Herbal Skin care At Home

Dry skin has always been associated with winter, but it's not rare to notice it in summer as well. Our expert Dr. Rajyalakshmi Madhavam, MD Ayurveda, Professor at AMD Ayurvedic Medical College gives you home remedies and tips to deal with it.

Chapped lips and cracked heels is what summers bring to us every year and we keep searching for remedies but mostly fail to find the most suitable one. We asked Dr. Rajyalakshmi Madhavam, MD Ayurveda, Professor at AMD Ayurvedic Medical College, Hyderabad about skin dryness during summers and she says, “The skin may be affected by bodily humors like vata, pitta and kapha. Vata skin is rough and dry. Pitta skin is warm and moist. Kapha skin is smooth and shiny. However, the diet and exercise modifies the nature of the skin. Ayurveda, the ancient science of medicine, reveals that in Greeshma Ritu (Summer season) the first humor (Vata) is aggravated and causes Rukshata (dryness) and Kharatva (roughness) of the skin.”

Hence, Dr. Rajyalaxmi recommends the following home remedies and some general tips to keep your skin healthy during the summers.

HOME REMEDIES:
(The pastes are to be applied on the affected or exposed areas, 20-30 mins prior to bath)

1. Take 2 tablespoons of papaya pulp and 1 tablespoon of rose water. Mix well and apply
2. Take 2 tablespoons of cucumber paste and 1 tablespoon of rose water. Mix well and apply
3. Apply Aloe Vera gel and honey in 1:1 ratio on the affected parts
4. Make a paste of soaked and ground fenugreek seeds and coconut oil. Apply on the body once or twice every week
5. Apply neem leaves paste with milk cream in 1:1 proportion twice a week
6. Apply clarified butter for half an hour before bathing twice a week
7. Make a mixture of 4 TBSP of wheat flour + 1/2 TSP of turmeric powder + 1 TSP of mustard oil and sufficient water. Apply it on the affected or exposed area, scrub it and wash it with lukewarm water after 20 minutes.
8. Make a mixture of 2 TBSP of honey + 2 TSP of milk. Apply and wash it with lukewarm water after 20 minutes
9. Apply coconut oil for feet and elbows twice or thrice in a week.
10. Mix 5ML of coconut oil in a bucket of lukewarm water and use for bathing

SOME OTHER TIPS:

• Clean behind the ears, armpits, inguinal areas, feet properly at the time of bath.
• Sluggish blood circulation in the skin makes it dull. Smoking decreases blood circulation in the skin, therefore avoiding tobacco will be beneficial.
• Sweating makes skin healthy. Sweat by physical exercise at least once a day.
• Wear simple cotton clothes
• Use sunscreen lotions while going outdoors with an SPF (Sun Protection Factor) ranging between 30 to 50
• Avoid harsh and drying soaps for bathing purposes
• Use lukewarm water for bathing and limit bath time
• Take plenty of liquids in the form of water, coconut water and fresh fruit juices.
• Avoid Alcohol
• Reduce the intake of too salty, sour and spicy foods
• Don’t get exposed to sun for long periods
• Avoid ice cold drinks
• Eat fruits and vegetable with rich water content
• Maintain 6-8 hours sleep every night
• Take 250 ML of milk in your daily diet
• Applying Chandana (white sandalwood powder) with milk is beneficial

Exposure to sun is good since it is a good source of vitamin D, but it's over exposure, especially during summers may be harmful for the skin. Therefore, all these easy-to-do home remedies can be followed at home for a healthy, nourished and non-dry skin, especially while we are staying indoors these days, due to the lockdown.