While winters are a season of joy, togetherness and travel all over the world, some common skin problems can end up ruining the fun. Take a look at some of the easiest remedies you can do at home to ensure your skin remains happy throughout the winter.
It is really interesting and fun to understand some basic Ayurvedic ideas so that we can tune into the amazing systems in our bodies. Ayurveda says skin is the essence of all tissues in the body. It is related closely to Rasa, Rakta and Mansa dhatus. Rasa or the vital sap is the liquidity of the body. Rakta is mainly blood and Mansa mainly muscle. All these tissues should be taken care of very well if you want to maintain your skin.
DRYNESS
When skin is exposed to cold drafts of wind, it tends to become dry. One of the best remedies is medicated Abhyanga Siddha oil. Siddha oil is medicated and cultured with herbs over heat and, as a result, can penetrate deeply enough to nourish the Rasa, Rakta and Mansa tissues. It is rejuvenating, improves complexion, and prevents premature wrinkling. Santulan Active Body Lotion, made with the same Siddha oil base, is equally effective. Santulan’s Crème Rose is another excellent moisturising and lubricating cream to help prevent dryness.
REPLACE DRYING SOAPS WITH UBTAN
Regular soap used while bathing can also cause dryness. An alternative is to use ubtan or a herbal bath powder instead. Our readymade San Massage Powder has been made especially for this purpose. Mix one teaspoon of San Massage with one teaspoon of chickpea or lentil flour. Add water to make a smooth paste and use instead of soap. It acts as a natural scrubber, improves complexion, lubricates skin and even helps to reduce excess fat. Ubtan can also be made at home. Simply mix equal quantities of these powders – turmeric, vetiver, liquorice, sandalwood, anantmool (Hemidesmus indicus), available at a grocery or local Ayurvedic store.
YOUR SKIN LOVES MILK CREAM
An age-old effective treatment for dry skin is to apply homemade milk cream or malai on the face, neck and hands. Our powder mixture called San Vata Face Pack can be added to the homemade cream (to make a paste) for excellent results. Apply the San Vata Face Pack + cream paste on the face, neck and arms and leave it on for 15 minutes before you wash it off with warm water.
DIET FOR SKIN
Diet becomes extremely important in winter. Food can help you deal with the dryness in the atmosphere outside. Ayurveda recommends eating sumptuous and nourishing food in winter that is sweet in taste and has a lot of lubrication (sneha). Rich food is necessary in winter as the body’s digestive capacity (fire) is intense during this time. A2 milk, homemade butter, Ayurvedic ghee, dink (gum acacia) ladoo, sheera, dudhi halwa and coconut sweets are recommended in this season. Rasayan (tonic) preparations like Santulan’s Dhatri Rasayan, Chyavanprash and San Rose are also considered a must for overall health as well as good skin.
CRACKS ON SOLES
Cracked soles are a very common complaint in winter. In extreme cases this can even lead to bleeding and is very painful. Shreeguru Dr. Balaji Tambe has revived and popularized many priceless ancient techniques. One among them is Padabhyanga. Apply ghee on the soles of the feet and then massage them with a bowl made of kasya metal. Each sole should be massaged for approximately 10 minutes to remove excess heat from the body. Santulan’s Padabhyanga Kit contains the bowl as well as a special ghee for Padabhyanga. This special ghee (called Shatadhautaghruta) has been washed and purified over 100 times, and provides a deep therapeutic effect. Santulan’s Foot Sole Cream is also an excellent treatment for cracks and keeps the feet soft, lubricated and healthy.
Common winter practices like using slippers indoors and wearing cotton socks will also help prevent cracks.
Check out Shreeguruji’s YouTube video on the subject below.
CHAPPING AND DRYING LIPS
Homemade milk cream or butter comes to the rescue here too. Applying a little on the lips before going to sleep improves the condition to a great extent. You will be surprised to know that applying home made or Ayurvedic ghee, or Santulan Rose Beauty oil in the navel before sleeping also heals chapped lips!
In this way, a few easy solutions and some love and care can keep skin problems from getting in the way of a fun season.