Chilly winters can be everyone’s most cherished season but because of its less appealing side effects it can be injurious to our bodies. Winters can take a toll on our skin, causing a range of issues affecting its health and appearance. Due to drop in temperature, dry air and indoor heats it leads to decrease in humidity owing to difficult time retaining moisture in our skin, which in turn, can result in dry and dehydrated skin, chapping, redness and worsening of skin conditions.
But it’s not a matter of concern anymore as Ayurveda got our back with natural Ayurvedic treatment for skin problems.
Therefore to diminish winter’s frightful effects it is important to follow a winter skin care routine including moisturiser and sunscreen with other Ayurvedic remedies that will help nourish and hydrate the body all day long.
Types of Winter Skin Problems
In Ayurveda, the skin is not merely an external covering to the body but a reflection of our internal well-being or overall health which is affected by both internal and external factors, including change in climatic condition. Winter skin problems are mostly due to imbalance of Vata Dosha.
1. Psoriasis
Psoriasis is a chronic skin condition caused by rapid buildup of skin cells, leading to thick, red and scaly patches. It is an autoimmune and non-contagious disease that can cause itching and discomfort.
Ayurvedic treatment for Psoriasis is mainly a balanced diet and lifestyle. While some Herbs or remedies are also very effective such as Neem, Turmeric, Aloe vera, Guggul or Panchakarma therapy.
2. Chapped Lips
Dry, Chapped lips often occur during the Winter season as a result of dehydration. The combination of chilli outdoors and heated indoors conspire to make the lips dry and cracked.
Chapped lips can be healed with the help of Ayurvedic treatment such as Coconut Oil, Ghee, Honey, Aloe Vera, Cucumber juice, Cocoa and shea butter.
3. Eczema
There’s a lot in the environment such as exposure to smoke, humidity and air pollution that can irritate our skin. Similarly, Eczema is a condition that causes dry, itchy and bumpy skin. This condition weakens the skin’s barrier function which is responsible for retaining the moisture of skin and protecting it from external elements.
Eczema can be treated with the assistance of Ayurvedic remedies such as Aloe vera, Oatmeal bath, Regular Yoga, Coconut and Sunflower seed oil.
4. Windburn
Windburn is a condition in which the skin becomes red, sore and painful. It usually occurs after the exposure to low temperature and low humidity. The cold, dry air strips away the natural oils from the top layer of skin.
Some Ayurvedic herbs such as Aloe vera, Oatmeal, Cucumber soothes the skin and Cocoa and Shea butter helps restore the moisture of the skin.
5. Cracked Heels
In Ayurvedic Literature, cracked heels are termed ‘Padadari’. Which is caused due to dry winter air and indoor heaters that steals the moisture of the skin, making the skin harden and cracked around the heels.
By adding healthy changes in diet such as Fruits, Cucumbers, Ash gourds, Ghee, Butter and Olive Oil, one can prevent cracked heels.
For top application Rose water or paste of fresh Neem leaves can be very advantageous.
6. Dandruff
Winter conditions can dry out the skin significantly, which aids in the development of dry, itchy and flaky skin causing Winter dandruff.
To reverse the dandruff, some herbal oils such as Brahmi, Neem, Kadipatta, Ayyapaia and coconut oil can be very beneficial.
7. Winter Skin Dryness
In winter, skin tends to dry out due to the combination of environmental and lifestyle factors. The cold, dry air of winter holds less moisture, topped with indoor heating systems, it results in low humidity that evaporates the moisture and natural oil’s from our skin which further causes intense dryness.
But worry not! Some Ayurvedic remedies are here to rescue, namely, Kumkumadi Oil, Aloe vera, Ashwagandha, Amla, Giloy, Triphala and Tulsi.
8. Winter Skin Rashes
Skin rash is a condition due to several factors such as chilli, dry air and indoor heating systems or long hot showers which soaks up the moisture of skin.
Due to heavy clothing in low temperatures, it provokes friction and sweating causing skin rash.
The most nourishing remedies outlined by Ayurveda for skin rash are Almond oil, Chamomile oil, Tree tea oil, Neem paste, Turmeric and Oatmeal bath.
Reasons for the rise of Winter Skin Problems
The rise in skin problems during winters can be attributed to various factors. The foremost factor is the cold and dry winter air which tends to deplete the moisture of our skin leading to dryness, itchiness and irritation. Due to low temperatures, constant use of hot showers can also strip the skin’s natural oil. Reduced exposure to sunlight can lead to deficiency in Vitamin D impacting skin health. In addition to these factors, heavy clothing is also one of them. To keep the body warm, people often cover themselves with different layers of clothing leading to friction and sweat, which can cause conditions like chafing.
How does Ayurvedic Treatment help?
Ayurvedic treatment offers a holistic approach in treating skin problems. It focuses on balancing the body’s doshas (Vata, Pitta and Kapha) to promote overall wellness of the body. Ayurvedic remedies are incorporated by natural ingredients such as herbs, oils and healthy dietary changes to detoxify the body and nourish skin from within. Ayurveda not only treats the symptoms of problems but it also focuses on the root cause of the problem. Unlike chemical products, they are more natural and leave no side effects. As Ayurveda treats naturally with a healthy diet and lifestyle, it provides long term relief and improvement in the skin health.
