Copyright © 2026 Authors retain the copyright of this article. This article is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

@article{193578,
        author = {Dr Vedangi Dinesh Wargantiwar and Dr Gurubasava S Hiremath and Dr I B Kotturshetty and Dr Pramod Chandra Dwivedi},
        title = {Role of Panchakarma in Chronic Skin Diseases: A Comprehensive Review},
        journal = {International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology},
        year = {2026},
        volume = {12},
        number = {10},
        pages = {1461-1469},
        issn = {2349-6002},
        url = {https://ijirt.org/article?manuscript=193578},
        abstract = {Chronic skin diseases are persistent, relapsing inflammatory disorders that significantly impair physical comfort, psychological well-being, and social functioning. Globally prevalent conditions such as psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, lichen planus, vitiligo, chronic urticaria, and acne vulgaris are increasingly understood as immune-mediated systemic disorders rather than isolated cutaneous pathologies. These diseases involve complex interactions between genetic predisposition, environmental triggers, immune dysregulation, oxidative stress, and alterations in the gut–skin axis. Conventional management strategies primarily rely on corticosteroids, immunosuppressive agents, phototherapy, and biologics. While these approaches may achieve symptomatic control, long-term therapy is often limited by adverse effects, financial burden, and frequent relapse upon discontinuation. Ayurveda classifies chronic dermatological disorders under the broad spectrum of Kushtha, which encompasses a variety of skin diseases characterized by Tridoshic involvement with predominance of Pitta and Kapha, along with Rakta Dushti and impaired Agni. The pathogenesis includes Ama formation, Srotorodha (microchannel obstruction), and deep-seated Dosha-Dushya Sammurchana leading to chronicity. Panchakarma, the classical Shodhana (bio-purificatory) therapy described in authoritative texts such as the Charaka Samhita, Sushruta Samhita, and Ashtanga Hridaya, is advocated as the principal line of management in chronic and recurrent Kushtha. Panchakarma procedures Vamana, Virechana, Basti, Raktamokshana, and Nasya aim to eliminate vitiated Doshas from their root sites, restore metabolic balance, purify Rakta, and prevent recurrence. Emerging biomedical interpretations suggest that these interventions may exert immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, and microbiome-modulating effects. Clinical evidence, although limited in scale, indicates improvement in severity indices such as PASI and DLQI scores, reduction in recurrence rates, and decreased dependency on corticosteroids. This comprehensive review integrates classical Ayurvedic doctrine with contemporary immunological and dermatological perspectives to elucidate the therapeutic role of Panchakarma in chronic skin diseases. The review highlights conceptual correlations, available clinical data, limitations of current evidence, and future research directions required to establish Panchakarma as an evidence-based integrative dermatological intervention.},
        keywords = {Panchakarma, Kushtha, Psoriasis, Virechana, Raktamokshana, Chronic Dermatoses, Immunomodulation, Gut-Skin Axis.},
        month = {March},
        }