Essentials For Skin Care
Essentials For Skin Care
 |
| Invest on your skin for the long term benefits with added dividend of immunity and beauty |
Skin is not just a sign of beauty, but is also a sign of identity and most importantly, it is the easily conspicuous reflector of the mechanisms of the structures and body systems underneath it. It is the mirror to the states of well being or disease of the inner body structures. Therefore, beauty is indeed skin deep, but additionally it is beyond and deep into the skin.
Introduction
Just like the head of a city takes care of his city and a charioteer takes care of his chariot, a wise individual should take care of his/her body. One should always be aware of his body mechanisms and do appropriate repair work as and when needed.
The body system concerning the skin is called integumentary system. The components of integumentary system are :
- Skin
- Hair
- Nail
- Sebaceous (oil) gland
- Sudoriferous (sweat) glands
- Sensory receptors (which help in identifying various sensations)
One of these, the major organ is the skin. Here are some quick facts of the same :
- Synonyms: Cutaneous membrane, integument.
- Largest organ in the body : Covers an extent of 2 square meter of the body.
- Weight : 4.5 to 5 kg. Largest in terms of both weight and surface area
- Dimensions : Thickness on heel 4 mm
- Thinnest at eyelids 0.5mm
- Averafe1.2 mm
Importance of skin
Existence is unimaginable and impossible without skin ! The following points justify this claims :
- Skin is a first line of defense against all foreign invading agents. It protects the inner structures from the invading agents like trauma / injury, harsh sunlight, bacteria, viruses, fungi or other microbes and pollutants.
- It regulates the body temperature. Skin is the one which helps your body temperature at a constant and adjust it according to the seasons.
- Stores blood
- Detects sensation like touch / pressure / pain / tickling / itching.
- Excretes and absorbs substances.
- Synthesizes Vitamin D.
Skin care routine
- When it comes to the skin care routine, there is no single skin care routine as it is subject to the types of skin. Therefore, the prerequisite to the skin care is to identify your skin type.
Assessment of the type of skin
- Here is a small questionnaire to decide your skin type :
Results
If you have maximum points corresponding in type 1 than you have Vataja (vata predominant), skin corresponding in type 2 than you have Pitaja (pitta predominant) skin and corresponding to type 3 then you have Kaphaja (kapha predominant) skin. You can also have a combination of these primary skin type.
Skin as per Ayurveda
- TVAK or skin is regarded as a permanant indriya (sensory faculty) housing vata dosha in it.
- It is bestowed on the individual from the maternal factor. Hence the skin care has to begin even before an individual is born. During the antenatal period, the pregnant lady has to have a healthy and conductible food and lifestyle.
- Skin houses vata dosha, which give it a power of tactile sensations and awareness and a sub variety of pitta dosha Bhrajaka pitta, which give it a unique glow Skin is considered as the derivative of Rasa, the foremost among the Dhatus (structural element)/tissue). Skin is a structural entity made up of 7 distinct layers.
- Rasa is a direct product of proper digestion mechanism in the body. Therefore any digestive upsets are bound to have a negative effect on the skin. The maxim :
"You are what you eat".
Skin care routine (Three fold treasure of TVAK.)
1 . Abhyanga
 |
| Organic Sesame oil |
- Methodical application of medicated or plain oil (preferably sesame oil) or other unctuous medium over the skin for a specified time period Follow it up with steaming (sudation) till you sweat for better result.
Why should one do Abhyanga
Consider the following benefits:
- It provides attractive skin and face.
- Delays ageing.
- Ensures good sleep.
- Strengthens and sharpens the sensory organs.
- Strengthens the skull vault by regular massage
- Makes the hair strong rooted, long and dark.
- Prevents premature greying of hair and hair fall.
Note : Avoid this during the following conditions :
Recent onset of fever
Indigestion
And soon after eating, as the local circulation and formation of Rasa dhatu are hampered in the body.
2 . Udvartana
- Gentle rubbing of skin using herbal or medicinal powders. This can be done after abhyanga.
Why should one do Udhvartana?
Consider the following benefits"
- Clear away the dead skin cells.
- Stimulates the lymphatic system.
- Improves blood circulation.
3 . Lepa
- Application of unguents or pastes (can be applied locally to face / head/ ears or to the entire body based on the need.
Why should one apply lepas?
Consider the following benefits:
Avoid fungal/microbial/bacterialinfections
Has a healing action
Act as a sealent and a moisturizer.
Note
- Wipe off the Lepas within 40 minutes (when you noticed it dried do not allow it to completely dry and get cracked.
- Absolutely contraindicated to apply lepas during night hours.
Tips to keep the skin healthy
Prefer
Skin friendly food and lifestyle
- Navara Rice or red Rice
- Green Gram
- Himalayan pink rock salt
- Indian gooseberry
- Barley
- Ghee
- Honey
- Regular Abhyanga (based on skin type)
- Regular physical exercise for at least 20=25 minutes
- Yoga Asanas like :
- Halasana (Plough Pose)
- Sarvangasana (Shoulder stand)
- Shirshasana (Headstand)
- Uttanasana (Standing forward fold)
- Matsyasana (Fish Pose)
- Trikonasana (Triangle pose)
- Bhujangasana (Cobra Pose)
- Ushtrasana (Camel Pose)
- Pavanmuktasana Wind releasing pose
- Chakrasana (Wheel Pose)
- Hydrate well but do not over hydrate (up to 1.5 liters of water)
- Take bath every day.
- Practice thankfulness and gratitude.
Avoid
Skin irritating food and lifestyle
- Dried meat
- Dried vegetable
- Tubers and stalk of lotus
- Coagulated/ congealed milk paneer
- Cream cheese
- Meat of pig/cow/buffalo
- Fish
- Curd
- Black gram
- Excessively greasy/ deep fried food
- Excess salty and sour food items
- Refined flour
- Uncooked radish
- Wrong food combinations
- Eg Fish +milk,
- Milk and dairy
- Sour and salty food
- Heating honey or drinking hot water after eating honey
- Milk +green leafy vegetable etc.
- Alcohol beverages and smoking.
- Suppression of body urges like vomiting, defecation and urination
- Consumption of food and drinks immediately after heavy physical exertion, this overwhelms the body leading to poor digestion and toxin accumulation
- Day sleep
- Wearing wet cloths
- Unaddressed and unchecked feeling of resentment, anger, jealously etc.
- Excessasive thinking/mental work.
Self Help Home Remedies
- Prepare a powder by mixing equal quantity of turmeric, amla and neem leaves.1 teaspoon of this powder can be taken internally, once a day (for 7-10) days. with water in case Amla and neem are not available only 1/2 teaspoon of turmeric can be used.
- Boil the neem leaves everyday and wash the affected area. Soaps and shampoos should not be used on the affected area.
- Take 50 grams of powdered yellow sulphur and mix it with 250ml of mustard/coconut oil and apply the mixture over the affected part and it is better to expose to sun afterapplying this oil and wash after half an hour.
- Take 100 ml of coconut oil and add 5 grams of powdered camphor to it.. Put this mixture in a glass bottle, screw the cap tightly and keep the bottle in sunlight for 2 hours. Applying this mixture on the affected area is helpful.
- Taking soft or mild laxatives to clear the bowel is also beneficial in the treatment of skin disease. A teaspoon of triphala powder can be taken at bed time every night with warm water any other natural laxative such as figs, raisins, prunes can also be taken.
- Fresh juice of apricot leaves may be applied on affected parts of the body, it gives relief in eczema and scabies.
- Wheat grass juice can be taken daily
- Chandana and Haridra help in relieving ache.
- Consume fresh Aloe vera gel 2-3 spoonful's, every day morning on empty stomach.
Shodhana Chikitsa
It is a purificatory treatment where doshas are eliminated out of the body. The unique treatment called as Panchkarma in Ayurveda comes under this Shodhana chikitsa viz Vamana (emesis), Virechana (purgation),and Rakta Mookshana (blood letting.
The Shodhana chikitsa are usually carried out by admitting the patient in house as keen observation and monitoring of the patient is neccessary during this period.
Shaman Chikitsa (Palliative Treatment)
This is followed after purificatory treatment. This includes internal medicines, diet and lifestyle modifications. There are external treatments which includes. Lepa- which is a local application over the leisions by using various herbs. Abhyanga- Body massage using the oils. Kashaya dhara.
Medicated water using drugs poured over the body. Udwarthana Powder massage and Takra dhara unique preparation made out of drugs and buttermilk. Importance of applications seems to be more in "kshudra kushtas" on account of their quick action on the vitiated skin.
Administering Rasayana after shodhan help in avoiding reoccurrence of skin disease. As skin diseases are chronic, repetition of Panchkarma treatment is required.
In short the main treatment includes
- Nidana Parithyaga (avoid all causative factors)
- Follow the correct food habits and lifestyles.
- Do Shodhana therapy along with Shaman oushadi. Main treatment line for all types of Kushta is vaman (emesis Therapy) and virechana (purgation) therapy), raktamokshana. Poorvakarma includes snehapanam and swedanam.
Ayurvedic management of skin diseases
Skin diseases should be recognized and treated in the initial stage itself to safe guard our own health and also public health. Skin diseases are mostly deeply rooted into various dhatus/ tissues like blood, muscle, fat etc. Ayurvedic always tries to root out the disease by treating its specifically according to its cause. Ayurvedic treatment for skin diseases may take few weeks to months to remove the symptoms and disease.
Two main causes of any disease in Ayurveda are wrong diet and lifestyle.. Therefore those food and activities should be withdrawn first.. Since the skin disease are caused by vitiation or aggravation of one or more doshas, the line of treatment or selection of drugs is based on predominance of specific dosha which is causing the ailment.
Ayurveda explains two types of skin treatment which includes internal and external therapies called as antahparimarjana and bahiparimarjana/Shodhana and shaman chikitsa.
A few Ayurvedic medicinal plants with their Botanical names :
Herbs
- Kumari (Aloe vera)
- Haridra (Curcum longa)
- Ela ((Elettariacardamomum
- Khadira (Acacia catachu)
- Nimba or Neem (Azadirachta indica)
- Patola (Trichosanthus laciniosa)
- Bringraj (Eclipta alba)
- Yastimadhu (Glycyrrhizaglabra)
- Aragwada (Cassia fistula)
- Jatamansi (Nardostachys jatamansi)
- Shirisha (Albizia lebbeck)
- Kutaja (Haloarchaea antidysenterica )
- Daru Haridra (Berberis aristata)
- Mustha (Cyperus rotundus)
- Karanja (Pongamia pinnata)
- Vidanga (Emblica ribes0
- Malathi (Jasminum officinalis)
- Guduchi (Tinospora cardifolia)
- Amalkai (Emblica officinalis)
- Haritaki (Terminalia chebula)
- Vibhitaki (Terminalia bellarica)
- Katuka (Picrorrhiza kurrooa)
- Brihathi (Solanum indicum)
- Sariva (Hemidesmus indicus)
- Manjista (Rabia cardifolia)
- Devadaru (Cedrus deodara)
- Saptaparna (Alstonia scholaris)
- Palasha (Butea frondosa)
- Bakuchi (Psoralea corylifolia)
- Kushta (Saussurea lappa)
- Tikthaka (Balanites aegyptica)
- Sarshapa (Brassicacampestris
- Chakramarda ((Cassia tora)
- Asana (Pterocorpus marsupium)
- Trayanthi-Gentiana (kurroo)
https://skincaremadhublogs.blogspot.com/2022/07/essentials-for-skin-care.html
Comments
Post a Comment