Rejuvenation is not limited to the external glow, which is temporary! Ayurveda Skin Care believes that inner balance is the key to long-term beauty. Applying make-up or taking over-the-counter modern cosmetic products only works superficially, but Ayurveda for skin is an elixir to a natural, glowing and youthful skin.
You might have seen or heard your grandmother naturally having glowing skin and long, black, and strong hair, even at her later age, but today, even young children suffer from breakouts and early ageing, even after applying too many medicinal products!
If we talk about India, then youthful skin was never the slave of expensive chemical creams or complicated day-to-night skin routines. Long ago, when modern medicines were not available, Ayurveda offered a meaningful rejuvenation to the skin. Back then, women glowed differently even without modern cosmetics. The reason behind this is that Ayurveda worked on the skin right at the root cause!!
Rather than considering skin issues as only cosmetic problems, Ayurveda has always seen skin concerns as the reason for poor inner balance, digestion, nutrition, poor sleep quality, suppressed emotion, and an unhealthy lifestyle. This is why Ayurveda uses various corrections in the human body for naturally glowing skin.
Ayurvedic skin care routines aim to rebalance the inner harmony instead of masking the skin concerns. It uses various Ayurvedic principles, Ayurvedic therapies for skin, Ayurvedic remedies for skin, lifestyle for skin, Ayurvedic diet for skin, and a lot more to heal you internally. The best part of Ayurveda is that it offers a personalised treatment to the individual, depending on the Ayurvedic principles. As per Ayurveda, real beauty is not artificial, but something that can be expressed naturally. In this block, we will understand how Ayurveda helps to gain good skin health using various Ayurvedic principles and practices.
Ayurveda is also called the Science of Life. This is one of the ancient healing systems that has been doing wonders for the human race. Ayurveda follows various principles that are proven. Even today in modern times, Ayurveda is working best to shield humans against the modern ailments and diseases naturally. One just needs to be consistent and follow an Ayurvedic lifestyle to stay healthy and build a natural immunity against various problems and diseases. Ayurveda works differently from modern medicine. Ayurveda is not a temporary relief, but a long-term cure that is safe and healthy!!
The various factors as per Ayurveda that lead to a skincare are as follows:
High stress levels
Sedentary lifestyle
Poor sleep quality
Poor sleep cycle
Rajsik and tamasik food (heavy, oily, processed, etc.)
Lack of hydration
Poor gut health
Lack of a balanced diet
Exposure to dirt and pollution
Poor Skin Hygiene
All these above factors contribute to an imbalance in the human body, which pops up as a sign. True, your skin. Skin health depends on your whole internal system, as per Ayurveda.
Now, different principles of Ayurveda considered while skin treatment in Ayurveda are as follows:
As per Ayurveda, the human body has three kinds of doshas: Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. Every individual has different proportions of these doshas. Some are Vata dominant, some are Kapha dominant, and others are Pitta dominant. There can also be a combination of two doshas in different proportions. This is also called Prakriti ( body constitution of Individuals)!! When these doshas in the human body get imbalanced due to the various above-mentioned factors, it can lead to various skin concerns. Even these doshas describe the skin traits of different individuals. Ayurveda works on balancing these doshas during the treatment of skin.
Ama in Ayurveda means toxins. When we do not follow an Ayurvedic lifestyle and lead a sedentary life, which contains a poor sleep cycle, heavy, oily, spicy, processed, non-vegetarian food, and a lack of movement, it all can lead to the accumulation of toxins deep inside the body. When these toxins start piling up at a greater level, it can lead to various diseases in the body, including skin concerns. Now Ayurveda works on removing and flushing out these toxins naturally as the root cause of skin!
Now, another modification that one needs to get a healthy and youthful skin, as per Ayurveda, is correcting the diet. As mentioned above in the blog, an unhealthy diet, including rajasic and tamasic food, can lead to skin concerns. Ayurveda works on correcting the diet as per the person's body constitution (prakriti) for naturally glowing skin.
Agni is the digestive fire present in our body as per Ayurveda. When we lead an unhealthy lifestyle, when we lead an unhealthy lifestyle, our Agni turns weak, which is also known as Mandagni. This affects our gut health, and when gut health is weak, our whole body's functioning is affected. But it is also connected with the mind ( Gut-Brain Axis) and other organs of our body. Therefore, poor gut health is also a major cause of poor skin. Therefore, Ayurveda also works on balancing the digestive agni and gut health for beautiful and glowing skin.
These are some of the major principles that are considered in Ayurvedic treatment of skin by the practitioners. However, there are many other such principles that become the foundation of Ayurvedic skin care treatment!!
Ayurvedic treatment for skin is not just limited to face packs, medicines, or outer beauty, but it is a collective process that includes different components required for balancing the inner system of the human body for glowing skin!!
Here we will discuss about the different parts of an Ayurvedic treatment for skin:
Herbs are an important part of Ayurvedic treatment for skin care. These herbs are natural and are safe to be taken even in the long term. Unlike modern medicines, these herbs do not cause heavy side effects and are gentle on your body. Different types of herbs are selected as per the person's body constitution, problem, and body's response. There are other factors also that are considered while choosing the herbs.
Common herbs used for skin treatment in Ayurveda are as follows:
Found in almost every Indian kitchen, Haldi or turmeric has been used since ancient times not only in cooking but as a medicinal home remedy. This is a wonderful herb that supports skin cleansing, brightening, and a good complexion. These are often used in the Ayurvedic face packs for skin and ubtans too.
Another medicinal tree found in India is neem. It is great for skin concerns arising from excess oil. This is a wonderful herb used for acne-prone skin. It is also used in various herbal Ayurvedic preparations and powders.
Chandan is also known as sandalwood. Sandalwood has natural cooling properties. Skin concerns arising from excessive heat or pitta in the body can be calmed down using sandalwood in the herbal preparations.
Aloe vera, or Ghritkumari is a herb that has wonderful properties. It can help to hydrate the skin and soothe flakiness or dryness. It can also be applied as a gel and is often used as a part of Ayurvedic medicine for good skin health.
Another wonderful herb for skin in Ayurveda is Manjistha. It is also used in various skin care formulations of Ayurveda. It also gives a good, glowing complexion.
Liquorice or Mulethi is another great herb for an Ayurvedic skin care routine. People suffering from uneven skin pigmentation and dullness are often given preparations that include mulethi.
Besides the spiritual importance of holy basil or tulsi in India, this plant holds great medicinal value in Ayurveda. It helps to keep the body clean, for ensuring good inner balance. This helps in achieving good and youthful skin health.
Another great herb is the Indian gooseberry or amla. This also supports natural cleansing of the body that removes toxins and ensures good skin health.
Another part of the Ayurvedic treatment for skin care is the detoxification therapies in Ayurveda for skin. These therapies include Panchakarma therapies, which are given under the proper guidance of an Ayurvedic practitioner and support detoxification from accumulated toxins and ensure overall wellness. These therapies have been used since ancient times as an effective cure for any kind of ailment. This is a gentle and natural way to keep oneself rejuvenated and healthy.
Some of the most common Ayurvedic therapies for skin health are as follows:
This is herbal steam therapy that offers great rejuvenation and deep inner cleansing. It helps in removing the accumulated toxins from the body very naturally.
Panchakarma therapies are a mix of the five most effective therapies integrated together to work on different areas of imbalance in the human body. Panch means five, and karma stands for various activities or therapies. These five therapies help in balancing the doshas, cleaning the toxins and correcting the inner disturbance, leading to good skin health.
Herbal bath is another ritual in Ayurvedic treatment for skin that helps in gaining rejuvenated and youthful skin naturally. It helps in refreshing the skin and soothing it with the herbal preparations.
Another wonderful massage for good skin health is abhyanga. In this, herbal oils or formulations are used to massage the whole body. It helps in rejuvenating the skin and removing any deep-seated toxins inside. It is very relaxing as well.
There are therapies in which herbal powders are used to massage the affected area or the whole body. This offers natural healing to the body. The massage also helps in improving the blood flow in the skin, which leads to youthful and rejuvenated skin naturally.
In the most extreme cases, sometimes Ayurvedic doctors also suggest bloodletting or raktmokshana. It is an ancient way where a small amount of blood is removed from the body using various methods like leeching and cupping. This helps in removing the contaminated blood that includes toxins and ensuring healthy blood hygiene.
These are some of the therapies that are commonly used for treating any kind of skin concern in Ayurveda!
Ayurveda includes diet correction for curing the skin. Diet is an important part of any Ayurvedic treatment. Ayurveda mentions various diets for various body types, vata balance, and inner balance. Foods to eat for glowing skin in Ayurveda: Ayurveda mentions the use of a sattvic diet, which is very easy and light on the gut because gut health is directly related to our overall health.
So, Food good for your skin includes:
Fresh fruits are available throughout the season
Green and leafy vegetarians
Fresh whole grains, seeds, and seasonal nuts
Hydrating food like cucumber and coconut water
Healthy fats, including ghee
Foods that are not allowed as per Ayurveda:
If you consume Rajasik and tamasic food, it can affect our digestive agni. It can also imbalance our doshas and can lead to various problems, including skin problems like acne, pigmentation, etc. So, during the skin care treatment in Ayurveda, one should follow an Ayurvedic diet and should avoid the following:
Foods NOT Good For Skin
Excessive fried food
Packed or processed food items
Too much salt or sugar
Overly spiced food or junk food
Fast food
Carbonated drinks
Non-vegetarian food or stale food
Onion or garlic (Sometimes), etc.
Ayurveda promotes fresh and balanced eating. It prohibits binge eating because all this can lead to hormonal imbalance and dosha imbalances, leading to various skin problems at a very young age!!
Ayurveda also includes a certain movement. When we keep sitting nine to five without any activity, it can lead to toxin accumulation and dosha imbalance. This can also enhance stress in our physical body, leading to various skin concerns. Here are some of the best yoga poses for skin health. Yoga helps in good oxygen flow, good blood flow, and good inner health. Therefore, it offers healthy and young-looking skin.
Best yoga poses for skin:
Shoulder stand or Sarvangasana improves blood circulation, leading to good skin health.
Cobra pose or Bhujangasana helps in improving posture and circulation.
Fish pose, or Matsyasana, helps in Deep Rejuvenation.
Child pose, or Balasana, helps in removing the stress from the whole body, leading to inner balance.
Downward Dog or Adho Mukha Svanasana helps in improving the flow of blood and ensures good oxygen levels in the body.
All these small yogic practices and routines can help improve the skin naturally.
Now Ayurveda focuses on various holistic practices that help in reducing stress from the mind, body and soul. Stress is a major factor behind any physical, mental or emotional health problems today. Therefore, instead of taking over-the-counter antidepressants, here are some of the major ways that can help you naturally manage your stress.
Anulom Vilom Pranayama helps in slowing and calming your breathing.
Bhramari. This helps in deep relaxation and stress management.
Meditation helps in attaining a good balance between emotion, mind and physical health.
Good sleep in Ayurveda is promoted too because our body repairs the most while sleeping.
Dincharya, or the daily routine, matters the most in any Ayurvedic treatment, including Ayurveda for skin health. Therefore, you need to follow certain routines to bring your body back to natural balance.
Wake up early in the morning.
Sleep early and at the same time to maintain the sleep cycle
Start your day with a glass of warm water
Do some yoga, pranayama, and meditation before starting your day
Make sure that your gut is clean every morning
Eat a healthy breakfast
Eat a balanced diet
Light walking after every hour of sitting continuously
Proper rest when required
Eating early at night
There are some of the oldest Ayurvedic remedies for cleansing and exfoliating skin naturally without any harsh chemicals. These are the herbal ubtans mentioned in the ancient Ayurvedic texts. These can also be prepared just by using our daily kitchen herbs. They are very effective in removing impurities and improving skin health.
Some of the most common herbal ubtans for skin care home remedies are as follows:
When you mix besan or chickpea flour into turmeric and blend it using rose water, it turns into the best ubtan for cleaning and rejuvenating skin. This is best for dull or oily skin.
The cooling effect of sandalwood and rose is the best combination for sensitive or irritated skin. Those dealing with acne-prone skin can use this ubtan.
You can mix some Aloe vera gel with honey. This helps in calming the vata dosha-related skin concerns like dryness, flakiness, etc.
You can mix some multani mitti and neem powder together. Neem is very effective and antibacterial. It helps in treating oily skin and removes acne naturally.
Ayurvedic Herbal Beautician Course in Rishikesh, India, offers Ayurvedic training of the various Ayurvedic remedies and skincare routines that can help you achieve youthful skin and work professionally as an Ayurvedic beautician!
Ayurveda is approx. a 5,000-year-old science used in India for living healthily naturally. Recently, it has regained importance because of the increase in the rates of ailments. Stressful living often causes various ailments today. Ayurveda helps in offering a gentle way to protect oneself from various diseases of modern times. Similarly, Ayurveda for skin health is a very effective way to keep the skin healthy and youthful. This blog is an overview of how Ayurveda helps your skin. There are various courses that help you to learn the various Ayurvedic treatments for skin for your self and professional growth. Therefore, if you are looking for a safe way to keep your skin healthy for a long time, then Ayurveda can be the best choice!
Related Course: Ayurvedic Beauty Care Course in Rishikesh
