A Review on Vyanga vis a vis Melasma

Abstract

Ayurveda is one of the oldest comprehensive health care system worldwide.  Ayurvedic science being ancient and traditional still correlate with day to day medical  conditions and their treatment. Melasma being a non communicable and non  deteriorated condition is still a mental trauma in human life especially for the younger  age group. Melasma is a common acquired condition of symmetrical hyper  pigmentation typically occurring on the face with higher prevalence in females and  darker skin types. It is is characterized by more or less dark brownish maculae with  irregular contour , but clear limits on photo exposed areas especially on the face,  forehead, temples and more rarely on the nose, eyelids, chin and upper lips. In  Ayurveda, vyanga has been elaborated as one of the kshudra rogas (minor ailments).  VYANGA, a type of kshudra Roga, characterized by niruja (painless), shayav varna  mandala (bluish black patches) occurring specially on the face. The clinical features  correlate with melasma which is acquired and symmetrical hypermelanosis . Vyanga is a disease which belongs to swalpa variety of kshudra Roga. Vayu aggravated by  Krodh and ayasa, get associated with pitta and suddenly produces a thin grey  coloured circular patch which reaches the face. As per medical science melasma,  cutaneous pigmentation is the outcome of two important events, the synthesis of  melanin by melanocyte and the transfer of melanosomes to surrounding  Keratinocytes. Both modern and ayurvedic sciences have considered the use of  topical as well as oral medications and their combinations for the treatment of  vyanga. In Ayurveda,vyanga has been treated both by antah parimarjan and bahya  parimarjan chikitsa. Several ayurvedic text such as Sushruta Samhita and Ashtanga Hridaya and Sangraha etc, have elaborated the pathophysiology and treatment of  vyanga, the available references are scattered. So, there is a need of in-depth review  and compilation of ayurvedic text and literatures which are effective for the  management of vyanga.