Unani and Modern Perspective to Understanding and Managing Bahaq (Pityriasis Versicolor): A Comprehensive Review
Abstract
Pityriasis versicolor (Bahaq) is a chronic, superficial fungal skin infection caused by Malassezia furfur, characterized by hypopigmented or hyperpigmented macules or patches on the upper trunk, neck and shoulders. It predominantly affects adolescents and young adults, particularly in warm and humid climates. Unani medicine identifies Bahaq as a humoral disorder caused by imbalances in phlegm or black bile, which disrupt pigmentation and skin integrity. Esteemed Unani scholars, including Rabban Tabarī, Zakariya Razi, Ibn Sina and Ajmal Khan, have detailed its etiology, pathogenesis and treatments, emphasizing holistic approaches through herbal remedies, dietary modifications and therapeutic regimens. This review integrates Unani and modern perspectives, highlighting the therapeutic efficacy of antifungal treatments in modern medicine, complemented by Unani principles, such as Munzij (concoctive) and Mushil (purgative) therapies, alongside topical applications and dietotherapy. Unani formulations, including plant-based compounds and traditional regimens, show promise in managing resistant cases, offering a safer alternative to conventional antifungals, which may cause adverse effects. The paper underscores the need for rigorous scientific validation of Unani treatments through clinical trials to bridge traditional and modern dermatological practices. By aligning ancient wisdom with contemporary research, a more comprehensive and patient-centered approach to managing pityriasis versicolor can be achieved. This integration could improve therapeutic outcomes, minimize recurrences, and enhance patient quality of life while preserving the cultural heritage of Unani medicine.
Keywords: Bahaq, Fungal Infection, Malassezia furfur, Pityriasis versicolor, Tinea Versicolor, Unani medicine
Keywords:
Bahaq, Fungal Infection, Malassezia furfur, Pityriasis versicolor, Tinea Versicolor, Unani medicineDOI
https://doi.org/10.22270/jddt.v15i2.7001References
1. Abbas K, Mohammed LK, Hussein WN.A Clinical and Epidemiological Study of Pityriasis Versicolor in Baghdad City. Open Access Maced J Med Sci. 2022Feb05; 10(B):1869-1875. https://doi.org/10.3889/oamjms.2022.9714
2. Rad F, Nik-Khoo B, Yaghmaee R, Gharibi F. Terbinafin 1% Cream and Ketoconazole 2% Cream in the Treatment of PityriasisVersicolor: A randomized comparative clinical trial. Pak J Med Sci 2014;30(6):1273-1276. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.12669/pjms.306.5509]
3. Łab ˛ed ´z, N.; NavarreteDechent, C.; Kubisiak-Rzepczyk, H.; Bowszyc-Dmochowska, M.; Pogorzelska-Antkowiak, A.; Pietkiewicz, P. PityriasisVersicolor—A Narrative Review on the Diagnosis and Management. Life 2023, 13, 2097. https://doi.org/10.3390/life13102097 .
4. Leung AKC, Barankin B, Lam JM, Leong KF, Hon KL. Tineaversicolor: an updated review. Drugs Context. 2022;11: 2022-9-2. https://doi.org/10.7573/dic.2022-9-2
5. Erchiga, Vicente &Martos, A &Casaño, A &Erchiga, A.C. &Fajardo, F. Malasseziaglobosa as the causative agent of pityriasisversicolor.The British journal of dermatology. 2000;143:799-803. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2133.2000.03779.x .
6. Kaymak, Y.; Taner, E. Anxiety and depression in patients with pityriasisrosea compared to patients with tineaversicolor. Dermatol.Nurs.2008;20:367–370+377.
7. Qamri AMH. GhinaMuna (Urdu translation MinhajulIlaj). New Delhi: CCRUM; 2008:456-457
8. Razi AMBZ. Alhavi Fit Tib. Vol-23 (Urdu translation by Hakeem M Y Siddiqui) AMU: Sabba Publishers Aligarh; 1994: 17-27.
9. Akbar Arzani. Tibe Akbar.(Urdu translation by Hussain M). New Delhi: IdaraKitabushShifa; 2010: 731-733.
10. Akbar Arzani. MizanutTib. New Delhi: IdaraKitabushShifa; 2002: 254.
11. Khan MA. AkseerAzam; Vol-4; Kanpur: MatbaNizami; 1289 (AH): 487- 493.
12. Ajmal Khan. Haziq. Karachi: Madina Publishing Company; 1983: 550- 552.
13. Jilani G. MakhzanulHikmat; Vol-2; New Delhi: Eijaz Publishing House; 1996: 726-727.
14. Khalid G. AmrazeJildaurIlajeNabwi (saw). Delhi: AdabiDuniya; 1993: 113-16.
15. Mathur, M.; Acharya, P.; Karki, A.; Kc, N.; Shah, J. Dermoscopic pattern of pityriasisversicolor. Clin.Cosmet.Investig.Dermatol.2019;12:303–309.
16. Krueger, L.; Saizan, A.; Stein, J.A.; Elbuluk, N. Dermoscopy of acquired pigmentary disorders: A comprehensive review. Int. J. Dermatol. 2022;61:7–19.
17. Bélec L, Testa J, Bouree P. Pityriasisversicolor in the Central African Republic: a randomized study of 144 cases. J Med Vet Mycol. 1991;29(5):323–329. https://doi.org/10.1080/02681219180000491
18. Faergemann J, Fredriksson T. Tineaversicolor with regard to seborrheic dermatitis. An epidemiological investigation.Arch Dermatol. 1979;115(8):966–968. https://doi.org/10.1001/archderm.1979.04010080030017
19. Ghosh SK, Dey SK, Saha I, Barbhuiya JN, Ghosh A, Roy AK. Pityriasisversicolor: a clinicomycological and epidemiological study from a tertiary care hospital. Indian J Dermatol. 2008;53(4):182–185. https://doi.org/10.4103/0019-5154.44791
20. He SM, Du WD, Yang S, et al. The genetic epidemiology of tineaversicolor in China.Mycoses. 2008;51(1):55–62. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0507.2007.01437.x
21. Jena DK, Sengupta S, Dwari BC, Ram MK. Pityriasisversicolor in the pediatric age group. Indian J DermatolVenereolLeprol. 2005;71(4):259–261. https://doi.org/10.4103/0378-6323.16618
22. Karakaş M, Turaç-Biçer A, Ilkit M, Durdu M, Seydaoğlu G. Epidemiology of pityriasisversicolor in Adana, Turkey. J Dermatol. 2009;36(7):377–382. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1346-8138.2009.00663.x
23. Leung AKC, Barankin B. Tineaversicolor in a 69-year-old man: an uncommon finding. Sch J Med Case Rep. 2015;3(10A):993–994.
24. Rao GS, Kuruvilla M, Kumar P, Vinod V. Clinico-epidermiological studies on tineaversicolor. Indian J DermatolVenereolLeprol. 2002;68(4):208–209.
25. Schmidt A. Malassezia furfur: a fungus belonging to the physiological skin flora and its relevance in skin disorders.Cutis. 1997;59(1):21–24.
26. Kallini JR, Riaz F, Khachemoune A. Tineaversicolor in dark-skinned individuals. Int J Dermatol. 2014;53(2):137–141. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijd.12345
27. Bélec L, Testa J, Bouree P. Pityriasisversicolor in the Central African Republic: a randomized study of 144 cases. J Med Vet Mycol. 1991;29(5):323–329. https://doi.org/10.1080/02681219180000491
28. Gupta AK, Bluhm R, Summerbell R. Pityriasisversicolor. J EurAcadDermatolVenereol. 2002;16(1):19–33. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1468-3083.2002.00378.x
29. Kurniadi I, HendraWijaya W, Timotius KH. Malassezia virulence factors and their role in dermatological disorders.ActaDermatovenerol Alp PannonicaAdriat. 2022;31(2):65–70.
30. LeungAKC.Pityriasisversicolor. In: Lang F,ed.The Encyclopedia of Molecular Mechanisms of Disease. Berlin:Springer-Verlag; 2009:1652–1654. ISBN: 978-3-540-67136-7
31. Kilinc F, Akbas A, Sener S, Ergin M, Baran P, MetinA.The effect of tineaversicolor on thiol/disulphide homeostasis. PostepyDermatolAlergol. 2018;35(3):299–303. https://doi.org/10.5114/ada.2018.76227
32. Han A, Calcara DA, Stoecker WV, Daly J, Siegel DM, Shell A. Evoked scale sign of tineaversicolor. Arch Dermatol.2009;145(9):1078. https://doi.org/10.1001/archdermatol.2009.203
33. Rivard SC. Pityriasisversicolor: avoiding pitfalls in disease diagnosis and therapy. Mil Med. 2013;178(8):904–906.https://doi.org/10.7205/MILMED-D-13-00057
34. Baghdadi IH. KitabulMukhtarat Fit Tibb.Vol I. Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine. New Delhi 2005;127-130.
35. Kabiruddin M. SharahAsbab. Vol 4.Idarakitab-ush-Shifa.New Delhi 2010; pp 342- 343.
36. Razi ABMBZ. KitabulFakhirFilTibb (Urdu Translation by CCRUM). Part 1, Vol 1. New Delhi: CCRUM, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of India; 2008:30-32
37. Baghdadi IH. KitabulMukhtarat Fit Tibb.Vol 1.Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine. New Delhi 2005;127-130.
38. Nadvi AR. Firdaus-al-Hilkmat Fit -Tibb.Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine. New Delhi 2010; 640.
39. Sina I. Al QanoonfilTibb (Urdu translation by Kantoori GH). Vol 4.New Delhi: IdaraKitabulShifa; YNM; 2010:1424-1427
40. Tabri MAH. Moalijat-e-Buqratiya.Vol 2. Central Council for Research in UnaniMedicine.New Delhi 1997;195-98.
41. Jilani G, MakhjanulIlaaj (BayazeJilani). Siddique Publication. Lahore. pp 1139-1140.
42. Rushd MVA. Kitabulkulliyat.Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine. New Delhi 1980.
43. Razi MBZ. Kitab Al Mansoori. Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine. New Delhi 1991;206-207
44. Renati S, Cukras A, Bigby M. Pityriasisversicolor. BMJ. 2015;350:h1394. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.h1394
45. Goldstein BG, Goldstein AO. Tineaversicolor (pityriasisversicolor). In: Dellavalle RP, Levy ML, Rosen T, eds. Waltham, MA: UpToDate.https://www.uptodate.com/contents/tinea-versicolor-pityriasis-versicolor.
46. Hu SW, Bigby M. Pityriasisversicolor: a systematic review of interventions. Arch Dermatol. 2010;146(10):1132–1140. https://doi.org/10.1001/archdermatol.2010.259
47. Farzana Akhter, M. A. Quamri, SabreenaBashir.Concept and management of Bahaq (pityriasisversicolor) in Unani medicine - a review. International Journal of Research and Review.2022;9(7):489-494. DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijrr.20220752
48. Razi ABMBZ. Al Hawi (Urdu Translation by CCRUM). Part II, Vol 23. New Delhi: CCRUM, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of India; 1994:18-23
49. Din MK. Bayaz-e-Kabir. Vol 1. New Delhi: IdaraeKitabulShifa; 2010:240,297
50. Jurjani AH. ZakhiraKhawarizamShahi(Urdu translation by Khan HH). Vol 9. New Delhi: IdaraKitabulShifa; 2010:18-20
Published
Abstract Display: 75 
PDF Downloads: 62 PDF Downloads: 10 How to Cite
Issue
Section
Copyright (c) 2025 Zaeema Qureshi , Mohammad Anzar Husain , Altaf Husain Shah , Atoofa Khalid
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0). that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgment of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgment of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).
How to Cite
.