A clinical study to assess the effect of Priyaladi lepa in Darunaka (Pityriasis capitis)

Background: Darunaka is one of the Shirah-kapalagata Roga (head and skull diseases) and Kshudra Roga (minor ailments), characterized by Kandu (itching), Rukshata (dryness), Twak-sphutana (scaling), and Kesha-chyuti (hair fall). The clinical features correlate to Pityriasis simplex capitis (dandruff), which is a common condition that causes itchy, scaly skin on the scalp with high prevalence in the general adult population. Ayurveda emphasizes various Lepa Kalpana (semisolid medicaments used for external application) for Darunaka; Priyaladi lepa is one among them. As there is ambiguity about successful dandruff treatment due to its severity and frequent relapses, it necessitates finding an effective and safe topical antidandruff agent. Aim: To assess the effect of Priyaladi lepa in the management of Darunaka. Materials and Methods: Study was intended as an open-label, nonrandomized, single-arm, interventional trial. Thirty subjects were treated with the application of Priyaladi lepa on the scalp weekly twice for consecutive 2 weeks. Results: Overall results showed a decline in the severity of symptoms such as itching, dryness of scalp, cracking, and scaling of scalp as assessed with a five-point Likert scale. Conclusion: Application of Priyaladi lepa on the scalp showed a highly significant effect in pacifying the symptoms of Darunaka, and a marked reduction in clinical symptoms was well appreciated with four applications. There were no topical and systemic adverse drug effects noted at the end of the study.