If you have a tendency to suffer from dry skin patches, wintertime will certainly make your problems worse. Slapping on a bit of moisturiser is most people’s answer, but there are easy ayurvedic lifestyle changes that may help.

Ayurvedic medicine is the traditional medicine of India. Treatment consists largely of herbs, fruits and spices, but much of it also revolves around living a lifestyle designed to prevent illness. The fact that we now live in a world full of harsh chemicals, many of which come into daily contact with skin, is thought to be a major factor in the prevalence of dry skin conditions in the west. Many dermatologists recommend a shielding lotion to protect dry skin, but ayurvedic medicine also offers some good advice.

In ayurveda, defined as ‘the science of life’, health is defined as an active state of wellness. Ayurveda approaches wellness by adjustments in diet, daily routine and environment as required for your age, stress level, and lifestyle.

Basic to ayurveda is the theory of the five elements: spirit, air, earth, wind and fire. It is believed that everything in the material universe is a combination of these elements. Ayurvedic healers believe that the ratios differ in each of us and determine our spiritual, mental and physical constitution. Skin that is dry and tight is classed as air predominant and is called vata. The corresponding ayurvedic dry skin treatment consists of diet, skin protection and a lifestyle appropriate to an air skin type.

Ayurvedic healers recommend that people with dry skin cook with clarified butter or olive oil. Diet wise, the most beneficial cereals are rice, oatmeal and buckwheat. Other helpful foods include mung beans (available from health stores), asparagus and courgette, stewed apples and pears for breakfast, seasonal fresh fruits, soaked walnuts and soaked and blanched almonds. The recommended spices for dry skin treatment are turmeric, cumin, coriander and fennel in a ratio of 2/3/6/6. This spice mixture is sautéed in clarified butter and added to food after or during cooking.

Recommended lifestyle alterations include going to bed early, walking for 20 minutes in the morning, taking regular short breaks while working and deep breathing.

Protecting the skin from harsh chemicals and retaining moisture are two of the most important steps for air predominant skin. Drinking lots of spring water with a pH balance of 7.5 to stay hydrated and staying away from chemical-laden skin care products are at the top of the list.

Ayurvedic healing also recommends applying a protective coating to skin. While everyday moisturisers do coat the skin, they are not effective dry skin treatment because they usually contain drying chemicals and greasy substances that prevent the skin from breathing. Ayurvedic products, however, contain only natural ingredients and essential oils designed comfort and heal dry skin. Skin is able to breathe while being protected from harsh weather and environmental chemical exposure. Sundari offers a full range of ayurvedic products for vata skin type and is available online from SkinStore.co.uk.

Picture caption: Ayurveda will stop you cracking up during winter.

MyVillage, 03rd December