Natural Dry Skin Treatment

Natural Dry Skin Treatments

March 26, 2010- Dry skin makes the whole appearance of a person dull. The lack of glowing skin not only is a hindrance in getting overall beauty but also leads to various skin problems like itchy skin, dry skin spots and patches, skin rashes and ultimately fast aging of skin due to wrinkles. Dry skin conditions are due to the inability of skin to retain moisture. There are many natural dry skin treatments that can change dry skin from luster less skin to rejuvenated healthy skin. However, before knowing the various home remedies and herbs for dry skin, it seems right to know the Ayurvedic dry skin concept.

Ayurvedic Dry Skin Concept

According to Ayurveda, dry skin is the result of Vata Dosha or Vata vitiation. When vata dosha rises in a body, it leads to reduced kapha and makes body and facial skin dry and wrinkled. Kapha is the element responsible for keeping skin soft and smooth. Dry skin problem aggravates due environment and weather conditions also. Most of the people experience excessively dry skin in winters when the dry and cold weather does not let the skin remain moist enough. However, dry skin problems are not absolutely absent in summers when it is too hot and dry. Skin getting dry in summers is due to pitta vitiation and not due to vata vitiation. Thus, Ayurvedic dry skin concept lists some of the main causes of dry skin as under.

• • Exposure to cold and dry climate (sometimes hot and dry climate too)
• • Suppressing natural urges such as urination, defecation, hunger, thirst, etc.
• • Sleep disorders, staying awake till late night.
• • Irregular and unhealthy food habits
• • Excessive physical and mental exertion.
• • Excessive intake of spicy, dry, and bitter food.

Understanding the causes of dry skin makes one able to avoid them so that the natural dry skin treatments in the form of home remedies and herbs for dry skin can prove most beneficial to them.

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Home Remedies for Dry Skin

Natural dry skin treatments need some lifestyle changes related to the use of beauty cosmetics, drink and food habits, as well as certain home remedies with the help of day to day ingredients found at home and certain specific herbs for dry skin treatment.

Lifestyle Changes for Dry Skin Treatment

• • Drink enough water each day. You should drink at least 8-10 glasses of water daily.
• • Eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables. Better if they have more water content like cucumber, tomatoes, watermelon, orange. Have plenty of nuts, especially almonds and walnuts.
• • Get enough sleep. Six to eight hours sleep at night help restore oxygen level of blood responsible for renewal of body cells essential for keeping the young looks of skin rejuvenated.
• • Avoid hot showers. Hot water robs the skin of its natural oils that keep skin moist. In winters, make the bathing water only mildly warm if you can't have bath with cold water.
• • Protect your facial and body skin from UV rays of sun. Always carry some cloth like scarves or umbrella to protect yourself from sun.
• • Do not take stress. This is one of the causes of many skin problems including dry skin.
• • Quit smoking and limit intake of alcohol. The harmful elements in them cause dry skin.
• • Never go to bed with make up on. Wash all the applied cosmetics with clean water and if necessary with mild soap having moisturizer. Then apply some moisturizing cream. Natural, home made or herbal dry skin creams without chemicals are best for skin.

Home Made Dry Skin Lotions, Creams, Facials, Masks

• • Mix equal quantities of glycerin and rose water. Store this excellent dry skin lotion in a clean bottle and apply it on dry facial skin or skin of hands and feet whenever required. It is best to be applied after having bath for those who suffer from excessive dry skin. Always shake the bottle before use as glycerin settles down at the bottom of bottle (Mix lemon juice to this mixture if you have a mixed type of skin having combination of oily and dry skin).
• • Mix equal quantities of petroleum jelly and glycerin and apply it on your dry skin of face and body and keep it overnight.
• • Mix equal quantities of petroleum jelly, vitamin E oil and glycerin. Apply for half an hour over face and body before taking shower.
• • Take plain water and glycerin in the ratio of 10:1 and apply it on your dry skin of hand and feet before going to the bed. This will give you soft skin in a few days.
• • For having a special hand wash soap, mix glycerin with your liquid soap and fill it in a bottle. Wash your hands with this soap to avoid dry skin on hand.
• • Take 1 tsp each of egg yolk, rose water, lime juice, olive oil and orange juice and mix them thoroughly. Apply this smooth home made dry skin lotion to your face in the morning and wash it off after 20 minutes.
• • Make a face mask by mixing honey, egg, olive oil and rose water and use it as dry skin facial mask.
• • Get ayurvedic massage with herbal oil (made with vata balancing herbs). It is good to have daily body massage for people with dry skin but if that is not possible, take such massages at least once a week.
• • Lavender oil and sandalwood oil are also good for dry skin for their soothing and cool effects. A few drops of these oils can be used in bathing water.
• • Mix glycerin, castor oil and rose water with 1 tbsp of 'malai' or milk cream. Apply this mixture on face, neck and on hands before going to bed. Wash it off with water in morning. This keeps dry skin hydrated during the day.
• • Mix ground almonds, honey and malai (milk cream) and apply the mixture at least twice a week and keep it for half an hour.
• • Mix 1/4th cup yogurt, 1tsp honey and 1tbsp milk powder. Apply on face for 10 minutes and wash it off with cold water.

Diet has a very important role to play in skin care and skin beauty as well. Know about the Ideal Diet for Skin

Herbs for Dry Skin

Aloe Vera- Aloe vera /indian-herbs/aloe-vera.html is the miracle herb for all skin types and not only for dry skin treatment. It has been used since ages for wounds, minor burns, and itchy skin treatments. The leaves of aloe vera plant contains about 96% of water and other active ingredients like essential oil, amino acids, minerals, vitamins, enzymes and glycoproteins. All these ingredients help in providing natural glow to the skin and in retaining moisture of the dry skin even in harsh climates. Aloe vera gel directly taken from the crushed leaves can be applied on face and body.

Chamomile- Chamomile has a very soothing and anti-inflammatory properties. As such, it is used for treating most of the skin problems including eczema, skin rashes, itchy dry skin etc. Tie one or half cup fresh or dried chamomile herb in a cloth bag and put it in tub water. Allow it to get soaked for ten minutes before having bath.

Home Remedies for Glowing Skin

If you are worried about blackheads, dark circles, pigmentation and all that is there on your face, you must adopt certain natural home remedies for skincare to get a clear and glowing skin.

Skincare Packs for different Skin Types

• • For oily skin, make a paste of 2 tbsp of wheat flour with some water. Apply this on face in an upward motion. Let it dry and then wash with cool water. Pat dry. This remove excess oil from your skin.
• • For dry skin, make a moisturizer by mixing ¾ cup rose water, ¼ cup of glycerine, 1 teaspoon of vinegar and ¼ tsp of honey and keep it in a bottle. Use regularly for cleansing.
• • For normal skin, take juice of half an orange or tomato and mix it with two teaspoons of curd. Now massage it lightly on face in an upward direction. Allow it to dry and then wash with cold water and pat dry. It gives a nice glow to the skin.
• • For mixed skin type,mix 3-4 tablespoons of Multani mitti or Fuller's Earth with 8-10 ground pudina (mint) leaves. Keep this pack in fridge overnight. Take it out in the morning and keep at room temperature for 10-15 minutes. Now apply it on face. Leave for 10-15 minutes. Wash off and pat dry.

Dark Circles Skincare Tips

• • Have enough sleep daily.
• • Grind almonds to powder and store it in a bottle. Make a paste with milk and apply around your eye every morning. Let it dry and wash with cold water.
• • Take a pad of absorbent cotton soaked in warm tea and gently dab around your eyes.
• • There are many more home remedies for dark circles. Cure your under eye circles by adopting them.

Pigmentation Skincare Tips

• • Take two tablespoons of milk powder. Get some hydrogen peroxide (20-volume strength) from the local chemist and add this to milk powder. Make a paste of this and add a few drops of glycerin and apply it to the dark spots. After 20 minutes, rinse it off. If the skin feels dry, use moisturizing lotion.
• • Take a Vitamin E capsule and break it to get the gel or oil in it. Mix this with a few drops of Castor oil and apply on deeply pigmented areas.

Blemishes Skincare Tips

• • Rub a slice of lemon or the remains of a squeezed lemon on the face. Let it to remain overnight. In the morning, wash it with cold water.
• • Make a hole in a ripe tomato. Mix juice of one lemon into this tomato. Now rub the tomato on face. Let it dry. Now wash with water and pat dry.

Ayurvedic Tips for Pink Lips

Ayurvedic Tips for Lips

Lips have very distinctive appeal of your face and it is first thing that is observed by others. Some have very pretty and attractive pink lips while some have close to black lips. If you are experiencing lack of confidence due to your black and dull lips then here are the ayurvedic tips for lips that can change your lip color and give you a smarter look.

You can have healthy and pink lips just by changing the routine and your diet a bit. There are many things in our kitchen that can be used for pink lips and other skin care. Follow the natural ayurvedic tips and ayurvedic solutions for pink lips. The home remedies are absolutely safe and without side effects.

Causes of Dull and Dark Lips

• • Smoking is the major cause of dull and dark lips. If you are a smoker then you will have dark and very dull lips.
• • Less blood circulation in that ares.
• • Tiredness and stress of any kinds leads to dull and dark lip.
• • Extra exposure to sun, humidity and temperature causes lips to look dull.
• • Use of low grade cosmetics and lipsticks on lips

Ayurvedic Tips for Pink Lips

• • Make the granular paste of olive oil and sugar. Apply it on your lips and rub this mixture in a round motion. This will work as an exfoliator giving your lips a natural shine and color. You can also use the tooth brush to remove the dry flakes.
• • Take some home made butter and apply it on your lip after scrubbing. This will soften the lips and impart freshness to them.
• • Cut down your coffee and beverages quantity as these causes the lips to darken. If you have the habit of smoking then also your lips will be of black color. It is advisable to quit smoking not only for pink lips but for good health.
• • Eat lots of fruits and drink about eight glasses of water a day.
• • Apply home made butter before going to bed. You can also apply the milk cream if butter is not available.
• • To lighten the color of your lips, daily apply lime juice on them.
• • As per another ayurvedic tips for lips, soak raisins in water overnight and eat these as first thing in the morning. This will help you in getting pink lips.
• • Apply almond oil on your lips daily. You can also make the paste of almonds in milk cream. Rub this daily on your lips. It is a very good lip conditioning technique.
• • To lighten the lips either apply olive oil or almond oil on them.
• • Quit smoking. Although it is not easy but with this the lip discoloration can be stopped and many other associated diseases will not have any chance to occur in your body.

Tips to Get Rid of Dark Lips

• • Daily after doing tooth brush use that to exfoliate your lips with the same brush. With this you will get rid of dry flakes thus making your lips soft and supple.
• • Get the ayurvedic cream and apply it on your lips every night before going to bed. This will reduce the darkness and dullness of lips.
• • Eat balanced diet.

Ayurvedic Herbs For Promoting Hair Growth

25 September 2010- Baldness or hair loss is a common problem with people these days. The exposure of hair to extreme pollution, harsh shampoos and hair products, tension etc. leads to the issue of hair loss. Ayurveda science offers certain natural treatments for promoting hair growth and rendering the hair with a new leash of life. Mentioned below are the ayurvedic Indian herbs which effectively help in hair regrowth. Take a look:

Bhringaraj

Bhringaraja or Eclipta Alba is supposedly the best herb identified in ayurvedic science for the prevention of balding and premature graying. It is one of the best natural herbs for hair regrowth. The entire plant as well as the seeds of bhringaraj carry immense medicinal value. It is in fact, quite useful both internally as well as externally. Apart from that, there is a black dye which is extracted from Eclipta alba and is used for hair dyeing and tattooing purposes. Traditionally, bhringaraj for hair was used by boiling its leaf juice in sesame and coconut oil to anoint the head which resulted in healthy black hair. Today, bhringaraj is used as a basic ingredient in various herbal shampoos promoting hair growth. One can also try the popular concoction of amla, bhringraj and brahmi oil for hair regrowth.

Amalaki

Amalaki or Embelica Officinalis is a proven hair supplement for hair regrowth. The Embelica Officinalis fruit better known as amla, is first sun dried and then boiled in coconut oil upto the point where the solid fruit part gets charred. After cooling, this solution is used for massaging hair which helps promoting hair growth and preventing pre-mature graying. In fact, amalaki for hair is so curative that the amla fruit soaked water can be used as a conditioner for hair. Just rinse them with this water and you will surely get a beautiful shiny mane.

Triphala

Triphala refers to a combined mixture of three different herbs namely Haritaki also known as Terminalia Chebula, Amalaki also known as Embelica Officinalis and Vibhitaki also known as Terminalia Bellirica. This mixture called triphala if taken orally everyday, can effectively help in preventing hair loss. Also, it can be used by mixing it well in hot oil and then massaging scalp with it. Since triphala for hair is very effective, herbal shampoos and hair packs using triphala as a whole or either of the Terminalia Bellirica, Terminalia Chebula and Embelica Officinalis herb can be used for treating the issue of hair loss.

Ayurvedic Beauty Tips for All Skin Types

Ayurveda gives importance to a balanced approach to achieve true beauty of self. Balanced approach means cleansing of inner as well as outer body. It identifies three different skin types- Vata Skin, Pitta Skin, and Kapha Skin representing the commonly known dry skin, normal skin and oily skin respectively. The skin types are categorized on the basis of three main metabolic principles- the doshas - present in everyone, but to different degrees. The dosha, most dominant in your body, will determine your skin type. Here are some beauty tips to keep all the skin types glowing. Vata Skin- the Dry Skin
Dry skin is most prone to symptoms of early aging and develop wrinkles earlier than other skin types because of its tendency to dryness and thinness. You have to take care of inner system as well as outer skin to keep it glowing

• • Keep your digestion or “Ahaar Pachan” in balance.
• • Have warm and healthy oily diet. Ghee and olive oil are best for you.
• • Sour, salty and naturally sweets like fruits (not refined sugar) balance vata.
• • Don't dry foods like crackers.
• • Drink 6-8 glasses of warm water during daytime. cold water is not good for dry skin.
• • Sweet and juicy fruits are good for you.
• • Sleeping early, say by, 10 PM will positively influence the dry skin type.
• • Avoid cleansing and beauty products that further dry the skin, for example, alcohol-based cleansers.
• • Abhyanga or Ayurvedic oil massage in the morning before shower is the best way to keep dry skin glowing.

Pitta Skin- the Normal Skin

Although, the equivalent of pitta skin is called the normal skin, yet ayurveda says that this type of skin develops rashes, rosacea, acne, liver spots or pigment disorders. It can not tolerate heat or sun very well.

• • Avoid excessive sunlight or tanning treatments. Heating therapies within beauty treatments like facial massage or whole body steams are also not good for you.
• • Avoid hot and spicy foods.
• • Bitter and sweet foods that balance pitta are good for such skin type. Naturally sweet should be taken. Take sweet juicy fruits like those of melons and pears.
• • Cooked greens and rose petal preserves are very effective for pitta skin type.
• • Drinking plenty of water to helps wash toxins out of highly sensitive pitta skin.
• • Avoid synthetic chemicals. Pitta skin types react a lots when such chemicals are used.
• • Avoid skin care products that are abrasive (scrubs), heating or contain artificial colors or preservatives. Use herbal products instead of artificial cosmetics.
• • Avoid emotional stress through exercise, yoga and meditation.

Kapha Skin- the Oily Skin

People with oily skin are fortunate enough to develop wrinkles much later in their lives. However, excessive oily skin faces such problems as eczema, blackheads, acne or pimples. It is also more prone to fungal infections.

• • Cleanse oily skin more often.
• • Avoid greasy creams.
• • Also avoid heavy and tough to digest foods like fried and fatty foods, meats, cheeses and rich desserts. Habe bitter and pungent foods as they balance kapha. You can make these foods spicey but they should not be fried.
• • Use olive oil as cooking medium.
• • Have ginger and lime juice before meals. It gives energy to dull digestive system characteristic to oily skin types.
• • Warm baths gentle cleansers open up the skin pores of kapha skin.
• • Avoid getting constipation. Have Isabgol to treat if you tend to have this problem.
• • Do some exercise daily to increase circulation and help purify the skin through the sweating.