Dry skin can be itchy and flaky. No matter how much you moisturize your skin or how many creams you try to apply externally, it may not go away. Most often, people with Vata prakriti who have a naturally dry constitution, or a Vata imbalance, tend to experience this dryness because of their lifestyle and eating habits.
In both these cases, Ayurveda has solutions.
I’m going to tell you how to tackle dry skin in a simple, easy way.
Dry Skin Is Not Just a Surface Problem
First of all, understand that this is a systemic condition. That means your skin being dry has its root cause in the gut. So, whatever you try to do externally is only going to give you temporary relief.
Modern medicine advises hydrating creams to help with dryness. But are hydrating creams really helpful?
The answer is very simple.
Just imagine yourself taking a shower. When you come out of the shower, do you feel moisturized or oily? Or just imagine going for a swim. After you come out of the water, does the skin feel very soft, and moisturized? Or do you feel your skin is dry and tight?
If water was hydrating and moisturizing, you should be feeling moisturized after that and not dry.
So first understand this: water is not moisturizing. Anything water-based is only going to dry you out because water is dry.
So, what is the opposite of dryness? It is not wetness, it is oil.
The Fundamental Ayurvedic Principle for Dryness: Oil, Not Water
So, the fundamental way to prevent dryness is to use oil.
Now what oil should you use?
When we talk about oils for skin, most people think of coconut oil, one of the most popular oils in the world. I have also seen many modern doctors advising coconut oil for dryness. But does it really work?
The answer is no.
Coconut oil is a drying oil. If you don’t believe me, just apply coconut oil on your skin for a day and see how your skin feels the next day. Your skin may feel even drier.
So, the best Ayurvedic oils that are great for preventing dryness externally are Vata-subsiding oils. And what is the most important and most effective Vata-subsiding oil in the world?
It is organic black sesame oil.
Dry Skin According to Ayurveda
Most skin dryness conditions are chronic. According to Ayurveda, skin diseases come under what is called Kushta.
Dryness of skin can be due to Vata imbalance, and if associated with itching, it could be a Kapha imbalance. If associated with redness, it could be a Rakta imbalance or a Pitta imbalance.
But the primary imbalance is always Vata if you have dryness.
So let us talk about the simple case of pure Vata-imbalanced dryness, and what remedies you can do at home to help with this.
The Treatment for Vata Is Nourishment
The treatment for Vata is simple: nourishment. We call this treatment Brimhana.
Where is Vata located in our body? It is the large intestine.
So to control Vata, your bowel has to be treated too.
You cannot have constipation. You have to pass stool every single day. It shouldn’t be hard. If you have constipation, make sure that you consult an Ayurvedic doctor and remedy it correctly, because that is your first line of treatment, correcting your bowel.
You also know Ayurvedically that the large intestine is connected to the mind. So if you have too many thoughts going on in your mind, that can also cause a lot of Vata imbalance and hence more dryness.
The central nervous system is connected to your large intestine. And who rules the central nervous system? It is Vata.
On the days when you have extreme overthinking, too many things happening in your mind, you may notice that you have constipation or more dryness on the skin, because everything is connected through Vata.
So, we have to treat that too.
Calm the Mind to Calm Vata
The mind needs to be corrected. The mind needs to be pacified.
Do more grounding exercises. Do more yoga. Because if your mind is all over the place, the more activity the mind has, the more the problems of Vata.
What to Do for Dry Skin at Home: Ayurvedic Remedies
1. Do Abhyanga Daily with Warm Black Sesame Oil
Include Abhyanga daily with warm organic black sesame oil every day on your skin. Your body needs it, and there is no excuse for it. it has to be a non-negotiable part of your schedule.
2. Use Ghee for Dry Patches
If you have dry patches or certain localized areas where you have more dryness, you can use a simple cream that you can make with ghee at home. It is called Shatadhauta Ghrita.
I have made a detailed video about this on my YouTube. You can follow that and make this at home, and it will help relieve dry patches.
3. Bathe in Warm Water
Make sure that you bathe daily in warm water. If you add a couple of drops of sesame oil, this helps to lock in moisture.
4. Avoid Harsh Soaps and Cleansers
Avoid harsh cleansers and soaps. Use a herbal bath powder to wash off excess oil instead of soaps.
The herbal bath powder that I make in my clinic is great for this. You can get it on the WhatsApp number given in the description.
5. Use After-Shower Body Oil Instead of Creams
After shower, use an after-shower body oil and apply it all over the body.
Use this instead of creams and other moisturizers. Oils give long-lasting moisturization compared to creams and lotions.
6. Use a Humidifier if You’re in a Dry Environment
Dryness of skin can also be aggravated if you are in a cold and dry environment, especially if you are sitting under a fan for a long time or under AC for long hours.
Make sure that you use a humidifier at home to lock in moisture in the air.
7. For Facial Dryness, Use Nourishing Face Packs
If you have a lot of dryness on your face, you can use Shatadhauta Ghrita.
You can also use homemade face packs with avocado, turmeric, honey, and banana for relieving facial dryness.
The Most Important Part: Your Diet
Your diet should be nourishing.
Start your day with Ojas tea, as it nourishes all your tissues from your plasma to your reproductive juices, and also increases vitality due to the presence of licorice in it.
Drink warm water and herbal teas throughout the day to stay hydrated.
Make sure that your diet has an ample amount of good fats. The simplest way to do this is to cook your dishes in ghee and include nuts, seeds, dates, chickpeas, and other nourishing foods in your diet every day.
Ayurvedic Medicines I Use for Dryness in My Patients
Now let’s talk about Ayurvedic medicines that I give for dryness to my patients.
All medicines are individualized. They are based on the patient. So I am going to share a couple of medications that I have given to my patients, and both of these are in ghee form.
When you give any medicine in ghee form, you have to make sure the digestion is proper. So first, you have to prepare the body, and once the body has reached a certain level of digestive power or Agni, then we proceed to giving the ghee.
For your knowledge, I will share these two ghee-based formulations with you:
- Mahatikta Ghritam
- Panchatikta Ghritam
If you have good digestion and you don’t have digestive issues like gas, bloating, acidity, acid reflux, heartburn, loose motions, constipation, incomplete emptying, etc., then you can consume this ghee after dinner, 2–3 teaspoons after food, followed by a glass of warm water.
If you have digestive issues or a Kapha-increased body with conditions like diabetes, PCOS, obesity, fibroids, etc., then this ghee could be heavy for you.
So please consult me, any of my team doctors, or any qualified Ayurvedic doctor, and fix your condition before you start taking these formulations.
I hope this was useful to you.
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