| The first step in the holistic Ayurvedic
approach to skin care is finding out your ayurvedic skin type.
Vata, Pitta and Kapha are ayurvedic
psycho-physiological principles called doshas. They govern all the activities
of the mind and body and determine the physical characteristics and emotional
and mental tendencies of every human being. These three principles are
combinations of the five elements - Vata, for example is mostly air and space,
Pitta is mainly fire and water and Kapha is primarily earth and water. A
person's ayurvedic skin type, therefore, can be Vata, Pitta or Kapha, or
sometimes a combination of two of these doshas.
"Further, a person can be born a certain skin-type,
but over time, that type may change because of external factors such as climate,
diet and lifestyle habits or environmental pollution. Such "imbalances" should
also be taken into account when choosing a skin care program," advises
Mishra.
Vata skin is in general dry, thin, cool to the
touch, easily gets dehydrated, and is very vulnerable to the influence of
dry windy weather. Pitta is mostly fire, so the Pitta skin type tends to
have more breakouts, photosensitivity, less tolerance to hot food, less tolerance
to fieriness in temperament. Pitta skin looks ruddy, and is warm to the touch.
Pitta skin types tend to be more prone to freckles and moles than the other
skin types. Kapha dosha is predominantly water and earth, so Kapha skin tends
to have all the qualities of water and earth -- it can be greasy, thick,
and more tolerant of the sun.
"Combination" skin can be Vata-Pitta, skin that
is both dry and sensitive, Kapha-Pitta, or oily and sensitive skin, and
Vata-Kapha, skin that is generally dry with some oily zones. The ayurvedic
approach to caring for combination skin takes into account environmental
and seasonal factors. For example, a person with Vata-Pitta skin would follow
the recommendations for Pitta skin in summer and Vata skin in winter. The
Kapha-Pitta type would follow Pitta recommendations in summer and Kapha
recommendations in winter. The Vata-Kapha type would be best served by generally
following Vata guidelines, with extra cleansing of the oily zones.
Caring for Vata Skin
"For Vata skin to stay youthful, skin care products
used should be very nurturing," says Mishra. "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."
A Vata-pacifying lifestyle -- like going to
bed on time, eating three 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.
Here are some suggestions for caring for Vata
skin:
Provide added nourishment to your skin by including
organic milk, whole grains and green leafy vegetables in your diet. Drink
lots of lukewarm water everyday for internal hydration. Eat plenty of sweet
juicy fruits, they help cleanse the body from within and provide hydration
as well. Include a little healthy fat such as Ghee (clarified butter) or
olive oil in your diet for added lubrication. A warm oil self-massage
is excellent for keeping skin lubricated. Use a gentle, all-natural moisturizer
to keep facial skin hydrated. Provide added deep lipid support with facial
oil. Get plenty of rest so your mind as well as your body have the opportunity
to recharge. Use a gentle, moisture-balancing cleanser and splash your face
with water several times when you cleanse.
Caring for Pitta Skin
"The Pitta skin type needs both cooling and
nurturing," says Mishra. "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 photo-sensitivity. But like other ayurvedic herbs,
it needs to be used in combination with other herbs for a balanced effect
on the skin.
To care for Pitta skin, follow these
guidelines:
Stay away from harsh, synthetic cosmetics; they
can damage your sensitive skin and cause break-outs. Avoid hot spicy foods
and an excess of deep-fried foods, they add heat to an already fiery
constitution. Eat lots of sweet juicy fruits and have some rose petal jam
in cool milk every day. The rose is considered cooling for mind, body and
emotions. Use a cooling oil, such as coconut oil, for the daily massage.
Cook with cooling spices such as fennel and licorice. Take extra care to
protect your skin when you go out in the sun. Use gentle, natural skin care
products for cleansing and moisturizing. Provide added lipid support, such
as a facial skin oil, every other day.
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 Mishra.
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.
Some suggestions for caring for Kapha skin:
Avoid too many sweet foods or deep-fried foods,
they add to the oiliness in the skin. Exercise everyday to improve circulation.
A daily warm oil massage can also help circulation. Eat plenty of organic
vegetables and fruits to help cleanse the body from within. Cleanse your
skin twice everyday; exfoliate with a mud-mask at least once a week. Cook
with warming spices such as ginger and black pepper to stoke the digestive
fire and inhibit the accumulation of ama inside the body.
Note - This information is educational and is
not intended to replace standard medical treatment or advice.
~~~~
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(C)Vasu Nargundkar, 2001
Vasu Nargundkar is the editor of several
ayurvedic newsletters published by Maharishi Ayurveda at
http://www.mapi.com. For more information
on ayurvedic skin care, or to subscribe to a free monthly newsletter on the
ayurvedic approach to skin care and beauty, please visit
http://www.mspa.com.
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