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Ayurveda
Treating Dry Skin Condition
Naturally
Applying Ayurveda Principles
by Dr. Savitha Suri
 Dry skin
looks dull and life less due to lack of moisture. Well hydrated skin
glows and exhibits a healthy look. Wrinkles develop at an early age due
to prolonged dryness of skin. Dry, rough and wrinkled skin gives an aged
appearance. Dry and cracked skin harbor microbes and cause fungal
infections. Excess drying of skin leads to dry eczema.
Hence a proper care should be taken to increase the moisture level of
skin and prevent drying. Soft, smooth and wrinkle free skin gives young
and healthy look.
Causes of Dry Skin
Our skin is
soft and smooth because of oil glands found under our skin. The skin
becomes dry when these glands fail to supply sufficient lubrication to
keep the skin soft and smooth.
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The
cold and dry weather of winter takes its own toll on the skin. The
cold, dry weather of winter brings about drying of skin making it
scaly. Lack of sufficient humidity out doors also leads to dry skin.
Indoor heating further removes the traces of moisture and aggravates
dryness of skin. Thus in winter the skin becomes extremely dry.
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Dry skin condition may occur due to genetic factors.
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Dry skin condition may arise from nutritional deficiencies due to
poor diet.
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Unhealthy practices like exposure to extreme weather conditions,
bathing for long time in very hot water, using harsh soaps, swimming
in chlorinated water, chemicals and harsh cosmetics.
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The skin loses its capacity to retain moisture, as we grow old.
The extreme climatic conditions to which we get exposed, as we grow
old worsen the condition and skin becomes more dry.
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Few underlying diseases like hypothyroidism, diabetes, eczema,
psoriasis or seborrhea may also lead to dry skin.
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Dry skin may arise as an effect of medications like diuretics,
antihistamines and anti spasmodics.
What Ayurveda
says about Dry Skin?
According to texts of
Ayurveda dry skin is caused by vata dosha. When
vata dosha increases in body it reduces kapha and makes skin dry and
wrinkled. (Kapha keeps skin soft and smooth where as vata makes the
skin dry and rough. Vata dosha's qualities are opposite to kapha dosha
qualities).
The causes which increase vata dosha in body
- Exposure to cold and dry climate
- Controlling natural urges like urination, defecation, hunger, thirst,
etc.
- Staying awake at unearthly hours (late night). Irregular food habits.
- Excess physical and mental exertion.
- Consumption of spicy, dry, bitter food.
Here are the natural tips to take care of dry skin
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Do not use hot water to cleanse dry skin.
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Use a soft cotton cloth and pat dry your skin. Do not rub the skin with
harsh, rough textured towels.
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Instead of washing with water use a clean sprayer to moisten your skin.
Use mineral water instead of tap water for spray.
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Lightly pat dry the skin.
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Avoid using harsh soaps and face washes as they remove natural oil that
protects your skin.
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Pamper your skin by massaging with moisturizer. Moisturizer increases
the moisture of upper layer of skin and makes it soft and smooth.
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Regularly massage your body with herbal oil. Herbal oil softens and
sooth the dry skin and help to trap the moisture between skin pores.
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Apply a thin layer of coconut oil before finishing the bath and pat dry
the skin
Avoid alcohol-based cleansers.
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Consume a balanced diet which includes foods from all groups like
vegetables, fruits, carbohydrates, cereals, milk and milk products.
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Include yellow and orange vegetables like carrot which have rich anti
oxidants.
Avoid junk food like chips, deep fried food etc
Ayurveda Tips for dry skin condition.
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Keep yourself warm in dry cold climates.
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Massage whole body with body massage oil which is infused with vata
balancing herbs.
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Do not sit near fire place.
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Avoid stale, over fried, dry food.
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Always consume fresh warm food with little fat like ghee or olive oil.
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Include sour and salty food in diet.
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Sweet juicy fruits are recommended.
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Drink 7-9 glasses of warm water everyday. (Do not drink cold water as it
increases vata)
Home Remedies for dry skin
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Mix egg yolk, rose water lime juice, olive oil and orange juice (1 tea
spoon each) thoroughly. Apply a smooth mixture of this ingredient on
your face in morning and wash it off after 20 minutes
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A face mask of honey, egg, olive oil and rose water works very well for
dry skin.
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Liberally apply gentle herbal moisturizer all over your body.
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Massage your body with herbal oil infused with vata balancing herbs,
twice in a week.
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Increase the moisture level of skin by applying natural herbal gel which
is rich in aloevera and essential oils.
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Consume herbal tea which contains vata balancing herbs regularly.
February 3,
2007
Image under license with
Gettyimages.com
Disclaimer
The above article is educational in nature, and is not intended to
diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. If you have a medical
condition, please consult your physician.
Dr. Savitha Suri B.A.M.S is Chief Consultant physician at Chaitanya
Integrated Medical Center, Udayagiri, Mysore, Karnataka, India. She is
practicing Indian Systems of Medicines since 12 years. By arrangement
with
http://www.ayurhelp.com
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