Ayurveda & Skin

Turning Skin Try into Smile

Skin is the seat of a sense organ. The senses of touch, pain, temperature, pressure are felt by it. It is a Matruj Avyava i.e. derived from mother or having maternal origin.It gives external covering to the whole body.

The seven layers of skin get their nutrition from Mansa Dhatu {muscle tissue}. It is known as an UpDhatu (secondary tissue product) of the Raktadhatu (blood) because it only mimics the Dhatu’s in beholding the body. It does not do Poshan Karma i.e. do not give nutrition to the other Dhatus.

As skin is an Upadhatu of the Raktadhatu , it is a mirror that reflects the qualities of the Raktadhatu (blood) and the Rasadhatu (body’s plasma tissue).Hence it is a common saying that ‘glowing skin is the result of good quality Rasa and Rakta’.

Structure of Skin

The skin is the largest organ of the body, with a total area of about 20 square feet. The skin protects us from microbes and the elements, helps regulate body temperature, and permits the sensations of touch, heat, and cold.

Skin has three layers

The epidermis, the outermost layer of skin, provides a waterproof barrier and creates our skin tone.
The dermis, beneath the epidermis, contains tough connective tissue, hair follicles, and sweat glands.
The deeper subcutaneous tissue (hypodermis) is made of fat and connective tissue.

According to Ayurveda

In ayurveda according to Sushrutaachaarya the skin has seven layers. These layers when get affected by imbalanced doshas (vital energetic forces of body ) give rise to different skin diseases The list of seven layers of skin and diseases which originate from them are as follows:

Avabhasini- The outermost layer of skin. Pimples, acne, dandruff, etc arise when this layer gets affected by vitiated doshas.

Lohita- This is the second layer of skin. Moles ,dark circles, black pigmentations occur when vitiated doshas affect this layer.

Shweta–This is the third layer of skin, when it gets affected by vitiated doshas precipitates the diseases like eczema,allergic rashes etc

Tamra- This is the fourth layer of skin which when affected by doshas harbors leucoderma(vitiligo),leprosy.

Vedini- The fifth layer succumbs to herpes when vitiated doshas affect.

Rohini- Harbors cancer, tumors, elephantiasis etc when affected by vitiated doshas.

Mamsadhara- This is the seventh layer in the body which when affected by vitiated doshas , abscess , fistulas arise.

As skin is an Upadhatu of the Raktadhatu, it is a mirror that reflects the qualities of the Raktadhatu (blood) and the Rasadhatu (body’s plasma tissue).Hence it is a common saying that ‘glowing skin is the result of good quality Rasa and Rakta’.

Functions of Skin

It covers and protects the underlying muscles and organs. It guards our body from the invasion of pathogens, acts as an insulation, regulates body temperature and is one of the sense organ. It plays a major role in synthesis of Vitamin D.

The melanin pigment of skin protects us from UV radiations of Sun.

Know Your Ayurvedic Skin Type

The first step for the skin care is finding out your ayurvedic skin type:

Vata skin is in generally dry, thin, delicate and cool to the touch, easily gets dehydrated, and is very vulnerable to the influence of dry windy weather. Vata skin may age faster, and tends to be dry, rough and flaky when out of balance.

Pitta skin type tends to be fair, sensitive, soft, warm, and of medium thickness. less tolerance to hot food, less tolerance to fieriness in temperament. Pitta skin types tend to be more prone to freckles and moles than the other skin types. When out of balance, Pitta skin can flare up in rashes, rosacea, acne, or sunspots.

Kapha skin tends to have all the qualities of water and earth — it can be oily, thick, pale, soft, cool and more tolerant of the sun. Kapha skin tends to age slower and form less wrinkles than the other two types. Kapha skin types may struggle with dull complexion, enlarged pores, excessive oil, blackheads, pimples, moist types of eczema and water retention.

“Combination” skin can be Vata-Pitta, skin that is both dry and sensitive,Kapha-Pitta-skin is oily and sensitive, and Vata-Kapha- skin that is generally dry with some oily zone

Vata Skin Care

For Vata skin to stay youthful, skin care products used should be very nurturing. They must include some essential oils or herbs in combination, which can nourish the skin and rehydrate it, otherwise it may be susceptible to wrinkles and premature aging.

Going to bed on time, eating regular meals, and following a regular daily routine are essential components of a holistic approach to Vata skin care, as are eating foods that help balance Vata and nourish the Vata skin.

Pitta Skin Care

The Pitta skin type needs both cooling and nurturing. Use skin care products that help enhance resistance to the sun. Avoid tanning treatments and therapies that expose your delicate, sensitive skin to steam for extended periods of time.

The ayurvedic herb Flame of Forest can help protect Pitta skin from photosensitivity. But like other ayurvedic herbs, it needs to be used in combination with other herbs for a balanced effect on the skin.

Kapha Skin Care

Kapha skin, because of its thickness and oiliness, is more prone to accumulate ama toxins under the skin. People with Kapha skin need to do detoxification on a regular basis, both internal detoxification and external detoxification to flush toxins from the skin,” says Dr Sneha

Scrubbing the skin with a gentle exfoliating clay can help external cleansing. Kapha skin types may also need to take herbal formulations to cleanse the skin from within.