Successful Management of Vitiligo Vulgaris with Unani Medicated Oil and Narrowband UV-B Phototherapy: A Case Report

Authors

  • Shaikh Mohammad Aatif Afzal National Institute of Unani Medicine image/svg+xml Author
  • Niyazi Abdullah Khizar National Institute of Unani Medicine image/svg+xml Author
  • Mohd Arshad Jamal Jamal National Institute of Unani Medicine, bangalore Author
  • Shaikh Mohd Razik National Institute of Unani Medicine image/svg+xml Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.22051919

Keywords:

Vitiligo vulgaris; Narrowband UV-B; Unani medicine; Babchi oil; Integrative dermatology; Case report

Abstract

Introduction: Vitiligo vulgaris is a chronic depigmenting disorder that poses therapeutic challenges and psychosocial distress. Conventional therapies often yield inconsistent outcomes, necessitating alternative or integrative approaches.

Case Presentation: A 40-year-old male with multiple depigmented patches on the infraclavicular area, upper back, and lower back, with remarkable clinical improvement following combined therapy with Unani medicated oil and narrowband UV-B (NB-UVB) phototherapy.

Outcome: After three months of treatment, significant and stable repigmentation was achieved without adverse effects.

Conclusion: This case highlights the potential of integrating Unani topical medication with NB-UVB phototherapy as a safe and effective therapeutic strategy for vitiligo vulgaris unresponsive to prior treatments.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biographies

  • Shaikh Mohammad Aatif Afzal, National Institute of Unani Medicine


    P.G. Scholar, Department of Amraze Jild wa Tazeeniyat (Dermatology and Cosmetology),
    National Institute of Unani Medicine, Kottigepalya, Magadi Main Road, Bengaluru-560091, Karnataka, India.
    Email: aatifshaikh1234@gmail.com | Contact: +91-9028786215
    ORCID: “https://orcid.org/0009-0008-2522-6213”

  • Niyazi Abdullah Khizar, National Institute of Unani Medicine

    P.G. Scholar, Department of Ilaj bit Tadbeer (Regimenal Therapies),
    National Institute of Unani Medicine, Kottigepalya, Magadi Main Road, Bengaluru-560091, Karnataka, India.
    Email: niyazikhizar@gmail.com | Contact: +91-9226398634
    ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0006-4422-4817

  • Mohd Arshad Jamal Jamal, National Institute of Unani Medicine, bangalore

    Mohd Arshad Jamal
    Associate Professor, Department of Amraze Jild wa Tazeeniyat (Dermatology and Cosmetology),
    National Institute of Unani Medicine, Kottigepalya, Magadi Main Road, Bengaluru-560091, Karnataka, India.
    Email: sarimnium@gmail.com | Contact: +91-7767993333
    ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0001-6828-392X

  • Shaikh Mohd Razik, National Institute of Unani Medicine

    P.G. Scholar, Department of Mahiyatu Amraz
    National Institute of Unani Medicine, Kottigepalya, Magadi Main Road, Bengaluru-560091, Karnataka, India.
    Email: shaikh.razik@gmail.com | Contact: +91-9226398634
    ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0003-8605-9854

References

Ansari, S., Afzal, S.M.A., Jamal, M.A., Itrat, M., 2025. Successful treatment of poliosis associated with vitiligo using Unani medications: A case report. Explore NY 21, 103230. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.explore.2025.103230

Hussain, I., Hussain, N., Manan, A., Rashid, A., Khan, B., Bakhsh, S., 2016. Fabrication of anti-vitiligo ointment containing Psoralea corylifolia: in vitro and in vivo characterization. Drug Des. Devel. Ther. 3805–3816.

Ibn Hubal, B., 2007. Kitab al-Mukhtarat fi al-Tibb (Urdu Translation). CCRUM, New Delhi.

Kabeeruddin, M., 2011. Khazainul Advia (Urdu Translation). Idara Kitab-us-Shifa, Delhi.

Khan, H.M., 2013. Muheet Azam (Urdu Translation). CCRUM, New Delhi.

Khan, H.M., 2012. Muheet Azam (Urdu Translation). CCRUM, New Delhi.

Li, Y., Zhang, X., Chen, H., 2021. Psoralen induces melanogenesis through activation of MITF via the p38 MAPK and PKA pathways in melanocytes. Phytomedicine 86, 153552. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phymed.2021.153552

Majusi, A.I., 2010. Kamil us-Sana (Urdu Translation). Idara Kitab-us-Shifa, New Delhi.

Manzoor, F., 2020. Unani perspective of Baras (vitiligo) and its management in Unani system of medicine. Int. J. Unani Integr. Med. 4, 51–54.

Marques, C., Gupta, V., Das, S., 2023. Psychological impact of vitiligo and quality of life: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Dermatol. Ther. Heidelb 13, 33–47. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13555-022-00787-4

Mishra, S., Pandey, A., Kumar, S., 2020. Immunomodulatory and hepatoprotective properties of Picrorhiza kurroa: a review. J. Ethnopharmacol. 258, 112913. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2020.112913

Parsad, D., Kanwar, A.J., Kumar, B., 2006. Psoralen–ultraviolet A vs narrowband ultraviolet B phototherapy for vitiligo: a randomized prospective study. J. Eur. Acad. Dermatol. Venereol. 20, 175–177. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-3083.2006.01413.x

Razi, A.B.M.Z., 2007. Kitab al-Hawi (Urdu Translation). CCRUM, New Delhi.

Shamim, M., Kumar, D., 2023. Ethnopharmacological relevance of Citrus limon as adjuvant therapy. Ann. Phytomedicine 12, 169–179. https://doi.org/10.54085/ap.2023.12.2.19

Singh, G., Kumari, R., Naidu, V.G.M., Kumar, H., Rao, C.M., 2010. Psoralea corylifolia L. (Babchi) – A review of its biological activities and therapeutic potentials. Indian J. Exp. Biol. 48, 597–606.

Singh, P., Tiwari, Y., Mukopadhyay, S., 2022. A review: pharmacological and medicinal properties of Babchi. Int. J. Health Sci. Qassim 6, 3565–3572. https://doi.org/10.53730/ijhs.v6nS6.10193

Varma, S.R., Sivaprakasam, T.O., Arumugam, I., 2019. In vitro anti-inflammatory and skin-protective properties of virgin coconut oil. J. Tradit. Complement. Med. 9, 5–14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtcme.2017.06.012

Wadud, A., 2021. Textbook of Single Drugs. Frontline Publications, New Delhi.

Downloads

Published

25-08-2026

Issue

Vol. 3 No. 1 (2026): Volume 3, Issue 1, Jan-March 2026

Section

Case Report

License

Copyright (c) 2026 Shaikh Mohammad Aatif Afzal, Niyazi Abdullah Khizar, Mohd Arshad Jamal Jamal, Shaikh Mohd Razik (Author)

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

How to Cite

Successful Management of Vitiligo Vulgaris with Unani Medicated Oil and Narrowband UV-B Phototherapy: A Case Report. (2026). International Journal of Unani and Traditional Medicine, 3(1), 26-28. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.22051919

Share