Skin is the seat of a sense organ. The senses of touch, pain, temperature, pressure are felt by it. It is a Matruj Avyava i.e. derived from mother or having a maternal origin. It gives external covering to the whole body.The seven layers of skin get their nutrition from Mamsa Dhatu (muscle tissue). It is known as a Upadhatu (secondary tissue product) of the Raktadhatu (blood) because it only mimics the Dhatu’s in beholding the body. It does not do Poshan Karma i.e. do not give nutrition to the other Dhatus.
As the skin is a Upadhatu of the Raktadhatu, it is a mirror that reflects the qualities of the Raktadhatu (blood) and the Rasadhatu (body’s plasma tissue). Hence it is a common saying that ‘glowing skin is the result of good quality Rasa and Rakta.
No amount of bleaching and facial massage or application of make-up through dexterity of a skilled beautician can hide the shallow look if the skin is unhealthy. Conversely, healthy skin will always look attractive even when devoid of make-up.
Characteristics of a person with ideal skin (Twak Sar /Rasa Sar)
- People with ideal skin have soft, oily, thin, smooth and lustrous skin.
- They have soft, thin, scanty, oily, black and deep-rooted hair.
- Eyebrows and eyelashes are black and smooth.
- They have good eyesight.
- In their eyes, pupils, cornea, and sclera are very well differentiated.
- Mouth, Lips, Palate and Tongue are unctuous and oily.
- These persons do not suffer from skin diseases and their wounds heal quickly.
- They are intelligent and learned and have the necessary means and wealth to beget worldly pleasures.
- They like music.
- They love their family, nation, estate, and property.
- They enjoy a long, healthy and happy life.
Know Your Ayurvedic Skin Type
The first step in the holistic Ayurvedic approach to skincare is finding out your ayurvedic skin type.
- Vata skin is generally dry, thin, delicate and cool to the touch, easily gets dehydrated, and is very vulnerable to the influence of dry windy weather. Vata skin may age faster and tends to be dry, rough and flaky when out of balance.
- Pitta skin type tends to be fair, sensitive, soft, warm, and of medium thickness. less tolerance to hot food, less tolerance to fieriness in temperament. Pitta skin types tend to be more prone to freckles and moles than the other skin types. When out of balance, Pitta skin can flare up in rashes, rosacea, acne, or sunspots.
- Kapha skin tends to have all the qualities of water and earth — it can be oily, thick, pale, soft, cool and more tolerant of the sun. Kapha skin tends to age slower and form fewer wrinkles than the other two types. Kapha skin types may struggle with dull complexion, enlarged pores, excessive oil, blackheads, pimples, moist types of eczema and water retention.
- Combination-skin (Tridoshaj Skin) can be Vata-Pitta, skin that is both dry and sensitive, Kapha-Pitta-skin is oily and sensitive, and Vata-Kapha- skin that is generally dry with some oily zones.
The ayurvedic approach to caring for combination skin takes into account environmental and seasonal factors. For example, a person with Vata-Pitta skin would follow the recommendations for Pitta skin in summer and Vata skin in winter. The Kapha-Pitta type would follow Pitta recommendations in summer and Kapha recommendations in winter. The Vata-Kapha type would be best served by generally following Vata guidelines, with extra cleansing of the oily zones.