Skin care with Ayurveda

Skin is the largest organ in the body and considered by many to be the most important. Depending on one's body type, the skin type also differs.

The Vata Skin type tends to be dry, cold and also rough at times (if there is dosha imbalance). It is more sensitive to cold climate and cold items becuase these cause the vitiation of Vata dosha in the body.
Since this skin type tends to be more dry, extreme cold temperatures must be avoided. Clarified butter (ghee) can be applied on the lips in case of chapped lips which is very common during cold seasons. Drink a lot of fluids to maintain the body fluid levels. One very good product is Shatadhouta Ghrita. It is clarified butter that has been boiled a hundred times over. This makes it very thin and very nourishing for the skin. It is also used for many skin disorders, in burns, cracked nipples during brestfeeding etc.

The Pitta skin type needs more nurturing and is hot or warm as compared to the Vata type.
To keep this skin type healthy, one must avoid hot spicy food items that tend to increase Pitta in the body. Instead, cold or cooling items can be partaken. Over here too, Shatadhout Ghrita can be used as it has a cooling effect on the skin.

The Kapha skin type tends to be unctuous, oily (shiny), with profuse sweat and thick. This type is more sensitive to oily, heavy and fried foods which all tend to increase Kapha in the body and therefore they must be avoided. Frequent massage can help improve circulation. Also, purificatory procedures can be undertaken so as to releave the body internally of toxins and also help in proper blood circulation and in removal of any collection of toxins that might occur in the body.