Ayurveda for Dry Skin

Developed over 5,000 years ago in India, Ayurveda is a holistic system of health care that promotes equilibrium of mind, body and environment. Ayurvedic medicine uses a variety of dietary and herbal treatments to address imbalances arising in the body, such as dry skin. Although dry skin appears as an external condition, the ayurvedic tradition believes that its causes originate inside your body and recommends treatments that promote internal balance as well as topical remedies.

Ayurvedic Health

In Ayurveda, each person has an essential constitution, or dosha -- vata, pitta, or kapha -- based on their unique combination of the basic elements of wind, water, fire and earth. Your dosha determines your body type, appetites and sensitivities, and when in balance, promotes optimal health and functioning. However, stress, environmental irritants and diet can negatively affect your dosha and produce illness or other health conditions, like dry skin. Ayurveda accounts for not only the physical components of well-being, but also considers the social and environmental factors that contribute to health, and prescribes treatments tailored to the particular needs of the individual.

Dry Skin

Dry skin is common and characterized by itching, flaking, roughness or cracks in the epidermal layer. It occurs most frequently in cold environments and is also associated with aging and prolonged sun exposure. Excessive dryness dulls the skin's appearance and makes it more prone to bacterial and fungal infections. Dr. H. Hashizume of the Department of Dermatology at Hamamatsu University School of Medicine in Japan reports in his August 2004 article in the "Journal of Dermatology" that regular use of moisturizers help protect the skin from dryness and can offset some of the natural drying that occurs with age.

Dry Skin and Ayurveda

Ayurveda considers dry skin a result of an imbalance of vata, the dosha that governs winter and is associated with wind and air. The increase of vata dosha depletes kapha dosha, which helps preserve needed oils in your body. Ayurvedic practitioner, Dr. Savitha Suri, of the Chaitanya Integrated Medical Center in Mysore, India suggests that dry skin is aggravated by cold climates, lack of environmental humidity, excessive exercise, irregular sleeping and eating patterns, and the consumption of spicy, dry and bitter foods.

Ayurvedic Food Remedies

Ayurveda recommends that you increase the lipid content of your diet and include more healthy oils, such as coconut and sesame oils, and oil-rich foods, such as avocados, nuts and seeds, as well as ghee. Dr. Pratima Raichur, an Ayurvedic physician and dermatologist recommends drinking warm, as opposed to cold, water as well as fresh fruit juices. Adding aloe vera juice to your diet also helps boost the skin's moisture and clarity. Eat fresh fruits and vegetables rich in antioxidants, which help promote collagen growth and protect the skin from the wear and tear caused by harmful environmental exposure. When added to meals, turmeric, coriander, cumin and ginger root provide not only flavor, but also relief from dryness.

Ayurveda Topical Treatments

Dr. Raichur advocates the use of neem oil for dry skin. Derived from the Indian neem tree, this powerful oil has the added benefit of being antibiotic, antibacterial and antifungal, and helps create a soft and glowing complexion. Regularly messaging your body with coconut oil and oils infused with herbs serves to soothe rough and dry skin, and creates a barrier to lock in moisture. To protect against dry skin and prevent further aggravation, avoid astringent substances, alcohol-based toners, and harsh soaps.