Ayurveda Article - How To Deal With Winter Skin Woes Effectively

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Winter Skin Woes and How to Overcome Them

 

'Tis the season for dry skin, chapped lips, itching and skin

inflammations.

 

Winter brings with it low temperatures, freezing rain and snow, a

significant drop in humidity and dry cold winds in most parts of the

country. Our skin, the organ that acts as a barrier between our

bodies and the external environment, generally takes the brunt of the

punishing weather.

 

Vaidya Rama Kant Mishra, world-renowned ayurvedic dermatologist and

the formulator of the M.Spa line of ayurvedic anti-aging skin care,

sees winter as both a challenge and an opportunity. "It's true that

winter weather can impact skin adversely," he says. "So it pays to

follow a good basic skin care regimen to replenish moisture levels

and protect against winter sun damage. But winter, according to

ayurveda, is the ideal time to feed your skin the potent nutrients it

needs to stay youthful and healthy. Beauty begins with common

sense. It can be as simple as eating right, getting your beauty

sleep, managing stress and following a simple, natural skin care

regimen."

 

Moisture replenishment is crucial

 

Humidity drops in winter, and the skin's natural moisture levels drop

as well.

As a result, the outer layers of the skin tend to dry out more during

fall and winter, leading to dry skin, with scales, inflammation and

itching being associated problems for some people. The problem is

exacerbated because of heating, fires in fireplaces and exposure to

rapid fluctuations in temperatures as one moves from indoors to

outdoors or vice versa.

 

Keep the thermostat as low as you can handle comfortably to reduce

dehydration from heating. Use humidifiers to restore moisture

balance to your environment. Hot water may feel tempting in cold

weather, but it can damage your skin. Bathe in pleasantly warm

water, not hot, and keep to one bath or shower a day in winter. Use

cleansers that will not deplete moisture from already dry skin-the

Youthful Skin Cleansing Gel for the face and the Youthful Skin Body

Cleanse are especially formulated to cleanse gently without stripping

moisture and oils from your skin.

 

Use moisturizers right after you cleanse or bathe in the morning--the

Youthful Skin Facial Oil and the Youthful Skin Advanced Lipid Support

are perfect for delivering deep-layer lipid support. Moisturizers

are best applied on barely moist skin. Carry the Lipid Support in

your purse or briefcase and use it liberally during the day as

needed. The ayurvedic herbs, rich oils, and antioxidants in these

formulations combat free radical damage and offer sustained

nourishment to your skin, leaving it less vulnerable to the ravages

of winter weather.

 

All moisturizers are not made equal

 

What you put on your skin is absorbed by your skin. If you use

heavily synthetic, chemical-laden products on delicate skin, be

prepared for long-term damage. This doesn't mean you have to do

without moisturizers or other skin care products. Look for natural

products, and read those ingredients with a magnifying glass. Many

products that claim to be herbal or botanical can contain artificial

ingredients. "The M.Spa line, for example, is not only natural, it

is nurturing for the skin because of the care that has gone into the

formulation and processing," says Vaidya Mishra.

 

Protect your skin

 

Winter winds can be very harsh and drying on some types of skin.

Choose natural fibers such as wool or silk for protection-natural

fabrics allow the skin to breathe better. If your skin tends to

chafe with wool, try thick cotton. Always dress in layers, so you

can add or remove layers for comfort. Bundling up too much can cause

moisture loss through sweat. Use Maharishi Ayurveda all-natural Lip

Balm as needed through the day to protect your lips from drying and

cracking, and avoid licking your lips to make them moist-that only

causes them to dry out more. Maharishi Ayurveda Lip Balms contain

Vitamin E for antioxidant protection, as well as natural oils for

lipid support.

 

Sun protection is just as important in winter as it is in summer-wear

a wide-brimmed hat and avoid exposure to the hot sun as much as

possible. Remember your sun-protection on that skiing holiday-the

sun at high altitudes is even more damaging, especially when it

reflects off snow.

 

Feed your skin

 

"Winter skin is very receptive to deep nourishment," says Vaidya

Mishra. "This is the season to pamper your skin with rich nourishment

routines, morning and evening." The ayurvedic herb Gotu Kola, for

example, is a collagen enhancer and can help your skin look and feel

younger. "Make sure you use an herbal product that is balanced," says

Vaidya Mishra. The M.Spa Youthful Skin Cream, with its synergistic

and balanced combination of skin-friendly herbs, offers sustained,

deep-layer nourishment to your skin.

 

Nutrition from within

 

"Diet is important," emphasizes Vaidya Mishra. Include lots of leafy

green vegetables in your diet. Eat plenty of sweet, juicy fruits.

Drink lots of warm water through the day. Don't skip meals. Eat pure,

fresh foods--stay away from canned or processed foods that contain

additives and chemical preservatives. Cook with spices--they're not

only great flavor enhancers, they can help you stay healthy and

beautiful. Cumin, for example, helps flush your body of toxins, and

this, in turn, can mean a glowing, radiant complexion.

 

Follow a skin-friendly lifestyle

 

Get your beauty sleep. People tend to shortchange themselves on

sleep during the holidays. Lack of sleep does not just put dark

circles under your eyes and rob the luster from your skin. Sleep

deprivation has been linked in recent research to long-term health

problems, including obesity. "Manage your time, plan ahead, get

family members to share holiday tasks," advises Vaidya Mishra. A

soothing cup of Slumber Time Tea, a warm bath scented with Maharishi

Ayurveda Therapeutic Bath Salts, or a settling aroma such as Slumber

Time diffusing in your bedroom can all help you get those zzzs.

 

With a little attention to your diet and lifestyle, and some tender

loving care each morning and night, your skin can look-and feel-

beautiful all through the winter.

 

 

 

 

Note : This ayurvedic information is educational and is not intended

to replace standard medical care or advice.

Copyright MAPI, 2002.

 

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