Therapeutic Role of Pracchanna and Lepana in Indralupta (Alopecia Areata): A Case Study

Background: Indralupta is a Kapalagata Roga, which is characterized by loss of hair in patches and nongrowth of new hairs at that site.This can be analyzed with those of nonscarring, noninflammatory alopecia areata.Alopecia areata is a common autoimmune skin disease causing patchy hair loss on the scalp, face, and sometimes on other areas of the body.If the disease persists for 3-6 months, it can progress in size into other types of alopecia or lead to permanent loss of hair.Case report: A 20-year-old male patient approached the Shalakya Tantra outpatient department (OPD) with complaints of patchy hair loss.This case study reports the successful treatment of Indralupta of the scalp, breaking the pathology.Intervention: The patient was treated as per Ayurveda Chikitsa Sutra, like Shodhana and Shamana, guided by butter paper analysis and Severity of Alopecia Tool (SALT) II scoring of the scalp.Outcome: The goal of hair regrowth in all the patches was achieved in this patient whose illness has persisted beyond 6 months, and no evidence of recurrence was observed after treatment.Sira Vyadha, being placed at the beginning of Chikitsa Sutra of Acharya Sushruta, emphasizes the importance of Pracchanna Karma as the primary line of treatment, followed by Lepana, making it a recommended therapeutic sequence.This acts as a Shodhana followed by Shamana Chikitsa, mainly providing Sthanika Dravya Bhuta Chikitsa at the target site.Conclusion: Here, a case of alopecia areata successfully treated with Ayurvedic management is recorded.