Did you know that the skin is an organ? Specifically, the largest organ in the body and the one that protects and defends us against external agents. It is also the first to react to stress and negative emotions, which can lead to unhealthy skin.
According to Ayurveda, India's ancient medicine, to prevent damage to our skin we must give it comprehensive care, not only by treating it from the outside, but also from the inside to always have healthy and radiant skin. Below we talk about Ayurveda and the skin:
The skin: the largest organ in the body. How does it work?
The skin is the largest organ in the body and completely covers it. It serves as protection against different external agents such as light, heat, injuries, or infections, but it also serves the following purposes:
- Regulates body temperature.
- Stores water and fat.
- It is a sensory organ.
- Prevents water loss.
- Prevents the entry of bacteria.
- Acts as a barrier between the body and the environment.
Likewise, the skin is divided into three layers with specific functions: the epidermis, dermis, and hypodermis, which is the subcutaneous fat layer.
Common skin problems
Because it is so exposed, the skin tends to suffer from common problems that can be the result of external agents, internal agents, or both. Skin problems usually appear due to one or more of these factors:
- Genetics.
- Hormones.
- Infections.
- Extreme cold.
- Overexposure to the sun.
- Immune system problems.
These are the most common skin problems:
- Acne: one of the most typical complications and very common in adolescence, although it can occur at any age. It is usually due to hormonal changes.
- Atopic dermatitis: typical of the face, hands, feet, and skin folds or creases, as well as one of the most common forms of eczema observed in children. Although its exact cause is unknown, it is believed that it may be related to genetics, the environment, or the immune system.
- Shingles: this type of problem also presents fever, fatigue, and headaches. It is caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox, so anyone who has had chickenpox is very likely to suffer from shingles at some point in their life. Older people and those who have a weakened immune system are more prone to suffer from this and other more common skin problems.
- Urticaria: hives cause inflamed and reddish wheals that cause itching on the skin. It is usually due to a reaction to medications, foods, or insect bites. It is important to consult a doctor so that the swelling does not end up creating more serious problems, such as respiratory problems.
- Rosacea: a chronic inflammation of the face with redness, prominent blood vessels, and pimples. It is due to problems with the immune system, veins, or environmental factors.
- Basal cell carcinoma: the most common type of skin cancer. It manifests through small reddish, scaly, and shiny-looking bumps that usually appear on the neck, ears, nose, and/or head.
The 7 Layers of the Skin According to Ayurveda
According to Ayurveda, the skin is divided into seven layers:
- Avabhasini: the layer of pigmentation, freckles, spots, marks, red acne on the face, where moisture settles. (epidermis)
- Lohitha: the layer of blood vessels, skin nourishment, and therefore the skin's health. (epidermis)
- Shwetha: where adipose tissue is found, where color is imparted, where cracks appear, where the skin splits, in lesions such as eruptions. Here temperature is regulated. (epidermis)
- Thamra: the layer of pigmentation, reddish copper color, the area of white spots, vitiligo, and leprosy. (epidermis)
- Vedini: the layer of the sense of touch, the site of erysipelas or widespread and painful inflammatory spots. (dermis)
- Rohini: the layer of growth and healing, the site of glands (granthi) and painful enlargements, tumors, elephantiasis, cysts, goiter. (dermis)
- Mamsadhara: attached to the muscle underneath, it is the widest of all layers, the site of fistulas, hemorrhoids, and abscesses. (hypodermis)
As we can see, each layer has its function and is necessary to keep our skin healthy. It is important that we address the root cause of skin problems to prevent more problems in different layers of the skin. An imbalance in any layer would cause an imbalance in our doshas, and vice versa.
That is why Ayurveda always focuses on keeping the 3 doshas in balance through a healthy diet and herbal skin care (the principle is: if you cannot ingest it, you should not put it on your skin).
The easiest skin conditions to solve are always superficial: those in Avabhasini and Lohitha. Below we give you some tips to keep it healthy:
Tips for Maintaining Healthy Skin
In addition to maintaining a skincare routine, if you follow some basic tips you will keep your skin healthy thanks to a healthy lifestyle. This way, you will delay the natural aging of the skin and be able to prevent the main problems we have mentioned.
These are some tips for maintaining healthy skin:
- Protect yourself from the sun: one of the most important ways to care for your skin is to protect it from the sun, since if you expose it too much, wrinkles, age spots, and other problems will appear, such as an increased risk of skin cancer. To do this, use sunscreen, seek shaded areas, and wear clothing that protects your skin from the sun's rays.
- Don't smoke: smoking is one of the most dangerous habits for overall health. Smoking gives your skin an aged appearance and forms wrinkles, in addition to giving the skin a paler appearance and harming skin elasticity.
- Treat your skin gently: when cleansing and shaving your skin, do it carefully. Limit the duration of your bath, since hot water or prolonged showers and baths remove the natural oils from the skin, and avoid harsh soaps. Shave carefully and dry yourself by patting your body so that the skin stays slightly damp.
- Maintain a healthy diet: eating well will help you look and feel better. Eat fruit, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins. A diet low in unhealthy fats and processed or refined carbohydrates could promote younger-looking skin. Also drinking plenty of water helps keep the skin hydrated.
- Manage stress: when stress gets out of control it can negatively affect your mental and physical health, even triggering acne breakouts and skin problems. To avoid stress, sleep well, make time for yourself, exercise, enjoy your hobbies, and set healthy boundaries.
Natural Skin Remedies: Which Are the Best?
Cold-pressed natural oils are very beneficial for skin health due to their high vitamin and mineral content. Each oil has a different natural composition that serves different doshas. A tridosha oil (for the 3 doshas) is argan oil, whose properties make it suitable for keeping the skin rejuvenated and well cared for, since it gives elasticity to the skin. It also softens chapped lips and promotes healing after shaving and hair removal.
Another tridosha oil that is very beneficial is rosehip oil, perfect for dry skin, mature skin, combination skin, and oily skin. This type of oil is an excellent regenerating and repairing agent, so it is great for scars and for fighting acne in the epidermis.
We recommend that you prepare an Ayurvedic facial mask (lepa) according to your dosha 2 or 3 times a week to keep the skin healthy. A tridosha pack (for the 3 doshas) that we recommend is the combination of 1 tablespoon of ghee, 1 of turmeric, 1 of multani mitti, and 1 of amla. Do not let it dry on the skin. Rinse the skin with cold water and apply an oil rich in vitamin E (such as argan oil or rosehip oil) to reduce oxidative stress and strengthen the skin barrier.
In our online store you can find these and other 100% natural oils to care for your skin and hair, including a kit with four cold-pressed oils or a facial wood therapy kit to make facial massages easier. If you have questions about your dosha or Ayurvedic routine, you can contact us or book our Ayurveda introduction service.