Dry skin appears rough and dull, and it predisposes you to wrinkles and premature aging. In ayurvedic medicine, dry skin represents an imbalance of vata. Vata is one of the three doshas or constitutions, and your dosha directly influences your overall health. Healing dry skin begins with balancing your vata tendency. Your internal health is one of the most significant determining factors for skin health, according to Dr. Joseph Mercola, an osteopathic physician and health activist. Topical remedies can also help.
Vata Diet
Dr. Robert E. Svoboda, an aryuvedic physician and author of the book "Prakriti, Your Ayurvedic Constitution," states that a vata diet contains the flavors sweet, salty and sour. If you have a vata constitution, you should cook your your vegetables rather than eat them raw, and your best grains are well-cooked oats and rice. Other foods for this constitution include fruits, almonds, and moderate amounts of meat and dairy.
Dr. Savitha Suri, a Mysore, Karnataka-based physician, recommends you eat food that's fresh and warm and contains small amounts of clarified butter--also known as ghee--or olive oil. Avoid food that's stale, dry or overly fried. Drink plenty of warm water, at least eight glasses per day. Avoid drinking cold water, as it increases vata.
Coconut Oil and Neem
Suri recommends you apply a thin layer of coconut oil to your skin before finishing your bath or shower. After your bath or shower, pat your skin dry with a soft towel. If desired, substitute coconut oil with almond oil, ghee or avocado oil.
Neem is a tree that grows in South Asia, and its various parts are frequently used in ayurvedic medicine. You can use neem oil and neem leaves to heal a variety of skin conditions, including eczema, psoriasis, acne and rashes. Neem oil is rich in vitamin E and fatty acids, and you can apply it to your skin to restore moisture and elasticity.
Vata-Balancing Facial Moisturizer
Dr. John Douillard, a Boulder, Colorado-based chiropractor, practitioner of aryuveda and author of the book "The 3-Season Diet," recommends applying a facial moisturizer that contains the botanicals brahmi, bala, turmeric, amalaki, ashwaganda, shatavari and tulsi. These herbs work in concert to enhance circulation, stimulate skin repair, soften skin, and protect it from free radical damage and environmental pollutants.
Spices
According to Svoboda, all spices are good for vata. Spices enhance the flavor of food and can have a significant effect on your dosha. Ginger and garlic are beneficial for dry skin, and Asafetida is a powerful spice option too, notes Svoboda. Svoboda cautions that you should use all spices in moderation, as overindulgence may increase your vata.
Avoid or Control Skin Stressors
Other contributors to dry skin include exposure to cold weather and a dry climate, indoor heat, hot showers, genetics, nutritional deficiencies and a poor diet, and chlorine in swimming pools, along with harsh soaps, cosmetics and other chemicals, certain medications and some underlying health conditions, including hypothyroidism and eczema. Work with a licensed naturopathic physician or a holistic health care provider to receive individualized care for your condition.
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