Back to article list

Ayurvedic Skin Care

Skin care in Ayurveda really is beauty from the inside out. It is the balance of our inner health that determines the vitality and lustre of our skin. We can pile on as much cream and oil as we like but if the inner metabolism is cock-a-hook then it all may be in vain! Whilst it is important to use external creams and oils it is also vital to remember the inside that actually makes the outside! I want to look at some of the theories behind Ayurvedic skin care and then give you some great Ayurvedic ideas for caring for your skin.

In discussing the skin we need to look at some of the Ayurvedic perspectives on skin. This includes discussing the role of the plasma tissue, blood tissue, pitta dosha and the strength of the digestive fire. The simple and beautiful theory of Ayurveda describes how you can easily take control of your skin health and keep it glowing and lustrous.

Rasa Dhatu- The Plasma Tissue

The first tissue that is nourished by the food that we eat is rasa dhatu or the plasma tissue. Plasma tissue is the sweet, transparent, sticky liquid that flows with the blood. Along with making parts of blood, lymphatic fluid and nourishing all the mucus membranes of the body the plasma tissue also makes skin. A sign of a healthy plasma tissue is a glowing and healthy skin that is smooth, soft and beautiful without moles or pimples and it is also a uniform colour. Another function of the plasma tissue is to regulate the menstrual cycle. A healthy cycle is another sign of a healthy plasma tissue and an imbalanced cycle often presents with skin problems as well.

Pitta Dosha - The Fire Principle

Another important factor in skin health is the pitta dosha. This is the functional principle responsible for managing all hormonal cycles in the body. It is also responsible for managing metabolism in the body and frequently manifests through signs of heat, redness and inflammation. It is easy to see how something like eczema or acne may have a pitta component. The other feature of pitta is that it is intimately related to blood tissue and it travels in blood tissue. If pitta becomes too high then it can heat the blood and hot blood creates flushed skin, redness, pimples, inflammations as well as anger and irritability.

The Digestive System

In Ayurveda the root of all disease is the digestive system. A balanced digestive fire can transform what we eat into a nutritious essence that nourishes the different tissues of the body. So, keeping your digestion healthy is key.

The best tips for keeping your digestion healthy are:

Leave 4-6 hours between meals- no snacking!

Don’t eat until the previous meal is digested when the breath is clean and the body feels light.

Eating in between meals weakens the digestive fire

Eating cold, wet, heavy foods weakens digestive fire

Drink hot water to stimulate the digestive fire and clean away toxins- it’s a bit like washing plates, cold water just does not do the trick, whilst hot water dissolves dirty plates straight away. Ginger water is also very good for enkindling the digestive fire.

Try taking some Asafoetida formula or Trikatu before food if your digestion is feeling a bit sluggish.

Skin Tips

Take organic Aloe Vera every morning on an empty stomach. It is known as ‘kumari’ in Sanskrit which means ‘princess’ or ‘young maiden’ as Aloe Vera is known to keep you looking healthy and young. It helps to clear excess pitta, to nourish plasma tissue and to clean the liver.

Take organic rose water as a most delicious drink to rejuvenate the skin. Put 1 teaspoon of organic rose water in a glass of pure mineral water- pure heaven!

Another good idea is to wash your face in organic rose water; its mild astringency tones, cleans and strengthens the skin and you sm