Skin is the seat of a sense organ. The senses of touch,
temperature, pain, pressure are felt by it. A healthy skin
always looks attractive even when devoid of make up. The
first step in the holistic ayurvedic approach to skin care is
finding out your ayurvedic skin type.
Vata skin is in generally dry, thin, delicate and cool to the
touch, easily gets dehydrated, and is very vulnerable to the
influence of dry windy weather. Vata skin may age faster, and
tends to be dry, rough and flaky when out of balance.
Pitta skin type tends to be fair, sensitive, soft, warm, and
of medium thickness.
Less tolerance to hot food, less
tolerance to fieriness in temperament. Pitta skin types tend
to be more prone to freckles and moles than the other skin
types. When out of balance, Pitta skin can flare up in
rashes, rosacea, acne, or sunspots.
Kapha skin tends to have all the qualities of water and earth
-- it can be oily, thick, pale, soft, cool and more tolerant
of the sun. Kapha skin tends to age slower and form less
wrinkles than the other two types. Kapha skin types may
struggle with dull complexion, enlarged pores, excessive oil,
blackheads, and pimples, moist types of eczema and water
retention.
"Combination" skin can be Vata-Pitta, skin that is both dry
and sensitive, Kapha-Pitta-skin is oily and sensitive, and
Vata-Kapha- skin that is generally dry with some oily zones.
Skin Care tips for your ayurvedic skin type
Vata Skin Care
For Vata skin to stay youthful, skin care products used
should be very nurturing. 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.
Going to bed on time, eating 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.
Pitta Skin Care
The Pitta skin type needs both cooling and nurturing. 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 photosensitivity. But like other ayurvedic herbs,
it needs to be used in combination with other herbs for a
balanced effect on the skin.
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 gentle exfoliating clay can help
external cleansing. Kapha skin types may also need to take
herbal formulations to cleanse the skin from within.
