Seborrheic dermatitis is a common dermatological disorder which affects the scalp and other seborrheic areas on the face, upper-chest, axillae, and inguinal folds. Its incidence peaks during three age periods — in the first 3 months of life, during puberty, and in adulthood with an apex at 40 to 60 years of age. It is also called as dandruff. Darunaka is the non-inflammatory type of seborrheic dermatitis. Darunaka is one among the nine kapalagata rogas explained by Acharya Vagbhata. It is characterized by Kandu (itching), Keshachyuti (falling of hair), Swapa (loss of touch sensation), Rookshata (roughness or dryness of the skin) and Twaksphutana (scaly skin of the scalp). In Ayurvedic classics different treatment modalities are told for the management of Darunaka, like shiro abhyanga, shirolepa, shiro basti, etc. Shiro abhyanga is one of the topical treatments, helps to pacify the vitiated local doshas and get rid of the problem. Here is a case report of seborrheic dermatitis where a male patient aged about 42 complains of itching of scalp, hair fall, red patches, flakes over the head and shoulder, since 2 years has been presented here. After the course of treatment there was marked improvement on symptoms like itching of scalp, hair fall and flakes.

Keywords: Darunaka; Seborrheic dermatitis; Shiroabhyanga; Japapushpa taila; Panchanimba churna.