Abstract

YUVANPIDIKA: A COMPREHENSIVE LITERARY REVIEW FROM CLASSICAL TEXTS TO CONTEMPORARY UNDERSTANDING

*Dr. Monika Asthana

Abstract

The idea of beauty has existed since the beginning of human history, and everyone wants to look beautiful even today. Ayurveda is like a vast ocean of ancient wisdom that explains not only big illnesses but also small skin problems in great detail, along with their natural treatment. One such common skin issue is Yuvanpidika (also called Mukhadushika). In simple words, beauty is something that makes our eyes happy when we see it. Unfortunately, acne is the most common skin problem that spoils the beauty of the face, especially in teenagers. It is rightly called ―the enemy of youth‖ because it affects almost ruins the teenage years for many. In modern medicine, acne vulgaris is a long-lasting inflammatory problem of the oil glands and hair follicles, mostly on the face, chest, and back. In Ayurveda, the great ancient surgeon Acharya Sushruta has described Yuvanpidika exactly like today‘s acne. He says it appears as small, hard, thorn-like pimples (similar to the thorns of the Shalmali/silk-cotton tree) on the face of young people during teenage years. That is why it is named ―Yuvanpidika‖ (the pimples of youth).

Keywords: Yuvanpidika, Kshudraroga, Mukhdushika, Acne, Acne vulgaris, Jalaukavcharna.