Antifungal Topical Drugs for Seborrheic Dermatitis of Scalp in Unani Medicine

Seborrheic dermatitis (SD) is a common disorder of the skin, which is dermatologically manifested by erythematous patches covered by yellow-grey scales. It mostly appears on the face, scalp, upper chest, and back. Half of the adult population is estimated to be affected by seborrheic dermatitis of the scalp. Although its prevalence is very high, the etiology has not been very well known. Numerous intrinsic and external environmental factors such as excessive sebum secretions, fungal colonization of the surface of the skin, genetic susceptibility, and dynamics, among others, can result in the development of the disease. Unani medicine is familiar with this disease under the entity named ‘Tasherul Raas/Huzaz’. Various herbal and mineral-origin drugs have been declared in the Unani classical literature for the treatment of SD. In the present paper, topical Unani drugs particularly beneficial for scalp seborrheic dermatitis are discussed.