Ayurveda Dry Skin Treatments and Remedies
Living with itchy, flaky and textured skin can be annoying and irritating, right? It happens when there is insufficient moisture for skin hydration, to keep it soft and hydrated. Dry skin can occur for various reasons: can be caused by your birth or temporarily or seasonally.
Ayurveda has an all encompassing solution for this, targeting the root cause rather than offering temporary relief. Ayurveda treats both internally and externally emphasizing restoring the equilibrium within as well.
In this blog we are talking about the wellness of Ayurveda for treating dryness– Ayurveda dry skin treatment, herbal remedies, Ayurvedic oils, DIYs and more! If you’re seeking natural and herbal options to enhance your wellness then look no further. This is your one stop destination!
Understanding Dry Skin in Ayurveda
According to Ayurveda, dry skin is caused by Vata dosha imbalances. People dominant with the vata dosha tend to experience greater instances of dry skin. Vata dosha is characterized with features like dryness, coldness, roughness, clarity etc. Hence the increase in this dosha can result in dry and rough skin, chapped lips, dried mucus and more; dry skin may look thin, cold to touch, dried out, flaky and with wrinkles. So it is essential to manage vata dosha for a lasting relief from dryness.
Ayurvedic Herbs and Oils for Dry Skin
Ayurveda has a lot of effective herbal remedies and ayurvedic oils that can heal the dryness of skin, as follows:
Ayurvedic Oils for Dry Skin
- Sesame oil provides a warm, deeply moisturizing effect and is recommended for vata skin types.
- Kumkumadi oil or tailam is known as luxurious ayurvedic oil. It is highly beneficial for dry skin and has anti-aging properties.
- Using Almond oil that is rich in Vitamin E helps soften and boost skin hydration. It is perfect to use as body moisturizer or face oil.
- Massaging your skin with Coconut oil or applying a mask that made with coconut is excellent ways of moisturizing skin; it helps to soothe dry flaky skin. Remember it is better for dry skin, due to its comedogenic nature, it can cause pore clogging in oily and acne prone skin.
- Consuming or applying Ghee is one of the best remedies to treat dry and irritated sensitive skin.
- Jojoba oil is an ideal Ayurvedic oil that can be used directly on face or used as carrier oil with face serums. This oil closely mimics the natural oil in the face.
- Avocado oil is rich in vitamins A, D, and E, which are known to nourish and hydrate the skin. It is particularly useful for mature and extremely dry skin. This oil can be used as a facial moisturizer or used as an ingredient into face masks.
- Olive oil is highly moisturizing, with antioxidants that can repair and hydrate dry skin. A small amount of oil can provide deep hydration to the skin, making it soft, supple and glowing.
- Brahmi oil is soothing, cooling, and anti-inflammatory. Typically used in facial massages or treatments, it can help calm dry and inflamed skin.
Herbal Remedies for Dry Skin
There are many simple Ayurvedic treatments and therapies you can try at home for dry skin.
- Taking herbs like Ashwagandha, Shatavari, Vidari, helps you de-stress.
- Licorice and gooseberries can moisten the digestive tract and tissues in the body.
- Herbal teas made of triphala, chamomile, haritaki, marshmallow root, ginger root, licorice, and peppermint can benefit you by regulating vata and improving digestion, especially for people who tend to have constipation and bloating issues during the vata months.
- Applying paste of neem leaves on your face and body helps dryness.
- Sandalwood paste is oily in nature and can help dry skin.
- Aloe Vera’s moisturizing properties battle (and hair!) dry skin quickly and successfully.
- Make a decoction out of chamomile and strain it; apply this to skin to treat all kinds of skin ailments including allergies and bruises.
- You can try combinations like paste made from cumin, coriander, and fennel seeds; these are great at restoring moisture as well as exfoliating the skin.
- Barley and turmeric powder is one of the vata-pacifying combinations that has antioxidants, helps clear up your skin, and makes it look supple and youthful.
Dietary Tips for Vata Balance and Healthy Skin
In Ayurveda, what you eat is as vital as what you apply to your skin. To keep your skin hydrated, focus on foods to balance the vata.
Vata-Pacifying Foods:
- Healthy fats and oils in moderation – oils like coconut, olive and sesame, nuts and seeds provide lubricating oils to your system, increasing water and earth elements.
- Stews and soups full of veggies – vegetables are hydrating, but also cold and hard to digest when raw, which dampens digestive fire and only increases ether and air. Cook your veggies and enjoy them with warming spices like cumin, fennel and coriander to best incorporate their nutrients.
- Herbal Teas– Stay hydrated with teas made from ginger or licorice, which help combat internal dryness and support overall skin health.
- Fruits – fruits are some of the most hydrating foods, and can be lightly cooked to make them even more easily digested. Also it is good for skin health to incorporate fruits in your diet.
For personalized diet plans, consult with our Ayurvedic practitioner.
Ayurveda Dry Skin Treatment
Abhyanga (Oil Massage) —self-massage with the right kind of vata-balancing oils—is a popular and effective vata management technique. It lubricates any skin, bones, and body tissues that may be drying up due to excess vata. If vata is very high, experts recommend an abhyanga session 4–5 times a week using vata-pacifying oils such as rosewood, sandalwood, jasmine, ylang-ylang, sesame, almond, lemon, or orange.
Abhyanga provides much-needed warmth and stability to the body and mind, and helps regularly rid the body of toxic buildup. It gives your skin a supple quality; reduces bloating and water retention, and promotes longevity and well-being. Tridosha-balancing, abhyanga not only helps nourish dry skin, it lubricates and nourishes your body within and without.
Hydration
Drinking lukewarm water through the day with intervals can help you keep your body hydrated and prevents the side effects of dehydration like constipation and lack of clarity. Water can control your body temperature, lubricates the joints and also helps to remove waste from your body through urination, bowel movements and sweats. Other than water you can take alternatives for hydration, like herbal teas, juices, warm soups, watery vegetables etc. Also try to drink water consistently throughout the day with intervals instead of drinking too much water at once, since the body regulates the water balances.
DIY Ayurvedic Remedies for Dry Skin
Want to try some Ayurvedic treatments at home? Here are a couple of simple DIY recipes:
1. Moisturizing Face Pack
Mix 1 tablespoon of honey, 1 teaspoon of Kumkumadi oil and a pinch of turmeric– apply the pack on your face; after 15 minutes rinse with lukewarm water for glowing, hydrated skin.
2. Nourishing Body Oil
Mix 1/4 cup of sesame oil with 2 drops of sandalwood essential oil– massage this into your skin after bath to lock in moisture and keep your skin soft all day.
Conclusion
Ayurveda offers holistic solutions for dryness by treating both internally and externally. By balancing the vata dosha using ayurveda dry skin treatments, herbal oils and a consistent skin care routine could give you a long term hydration and lasting relief from dry skin.
Want to experience the holistic wellness of Ayurveda for your thirsty skin? Visit us at Ayurclinic for personalized treatments and care made for you, to keep your skin soft, nourished, and radiant.