24 Sep Skin Care as per Different Skin Types
Skincare in Ayurveda goes beyond the mundane smooth and silky, dry and rough and, dark and sweaty or a combination of these. In Ayurveda, the skin & its texture are directly related to one’s thoughts, bodily conditions and affairs of the heart i.e., the skin is taken to be an important constituent of the body which while covering the body also functions as an indicator of conditions existing within.
It is for these reasons that skincare in Ayurveda is directly linked to the three elements of mind-body working, namely the “Doshas”. The Vata Dosha is about air and space, Pitta Dosha about fire and water and finally the Kapha Dosha which includes the earth and water elements. Everyone is either one of these or a mix of these. With time and circumstances – including existing weather patterns and lifestyles, one may move out of one dosha into another while sometimes retaining elements of the previous one(s).
Me being a practitioner since last 20 yrs espouse the fact that Skin-care in Ayurveda is thus NOT a skin-specific affair where one medication works for all cases with similar issues. Here, a detailed study has to be done to determine the exact extent of each “dosha” and a cure found accordingly. And I do it quite rigorously!
Mentioned below are the general description of each Dosha’s skin characteristics and the Ayurvedic remedies available to each. Since Ayurveda is about root-cause analysis to come to a complete solution, remedies go beyond medication to include lifestyle changes as well. In any case, I advice a visit to an Ayurveda Doctor for a detailed study of the Dosha and medication for a longer duration. You could, of course, come to us, Recova Life and visit me, Dr Madhura Bhide. I would be more than happy to help you!
VATA SKIN-TYPE AND ITS UPKEEP:
With the skin-type being dry, persons with this skin-type have issues with dry and windy places and dry seasons.
● Medication:
○ Use skin-care solutions that nurture & rehydrate the skin, including oils and herbs.
○ For facial cleaning, use a very light cleanser once a day which should be backed by a moisturizer to retain the skin’s sheen and tone.
● Lifestyle changes:
○ Proper rest and regular vata-regulating meals are a must.
○ Meals must include things organic and wholesome like whole milk, whole unpolished grains and rich leafy veggies.
○ As the skin is thin and prone to wrinkles, drinking warm water throughout the day and eating juicy fruits to retain moisture are a must.
○ Ghee or clarified butter adds sheen to otherwise thin, vata-inflicted skins so don’t shy away from making Ghee a part of one’s diet.
PITTA SKIN-TYPE AND ITS UPKEEP:
Being fire-related they show their fiery side rather fast when the body is subjected to intense heat including that coming from food. This kind of skin gets moles and skin lesions rather fast. In appearance they are thick and warm to the touch, and nurturing invariably calls for cooling the skin.
● Medication:
○ Skin-care should be about building resistance to the sun’s rays. Try not to get into any activity that heats the skin like saunas and steam bathing or being in the sun for too long.
○ Pastes, scrubs and extract of herbs like “Palash” in combination with sandalwood are good for this skin-type
○ Never use chemical-based cosmetics as this skin type is very sensitive and shows its mood rather fast.
● Lifestyle changes:
○ Stay away from fiery, hot and spicy foods including deep-fried stuff. Instead, eat fruits daily and preferably those with natural juices as these cool the system, take care of sugar and keeps one feeling full which takes care of food cravings.
○ Use rose-related products be it rose-water, gulkand or any other product as rose is said to cool the body, mind and spirits.
○ During typical Indian summers, try and use cooling massages to keep the body & skin temperature within limits.
○ In food preparations, use herbs and spices including saffron, coriander, mint, cardamom, fennel seeds, cilantro and cumin seeds as they are known to cool the digestive system which invariably affects the skin.
○ While going out in the sun, try using a plant-extract based moisturizer and sunscreen.
KAPHA SKIN-TYPE AND ITS UPKEEP:
A mix of water and earth, characteristics of skin type under Kapha Dosha includes a thick, oily and greasy skin which is not easily affected by direct sunlight. This type of skin also accumulates a lot of toxins i.e., “Amas”. Of all the three, this skin-type needs the most assistance in removing toxins.
● Medication:
○ Daily warm-oil massages are good for the skin as it aids in blood circulation and helps flush out toxins from the skin.
○ With the skin being oily and greasy by its very nature, twice-a-day cleaning of the skin is advisable preferably using a natural exfoliating agent.
● Lifestyle changes:
○ Yoga and other forms of intense exercise are a must to remove toxins be it through purging or by way of sweat. Doing so also helps pump blood to all the cells in the body besides forcing the toxins out.
○ Avoid foods that are heavy and difficult to digest and hence promote the creation of toxins through the presence of semi-digested foods. They include fried and greasy foods, processed foods including hard cheese, desserts and sugary sweets, drinks with lots of sugar etc.
○ Eat simple, seasonal vegetable-based dishes that are easy to digest and leave no toxins in their wake. Simple juicy fruits which are seasonal, green leafy vegetables, barley, jowar and spices such as ginger, fennel, coriander, turmeric and fenugreek are some of the detoxifying foods known to Ayurveda which should be cooked and consumed in reasonable quantities
○ Water, rice-broth (kanjee) and buttermilk are some of the liquids which while aiding digestion also remove toxins from the body leaving behind a great skin tone!
Skin-care in Ayurveda is anything but skin-deep.
From my two-decades-plus experience in Ayurvedic medication, I can tell you with a degree of authority that once you get to the root of the problem through Ayurveda and Panchakarma, rest assured, all the hard-work and supposed-hardships seems worthwhile. Whatever be your skin type, through the medium of Ayurveda, what you get is the type of skin some shall admire and most envy!
So, my dear readers, if there is anything that you want to know about Ayurveda, do visit our website www.recovalife.com
Disclaimer :
This article is meant solely to provide information about remedies under Ayurveda and is not meant to be used for diagnosis, treatment, cure or prevention of any disease.
Where the reader or any other person has chronic and/or dire health issues, it is advisable to consult a trained and certified medical practitioner for a complete and comprehensive diagnosis which can address the underlying issues effectively.
Recova Life and its constituents are also certified medical practitioners who can be consulted. Our numbers are +91 83800-16119 and Email ID atul@recovalife.com
With respect to the consumption of any herbs, fruits, vegetables and the likes mentioned here, it would be advisable where you consult a certified medical practitioner for his/her opinion before-hand.
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