The Ayurveda Experience Blog
Do you sometimes think that your skin looks and feels like a lizard? Most of us have dealt with dry skin issues and know the feeling. It’s important to know that dry skin is more than just an external problem of the skin. It’s actually an indication of an imbalance of vata dosha which is a common imbalance that can be managed with the right diet and lifestyle.
Consult an Ayurvedic practitioner or Ayurvedic Health Counselor to learn the right diet for you. In the meantime, get some relief from the itchiness and scratching with these simple tips. Start today for beautiful, smooth, soft to the touch skin.
1. Read your labels as closely as you would read any good article or book
Did I say read? Yes, I did indeed. Is alcohol listed anywhere on the ingredient list? If so, then this product is not helping your dry skin problem. Alcohol has a drying effect on the skin. So using an alcohol based product to help with dry skin is sort of an oxymoron. The bottom line is that it probably is not helping the situation, and may be contributing to the problem. Change over to a no-alcohol product right away. If you are having trouble finding no-alcohol products, natural handmade products are a great way to go. You can also search the beauty aisle of your local natural foods store.
2. Exfoliate
Exfoliation is the removal of dry, dead skin. Your body usually does this naturally, but as we age this process may get slower, resulting in buildup. Any exfoliation should be gentle on the face, and slightly more aggressive on the body. For the face use a facial scrub. Exfoliate the face once to three times a week. For the body use a natural bristle brush with a natural soap. Exfoliate the body daily in the shower or bath. What about the feet? It is best to use a pumice stone, or an exfoliation tool right after your shower or bath. Then apply an oil or moisturizer.
3. Oil Your Skin
If you want to use the best product for your dry skin, generally it will be an organic, plant based natural oil. Ayurvedic choices to balance the dry or vata element would be sesame, olive or almond. Oil nourishes the skin and lubricates it in a way that lotion does not. However, many people do not like the feel of oil on their skin. Lotion is still beneficial, just not the gold standard, so to speak. If you are using oil for the face, apply only a few drops to your fingers and rub into damp skin. If you are using a facial moisturizer, also apply after cleansing over damp skin. For the body, apply your moisturizer of choice after your bath or shower on damp skin also.
4. Try Abhyanga
Simply defined abhyanga is the oiling of the body. Abhyanga not only relaxes the body, but also lubricates the skin and can contribute to your overall health. By massaging the oil into your body you are increasing circulation and blood flow in the skin. This greatly improves the appearance of the skin. How often should you do an abhyanga routine? Every day is nice, but if this is not possible then once a week is still beneficial.
5. Timing is everything
Timing is key in addressing dry skin. Make sure to start your dry skin routine sooner rather than later. The best time to start a routine is late summer before you have a problem, or before vata season (fall and early winter). Timing of when to apply your moisturizer of choice is also important. It is best after you wash your face and body and best applied when the skin is damp not dry. This is so your moisturizer traps the water on the skin which aids in keeping the skin moisturized. Lastly timing is key for addressing any symptom that may result in an imbalance in your body. Dry skin can be an indication of a health problem. Especially if you have never had an issue with dry skin before. It is advisable to get an Ayurvedic consultation to rule out an imbalance.
So there you have it, five steps to amazing skin. Dry skin can be improved with this simple routine. Remember if your dry skin is a result of an imbalance in your body, then it might take a bit longer for your body to correct this. But, by using these steps you should see amazing results and the only lizard skin you might see is where it belongs – on a lizard in the wild!
Photo: Morguefile.com
