Historical Evidence of Treating Vitiligo in Medieval Persia

Vitiligo is an acquired chronic skin disorder characterized by progressive loss of melanocytes from epidermis resulting in depigmented areas. Although various therapies for vitiligo, including topical and systemic corticosteroids, topical immunomodulators, phototherapy plus chemotherapy, tissue grafting techniques and depigmentation of normally pigmented skin are practiced, these modern methods are not always satisfactory. Vitiligo has been introduced in medieval manuscripts of Persia under two categories of Bahaq and Baras. Besides the diagnostic differences between these two disorders, a variety of formulations have been suggested by Iranian scholars for treatment or covering white patches. Extracting the ideas of our ancestors could both revive forgotten medicinal knowledge and also depict the contribution of one nation in progress of medicine and pharmacy.