Abstract

TELOGEN EFFLUVIUM (INTITHAR AL-SHA'R) MANAGED WITH ITRIFAL USTUKHUDDUS AND ROGHAN ZAITOON: A UNANI MEDICINE CASE REPORT

Dr. Aakib Pathan*, Dr. Mohd. Anzar Husain, Dr. Mohammad Arif, Dr. Mohd. Rizwan, Dr. Mubashshera Sheikh

Abstract

Background: Telogen effluvium (TE) is a common cause of diffuse, non-scarring scalp hair shedding that may occur following systemic or physiological stressors, including febrile illness. Within the Unani system of medicine, diffuse hair loss is described as Intithar al-Sha'r and has traditionally been discussed in relation to disturbances affecting the condition and integrity of the hair roots. Case Presentation: A 19-year-old woman presented with a 3-month history of excessive scalp hair shedding, which had become more pronounced following a febrile illness approximately 5 months before presentation. Clinical examination revealed diffuse, non-scarring, nonpatterned hair thinning with a positive hair-pull test. The eyebrows, eyelashes, body hair, and nails were normal. The baseline Hair Shedding Visual Analog Scale (HSVS) score was 9, while the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) score was 17. Based on the clinical presentation and history, telogen effluvium was clinically favored. Intervention: The patient was treated with oral Itrifal Ustukhuddus at a dose of 10 g twice daily and topical Roghan Zaitoon at a dose of 5 mL applied nightly through gentle scalp massage for 60 days. Dietary counselling and supportive hair-care advice were provided concurrently. Outcome: At Day 60, the HSVS score decreased from 9 to 3, while the DLQI score improved from 17 to 5. No adverse effects were reported during the treatment period, and repeat laboratory investigations showed no clinically significant abnormalities. Conclusion: A 60-day multimodal Unani intervention comprising Itrifal Ustukhuddus, topical Roghan Zaitoon, dietary counselling, and supportive hair-care measures was associated with improvement in patient-reported hair shedding and dermatology-related quality of life in this case of clinically favored telogen effluvium. However, because TE may improve spontaneously and this was a single uncontrolled case, a causal relationship between the intervention and the observed improvement cannot be established. Controlled clinical studies incorporating objective measures of hair density and longer follow-up are warranted.

Keywords: Telogen Effluvium; Intithar al-Sha'r; Unani Medicine; Itrifal Ustukhuddus; Roghan Zaitoon; Hair Shedding; Case Report.