A comprehensive review of Vitiligo: Integrating modern medical insights with Ayurvedic concepts

Vitiligo is a skin condition in which white patches form on the skin. It has significant psychological and social impacts. While modern medicine explains it as an autoimmune condition, Ayurveda views it as a Tridõshaja condition caused by Doṣa imbalance and dietary incompatibilities. This review aims to compare the understanding, etiology, and management of Vitiligo according to Ayurvedic perspectives, with those of modern medical perspectives. A comprehensive literature review was conducted using classical Ayurvedic texts and modern scientific databases such as PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar. Keywords like “Vitiligo”, “Śvitra”, “Ayurveda”, “autoimmune depigmentation”, and “herbal treatment” were used. Relevant peer-reviewed articles, clinical studies, and Ayurvedic Saṃhitā (Ayurveda classical texts) were reviewed to compare traditional Ayurvedic and contemporary medical perspectives on Vitiligo. The study shows that modern treatments like corticosteroids and immune modulators provide limited symptomatic relief, with frequent relapses and side effects such as skin thinning. Modern approaches often neglect the psychological burden of Vitiligo, despite evidence linking stress to disease progression. Taking part in yoga and meditation, and using Ayurvedic herbs like Bakuchi and Ashwagandha, have been shown to reduce oxidative stress and help the patient feel more balanced emotionally. In modern medicine, treatments are based on genetic profiling for personalized therapies, but in Ayurveda, practitioners depend on Prakriti and Doṣa imbalances. Combining modern medicine and Ayurveda can address the physical, emotional, and systemic challenges of Vitiligo, providing targeted interventions and holistic strategies for long-term balance. Further interdisciplinary research is needed to validate and refine these integrative methods. Clinical trials and cooperative research are the future paths for validating Ayurvedic treatments.