Kusta (Skin Disease)

KUSTA (SKIN DISEASE) In Ayurveda, Kusta is a disease termed as affect of viatiated doshas over the spasanendriya (Skin).

Types: #

According to Ayurveda, kusta is of 18 types based on the involvement of doshas as well as layers of skin tissues involved.

18 types namely- kapalakusta, udumbara kusta, mandala kusta, rushyajihwaka kusta, pundarika kusta, sidma kusta, kakananthika kusta- these comes under Maha kustas(7)

eka kusta, charma kusta, kitibha kusta, vipadika kusta, alasaka kusta, dadru kusta, charmadala kusta, pamakusta, vispotaka kusta, sataru kusta, vicharchika kusta- these comes under Kshudra kustas(11).

Nidana-samprapthi #

(Causative factors): The most important causative factor remains the combination of unwholesome dietary pattern i.e,., combination of sweet unctuous foods with salt & sour taste, intake of foods which are in liquid state to be get consumed in solid state and wise-versa, suppression of urge of vomiting frequently, suppression of urge of feces, doing severe physical activity soon after intake of heavy food, exposure to over heat or direct sun soon after intake of food, intake of both hot & cold liquids simultaneously, due to complications of under or over done therapies of panchakarma, due to insanity, intake of food after continuous weeping, in angry, in fear, disrespect towards God & elders, usage of disrespectable words towards others, doing sinful acts are mentioned as causative factors of Kusta in Ayurveda. Due to one or more above mentioned reasons doshas in the body get vitiated effects rasavaha, raktavaha & mamsa vaha srotas get localized in the skin causes the disease kusta.

Symptoms:

Kapala kusta: #

Affected Skin appears to be scaly, hard, rough, dry with the colour resembles blakish-blue in colour with pricking pain.

Udumbara kusta: #

Effected Skin is with burning sense, itching, reddish in colour, with prominent hair follicles – resembles like fruit of medi(cluster fig).

Mandala kusta: #

Effected Skin with reddish –white in colour with hard, watery discharge, with elevated scaly margins.

Rushya jihwaka: #

Effected Skin is with Hard redish edges with blakish blue discolouration at the centre with intense pain with extension resembles Ox tongue.

Pundarika kusta: #

Effected Skin is with reddish discolouration with edges & whitish or pale at the centre, with spikes towards centre, appears like leaf of lotus.

Sidma kusta: #

Effected Skin is with whitish or copper colour discolouration with appearance of scales of snake when rubbed with hand. Resembles like flower of bottle guard. Commonly seen on chest region.(breast region).

Kakana kusta: #

Affected Skin appers in reddish discoloration like seed of abrus pracatorious seems to be in unripe stage with intense pricking pain.

Eka kusta-charma kusta: #

Effected Skin appears to be wast, like scales of fish without sweating is eka kusta, hard to touch like elephant skin – charma kusta.

Kitabha –vaipadika kusta: #

Effected skin appears to be blakish in colour with eruptions & appearance of spots , hard to touch, crushy in nature in kitabha kusta. In vaipadika kusta – crackling of palms n soles with intense pain is seen.

Alasaka-dadru kusta: #

Effected skin is like with rash with reddish in colour with severe itching present is alasaka kusta.

Dadru kusta: #

effected skin appears to be round with elevated rashes with small eruptions over.

Charmadala kusta: #

Effected skin is reddish in colour with itching sense & eruptions present. Feels intense pain on touch.

Pama-vispotaka kusta: #

Effected skin is in whitish-black in colour with itching & rash is pama kusta. With eruptions as blisters is vispotaka.

In dadru kusta skin is in whitish-red in discolouration with rash & eruptions.

Sataru-vicharchika kusta: #

In this skin is in reddish discoloration with boils appears to be many in one like. In vicharchika- skin is blakish in discolouration with ozzing of pus & blood.

Line of treatment: #

Primary line of treatment includes sodhana chikista especially snehana-swedana followed by virechana karma Later with samana chikista.

In pitta predominant conditions- rakta mokshana (sira vyadhana) is advised. Kshara prayoga is also advised for particular type of kusta conditions. External applications play a key role in it.

Patya –apatya: Patient diagnosed with Kusta must strictly avoid hard, dry, spicy, pungent & heavy food includes fried & grilled foods. Must wear clean cloths. Should be cautious about Appetite & bowels.

Medicines: #

Kaishore guggulu,

avipattikara churnam,

arogyavardhini vati,khadhirarista, kamadugdha ras, laghumalini vasantam, panchatikta guggulu, triphala gritam, nisamalaki churnam, ushirasava, triphala churna.

Note: Kusta is a psyco-somatic long standing disease which may again raise even after complete clearance with proke of causative factors. Seek Doctor’s advise for best results.

Modern view: #

Skin infections: #
The topic kusta can be co related with all the types of skin allergies, some are dermatitis, fungal infections, urticaria (simple skin rash), vitiligo, herpes zoster, cold sores and psoriasis.
Dermatitis: #
Dermatitis is a general term that describes a common skin irritation with itchy, dry skin as symptoms.some times it may cause skin to blister, ooze and crust or flake off. Common sites includes, folds of body like arm pits, folds of knee joint & elbow joint, front of neck are most common.
Fungal infections: #
Fungal infection are raised due to dirt, sofacation, excess sweat, wearing of wet cloths for long time unhygienic clothing & body care.
Most commonly seen in private parts like- under arms, groin region, waist region, below the chest region. Symptoms include gradual onset of skin rash with elevated margins, itching, when scratched feeling of burning sense, appearance of blood on scratch, worsen with touch of water or sweat, gradual extension.,discoloration of skin, some times with oozing, feeling of some crawling sense at nights. It is a contagious disease which spreads from one to other.
Urticaria #
(Simple skin rash): Urticaria –a skin rash triggerd by a reaction to food, medicine or other irritants. Simple skin rash appear with exposure to polluted water, air, heat. Some times often exposed to new cloths or unhygienic appearls, used cloths also.
Symptoms includes appearance of swelling over the skin which are hard to touch, itchy, dry with rugae, prominent appearance of hair follicles, some times oozy.
Usually they get subsides witin few minutes to hours. External application helps in relieving this type of skin allergies. It is not contagenous.
Vitiligo: #
Vitiligo also called Leucoderma is a long term skin condition characterized by patches of the skin loosing pigment.
The only sign of vitiligo is the presence of pale patchy areas of de-pigmented skin which tends to occur on extremities.some people may experience itching before a new patch occur.The patches are initially small, but often grow and change shape. These are most prominent on face, hands, and wrists.the loss of skin pigmentation is particularly noticeable around body orificies such as eyes, mouth, nostrils, genetalia and umbilicus.
It is considered as auto –immune disease and is treated as psyco-somatic disease. It is a non-contagious disease.
Shingles #
(Herpes zoaster): Shingles is a viral infection that causes an outbreak of a painful rash or blisters on the skin. It is caused by the Varicella –zoster virus, the same that causes chickenpox. Symptoms includes the rash appears as a band of rashes or blisters in one area of the body. Body rash is associated with fever,chills,headache,feeling tired, sensitive to light, stomach upset, raised rash in a small area of skin followed by itching or tingling or burning sense of skin, redness, fluid filled blisters that break open then scab over, mild to severe pain in the affected area. It is also a contagious disease which spreads from one to other.
Cold sores: #
A cold sore is a fluid filled blister or a cluster of blisters that appears on the lips and around mouth. Cold sores are also called fever blisters, oral herpes or herpes labialis.
It is a contagious disease the spreads from one to other.
It takes around 1-2 weeks for the cold sores to heal completely.
Psoriasis: #
Psoriasis is an auto-immune condition that causes cells to develop rapidly on the skin. This over growth can lead to thick, scaly, plaques that may itchy or cause discomfort.

Types: Plaque psoriasis, Raised, inflamed, red lesions that are covered by silvery-white scales may also dark brown patches with gray scales. Plaque psoriasis occurs most often on the elbows, knees, scalp and low back.

Inverse psoriasis: #

This variant of psoriasis that develops in skin folds.it commonly effects arm pits, groin, areas under the breast, around genetalia and buttocks.these lesions are without scales with smooth n shiny appaerence.

Erythrodermic psoriasis: #

This type of psoriasois is a large type of psoriasis that can cause large area of inflammation across the body also may experience severe itching, pain, and large scale skin shedding. Edema or swelling present due to fluid retension, especially around ankles, raise in temperature with shivering present.

Guttate psoriasis: #

This type of psoriasis is more common in children & adolescents. It appears as small, individual spots on the skin.The spots are not usually like thick or crusty or lesions. A range of conditions can trigger guttate psoriasis, including Upper respiratory infections, streptococcal infections, tonsillitis, stress, injury to skin certain medications, including antimalarials,lithiums, & beta-blockers.

Pustular psoriasis: #

It is a rare type of psoriasis that appears as white pustules, or blisters of pus surrounded by inflamed skin. It can affect specific areas of the body such as hands & feet. It is not an infection or contagious.

Complications of Psoriasis: Psoriatic arthritis is the major complication of psoriasis which is very difficult to manage even. Other complications include pneumonia, depression, anxiety, hypertension, diabetes etc.

Psoriasis is also termed as congenital & genetic disorder.