Docyard : Keep your skin healthy

Monsoon nourishes every living being on earth, the overall ecosystem with sufficient rainfall, still, it brings some serious problems with it.

According to Ayurveda rainy season is also the time for aggravation of vata and pitta accumulates, which the functional energy of our body dominant in fire element, and is primarily responsible for metabolism and digestion of food. Digestion is weak during this time. Diseases caused by pitta like hyperacidity, indigestion, skin disorders (boils, eczema, and rashes), hair loss, and infections are common in this season.

Why skin problems aggravate during monsoon?

The rainy season is responsible for aggravation of pitta, the functional energy of our body dominant in fire element, and is primarily responsible for metabolism and digestion of food. In Ayurveda, though skin diseases are caused due to imbalances in all the three doshas, the prime dosha involved is pitta. Pitta symbolises heat or fire. Therefore all those foods or activities that increase the fire element in the body should be eliminated. This includes hot, spicy, fried, oily and greasy foods. Acidic foods like tomatoes, citrus fruits, yogurt and vinegar should be avoided. Exposure to heat and sun, drinking too much tea, coffee, and alcohol, and smoking also aggravate pitta.

Here are a few skin care tips you can keep in mind:

• Drink a lot of water: Drink at least eight to 10 glasses daily. Though you need to keep dry outside in this season to prevent skin problems it is important to consume adequate quantities of water to keep your skin hydrated.
• Avoid alcohol-based skin cleansers: You should avoid alcohol-based skin cleansers because it irritates and dries your skin. Instead use a herbal soap or cleanser regularly to get rid of excess oil, grime and dust, and of course to keep you skin free of bacterial infections.
• Use cooling herbs: It is beneficial to use the herbs that have cooling effects on the body (pitta pacifying) such as fennel, coriander seeds and Indian gooseberry (amla) for a glowing skin in monsoon. Amla helps to detoxify the liver and aids digestion — and is also a good source of Vitamin C and other minerals. One of the benefits of taking it regularly is a flawless complexion.
• Use aloe vera gel: Aloe vera gel is very beneficial for the skin because it purifies the blood. Fresh aloe vera gel can be taken in the dose of two or three tablespoons on an empty stomach every day. You can also use fresh aloe vera plant gel on your skin — it has anti-aging, anti-tanning, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties.
• Take mild laxatives: A clean bowel movement is imperative for a healthy skin. Taking mild laxatives such as triphala powder or other natural laxatives such as prunes, figs and raisins is beneficial if you don’t have clean bowel movements. A teaspoonful of triphala powder can be taken at bed time every night, with warm water or milk.
• Keep dry: Getting a little wet or sometimes getting drenched is not uncommon when you are outdoors during the rainy season. However, don’t let your skin remain wet for a long time while enjoying the monsoon showers. It is important to keep your skin folds and feet dry and clean at all times. Damp skin is a breeding ground for fungal infections
  The writer is Dr partap chauhan Ayurvedacharya & Director jiva ayurveda, new delhi