning topic in present era where there is a great need of research.