Ayurveda Perspective: The Underlying causes of Skin Aging

As people get older, their skin can become thinner, more dried, and damaged. It can also start losing its vibrance and shine. While this is part of the aging process, environmental and genetic factors can also affect skin health.

Many factors can affect our skin health, including the food we consume, the type of diet we follow, how much stress we are under, how much sun we are exposed to, and the climate we live in.

According to Ayurveda, the doshas regulate every single process in the body. They control and maintain the body’s tissues (dhatu), waste products (mala), and digestion (agni).

When the doshas become imbalanced,  skin problems start showing and skin aging begins. This imbalance can be due to:

1- Poor dietary habits: according to Ayurveda, eating unhealthy and incompatible foods for your constitution (energetic makeup) is bad for skin health. These foods don’t nourish the skin and the body cannot digest them easily.

Undigested foods turn into a sticky substance called ama (toxins). When ama (toxins) builds up in the skin, blood, and organs like the liver, it triggers skin problems.

2- Poor lifestyle habits: people increase the risk of damaging their skin if they engage in poor lifestyle habits like lack of exercise or lack of sleep. These habits can disrupt the balance of the different doshas (energies) in the body, which allows toxins to accumulate and damage the skin.

3- Changes in the environment: changes in the weather  or climate can affect the balance of the body’s doshas (energies) and trigger skin problems. For example, rapid temperature changes tend to affect the skin, triggering rashes or causing skin dryness.

4- Stress: stress can cause the body’s three doshas (energies) to become imbalanced. This can speed up aging and cause wrinkles and blemishes to appear on the skin.

Learn everything about skin anti-aging and find all the natural solutions to improve skin health naturally, including various diet programs, alternative medicine, vitamins, supplements, herbal medicine, and home remedies.

Why Ayurveda helps fight Skin Aging

Ayurveda helps improve skin health and fight skin aging because it uses anti-aging herbs and oils that have specific ingredients to nourish the skin and promote youthfulness.

It also helps keep the skin glowing by detoxing the skin and the body.

How Ayurveda works for Skin Care

Ayurveda works to reduce skin aging by balancing the different doshas. In order to achieve this, Ayurvedic medicine uses a holistic approach that includes herbal treatments, special diet program, massage therapies, essential oils, facial oils, face masks, and lifestyle changes. 

According to Ayurveda, a person is just like the universe, made of five elements: space, air, fire, water, and earth.

These elements combine in the body to create three energies or doshas: vata, pitta, and kapha.

- Vata dosha consists of the elements of space and air. It is the energy of movement.

- Pitta dosha consists of the elements of fire and water. It is the energy of digestion and metabolism.

- Kapha dosha consists of the elements of water and earth. It is the energy that forms the different structures in the body, including the bones, muscles, and tendons. Kapha also provides the glue that helps the body move smoothly and holds all the cells together.

Ayurvedic Medicine for Skin Health: Treatment Protocol

Ayurvedic treatment to maintain skin health is specifically tailored to each individual’s case and looks at the dominant dosha in their constitution as well as their symptoms.

However, Ayurvedic skin treatments generally involve the following aspects:

A- Purvakarma treatments:

Purvakarma is Sanskrit for “foremost action.” It comprises herbal and oil treatments that loosen the accumulated toxins in the body. Ayurvedic medicine believes the toxins can cause skin problems.

Accordingly, purvakarma practices direct these toxins to specific waste and elimination centers in the body. They help prepare people for Panchakarma (detoxification therapies).

Purvakarma for skin health consists of three treatments:

1- Pachana (digestion therapy): a practice where herbal treatments are administered to the patient. These herbal formulations help the body digest and eliminate toxins that can permeate and damage the skin.

2- Snehana (oleation therapy): is a practice where oils, ghee (purified butter), or oils infused with herbs are applied to the body internally or externally. Snehana loosens the toxins that damage the skin and leads them to the body’s elimination centers, where they can later be expelled via panchakarma therapies.

3- Swedana (sudation therapy): is a practice that involves a thermal treatment to help release toxins through the skin. It typically occurs after oleation therapy as the oils help the body absorb the steam. It can target the entire body (bashpa swedana) or a specific part of the body (nadi swedana).

During swedana, the patient sits in a wooden box or room filled with herbal steam to eliminate the accumulated toxins that damage the skin by sweating. Ayurvedic practitioners recommend having a warm shower after swedana therapy to rejuvenate the skin.

B- Panchakarma treatments:

Panchakarma, which is Sanskrit for “five treatments,” is a five-step detox program in Ayurveda. These treatments help detoxify the body and restore balance to the vata, pitta, and kapha doshas to maintain skin health.

The five treatments are:

1. Vamana (medicated emesis)

2. Virechana (medicated purgation)

3. Vasti (medicated enema)

4. Nasya (nasal medication)

5. Raktamokshan (bloodletting)

An Ayurvedic practitioner would improve skin health using the following Panchakarma treatments:

1- Vamana (medicated emesis): a practice where patients undergo forced vomiting to eliminate toxins and remove the body’s excess kapha dosha from the intestine. This prevents the buildup of toxins that might damage the skin.

2- Virechana (medicated purgation): a practice where patients are given herbal treatments to induce diarrhea. It helps clear out toxins in the gut and restore balance to the pitta dosha. This helps prevent the buildup of toxins that might damage the skin.

3- Vasti/Basti (medicated enema): vasti is a practice where patients are given oils or liquids to help cleanse their colon. Basti is a practice where patients are given an herbal enema. Vasti helps get rid of toxins in the gut that might cause skin problems. It also helps prevent skin dryness.

4- Raktamokshan (bloodletting): a practice that involves withdrawing blood from the body via puncture wounds or incisions to restore balance to the pitta dosha. Raktamokshan improves skin health because it removes toxins that have accumulated in the blood that may cause skin inflammation.

C- Additional treatments:

Ayurveda practitioners may recommend additional treatments to improve skin health.

These treatments can be a part of Purvakarma and include:

1- Udvartana (powder massage therapy): is a practice where herbal powders like or oils infused with herbs are vigorously massaged into the body. It differs from abhyanga because the herbs are massaged into the body in the opposite direction of hair growth. The massage lasts for 30-45 minutes. Udvartana helps exfoliate the skin and opens up the skin’s pores to help it release toxins. It also improves circulation throughout the body, which nourishes the skin and keeps it healthy.

2- Abhyanga (massage therapy): is a practice where oils, ghee, or oils infused with herbs are massaged vigorously into the body to loosen the toxins in the body. Abhyanga also helps nourish the tissues, restores balance to imbalanced doshas, and relieves stress. It is also part of dinacharya (daily routine). Abhyanga helps rejuvenate the skin and prevent dryness.

D- Rasayana (Rejuvenation treatments):

In Ayurveda, rasayana, which is Sanskrit for “path of essence,” consists of practices that help rejuvenate and nourish the mind and body.

Rasayana practices include consuming herbal treatments or decoctions and maintaining a healthy and balanced diet. It also incorporates exercise, yoga, and a regular self-care routine (dinacharya) to maintain skin health.

1- Dietary Modifications:

The Ayurvedic diet aims to balance all three life energies or doshas in the mind and body. Patients should maintain a diet that restores balance to any of the body’s imbalanced energies to treat or prevent skin problems.

An Ayurvedic diet also prescribes eating specific foods as part of Purvakarma (preparatory treatments) before Panchakarma (detoxification therapies) to help loosen the accumulated toxins that have damaged the skin.

The diet eliminates these toxins and nourishes the skin because it restores balance to the imbalanced dosha that was triggering skin problems. It also increases circulation to the skin and supplies it with the nutrients it needs to heal and repair itself.

Patients should maintain the Ayurvedic diet even after they complete Purvakarma and Panchakarma therapies.

2- Herbal Treatments:

Ayurveda prescribes herbs or herbal treatments to improve skin health. The treatments are specifically tailored to the person’s symptoms. Practitioners prescribe different herbs depending on the person’s symptoms. Some of these herbs include:

- Tulsi (Holy Basil): an herb that has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that help protect the skin against any damage.

- Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera): an herb that has anti-inflammatory properties. It protects the skin from infections. It also increases collagen levels in the skin, preventing wrinkles.

- Triphala: an herbal treatment consisting of three different fruits, amalaki, bibhitaki, and haritaki. They help cleanse the gut and eliminate toxins from the body, which helps prevent inflammation that might damage the skin.

- Nimb (Neem): an antibacterial herb that helps eliminate toxins from the liver. It can be applied to the skin as an oil or as a paste to help regenerate the skin.

- Haldi (Turmeric): an herb that has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties and can soothe the skin and protect it from infections. It can be consumed as part of the patient’s diet or applied as a face mask.

- Yashtimadhu (Licorice): a bitter herb that has anti-inflammatory properties and can soothe the skin. It can be consumed as part of the patient’s diet or externally applied to the face.

- Kumari (Aloe vera): a nourishing and moisturizing herb that helps rejuvenate the skin when it is externally applied as a face mask or consumed with ghee or butter.

- Pudina (Mint): an herb that has anti-inflammatory effects on the skin. It also helps the skin retain moisture, which keeps it smooth and radiant. Pudina is externally applied to the face as a face mask.

- Chandan (Sandalwood): an herb that has moisturizing and antimicrobial properties that help soothe the skin when it is externally applied to the face, usually as a face mask.

3- Dinacharya (Routine):

Dinacharya or establishing a routine is one aspect of Rasayana that helps improve skin health and restores balance to the body and the mind.

To maintain skin health, dinacharya includes:

1- Adjusting dietary habits: Patients should eat foods at regular times. They should also eat healthy foods that help restore balance to the imbalanced dosha that is triggering skin issues. An Ayurvedic diet stimulates agni (digestive fire). This prevents the buildup of ama (toxins) that might seep into the skin and cause skin problems.

2- Regulating sleeping habits: Patients also need to adjust their sleeping habits and begin sleeping at regular times every night. A good night’s sleep helps the skin repair itself.

3- Exercising regularly: Patients should engage in physical activity every day at regular times to stabilize all the doshas, which prevents skin issues. Sweating during exercise helps the body get rid of toxins that might affect skin health. It also increases circulation throughout the body, which helps the skin receive the oxygen and nutrients it needs to rejuvenate and repair itself.

4- Practicing yoga: Patients should practice at least 10 minutes of yoga every day. Specific yoga asanas or poses help improve circulation throughout the body, rejuvenate the skin, and prevent wrinkles.

5- Practice breathing exercises: Patients should practice “pranayama” or breathing exercises to increase mindfulness and relieve stress. Pranayama also detoxifies the blood and increases blood circulation throughout the body, which improves skin health.

6- Massaging yourself: Patients should give themselves an oil or herb massage every day to help the excess doshas move out of the body. Massages can also help the body get rid of cellulite and stretch marks.

Ayurvedic Medicine for Skin Health: recommendations

- Eat meals regularly: Eating meals at regular times helps establish a routine. It also improves digestion and prevents toxins to accumulate in the body.

- Exercise regularly: Engage in physical activity for 30 minutes every day to restore balance to all the doshas. Sweating during exercise helps the body eliminate toxins that might damage the skin. It also increases circulation to the skin, which helps the skin nourish and repair itself.

- Sleep well: Maintain a regular sleep schedule and get at least 7 hours of sleep. Sleep helps the body repair any damage to the skin.

- Practice yoga: Practice at least 10 minutes of yoga, including pranayama or breathing techniques every day to relieve stress and rejuvenate the skin.

- Practice activities that increase mindfulness: Practice meditation for at least 20 minutes every day. Meditation helps relieve stress and increases emotional well-being. Pranayama breathing exercises also help increase mindfulness.

Lifestyle tips:

- Maintain a skincare routine: try to maintain a skincare routine that fits your skin type to help cleanse, nourish, and moisturize your skin.

- Moisturize your skin: try to keep your skin moisturized to prevent skin dryness and strengthen the skin barrier.

- Drink lots of water: drink at least 6-8 glasses of water every day to keep the skin moisturized and healthy.

Foods to eat:

According to Ayurveda, people should eat foods that correspond to their constitution to improve skin health.

• People with vata skin should eat warm, heavy, and sweet foods such as avocados, bananas, figs, asparagus, red beets, carrots, and sweet potatoes.

• People with pitta skin should eat cooling foods like apricots, bananas, cherries, avocados, and coconut.

• People with kapha skin should eat light, warm, and bitter foods such as artichokes, spinach, apples, and lemons.

The following spices are good for all skin types: cinnamon, pepper, mustard, mint, fenugreek, fennel, parsley, and coriander.

Herbs to use:

The following herbs and herbal preparations are beneficial for skin health because they decrease inflammation in the body and help the skin repair itself.

These herbs include:

- Tulsi (Holy Basil): an herb that has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that protect the skin from any damage.

- Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera): an herb that has anti-inflammatory properties. It protects the skin from infections. It also increases collagen levels in the skin, preventing wrinkles.

- Triphala: an herbal treatment consisting of three different fruits, amalaki, bibhitaki, and haritaki. They help cleanse the gut and eliminate toxins from the body, which helps prevent inflammation that might damage the skin.

- Nimb (Neem): an antibacterial herb that helps eliminate toxins from the liver. It can be applied to the skin as an oil to help regenerate the skin.

- Haldi (Turmeric): an herb that has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties and can soothe the skin and protect it from infections. It can be consumed as part of the patient’s diet or applied as a face mask.

- Yashtimadhu (Licorice): a bitter herb that has anti-inflammatory properties and can soothe the skin. It can be consumed as part of the patient’s diet or externally applied to the face.

- Kumari (Aloe vera): a nourishing and moisturizing herb that helps rejuvenate the skin when it is externally applied as a face mask or consumed with ghee or butter.

- Pudina (Mint): an herb that has anti-inflammatory effects on the skin. It also helps the skin retain moisture, which keeps it smooth and radiant. Pudina is externally applied to the face as a face mask.

- Chandan (Sandalwood): an herb that has moisturizing and antimicrobial properties that help soothe the skin when it is externally applied to the face, usually as a face mask.

Ayurvedic Medicine for Skin Health: things to avoid

- Don’t skip meals: Skipping meals makes it harder to establish a routine to eat well. Skipping meals also affects digestion and might cause toxins to accumulate in the body.

- Avoid drinking coffee and tea: these drinks aggravate all three doshas (the body’s energies) and disrupt their balance. Drinking coffee and tea can lead to the accumulation of toxins that might damage the skin.

- Avoid or limit alcohol consumption: alcohol consumption disrupts the balance of all the doshas (energies) in the body. This can lead to the accumulation of toxins in the gut that might cause inflammation in the skin.

- Avoid soft drinks: these drinks contain a lot of sugar and aggravate the pitta dosha (energy of metabolism and digestion). This causes toxins to accumulate in the body and may lead to inflammation which may damage the skin.

- Stop smoking: smoking aggravates the doshas (the body’s energies) and causes the accumulation of toxins in the body that  might permeate and damage the skin. Tobacco smoke may also irritate the skin or cause inflammation that might damage it.

Foods to avoid:

According to Ayurveda, people with skin problems should avoid the following foods because they can negatively affect skin health.

These foods include:

• Spicy foods

• Sugary foods

• Salty foods

• Processed foods

• Dried or frozen beans or lentils

• Dried fruits

• Food combinations such as fish and dairy, fruit and dairy, and meat and dairy

Ayurveda for Skin Health: precautions

Ayurveda uses natural and herbal remedies to treat diseases. However, if you want to use Ayurvedic medicines, herbs, supplements to treat a particular condition, you should consider the following precautions:

- Consult your Ayurvedic practitioner before taking Ayurvedic products on your own. Let them know if you have diabetes or are taking medication that may affect your treatment plan. They should adjust it to avoid any harmful interactions with the medication you are taking.

- Some Ayurvedic products and practices are banned in the United States. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not approve or review Ayurvedic products. Some herbal compounds or preparations may contain lead, mercury, or arsenic in toxic amounts.

They can cause serious illnesses in children and may be life-threatening for pregnant or lactating women and their babies. Other compounds from untrustworthy manufacturers may contain steroids, which may cause further health issues.

- Panchakarma treatments aren’t suitable for all patients. Eligibility for panchakarma is determined by an Ayurvedic practitioner.

People who are classified as having “weak” or lean and thin bodies aren’t eligible for panchakarma treatments. People who are anemic and pregnant women also aren’t allowed to undergo panchakarma treatments.

WARNING:

- Make sure to disclose to your primary care physician that you are seeing an Ayurvedic practitioner and are taking Ayurvedic formulations. This ensures you stay safe and avoid medication interactions that might cause serious side effects.

- If you are taking medication for diabetes, don’t stop taking them if you begin Ayurvedic treatment unless your doctor approves it.

- Some Ayurvedic practitioners may not be qualified to treat you. Make sure that your Ayurvedic practitioner is well-trained, certified, and has the relevant experience to meet your needs.

- Be careful when buying Ayurvedic herbs or formulas. Don’t buy Ayurvedic products unless they have a GMP (Good Manufacturing Product) stamp on them if you are buying them from India. Be extra careful when purchasing herbs online because online stores may be selling counterfeit products.

Ayurveda for Skin Health: side effects

Since Ayurvedic treatments are derived from natural herbs and plants, most treatments do not cause adverse events. However, if you take some Ayurvedic preparations or herbs, you may experience the following side effects.

- Some Ayurvedic products contain toxic amounts of heavy metals like lead, arsenic, or mercury, and they might cause heavy metal poisoning.

- Some Ayurvedic herbal formulations might cause headaches, nausea, gastrointestinal problems, diarrhea, rashes, or allergic reactions.