Skin Disease in Ayurveda

Skin is a vital part of our body’s health and wellbeing. Our skin integrates our whole body “under one roof”. Skin senses pain, temperature and pressure. It is prone to injuries both externally and internally.

Skin diseases indicate that something is wrong inside the body. Lack of internal equilibrium manifests through the skin. From an ayurvedic perspective, skin diseases are caused by doshic imbalance, and therefore treatment focuses on imparting harmony and balance for the individual. Ayurveda can cure long-term skin diseases and chronic conditions such as dermatitis and eczema.

Causes of skin diseases

From an ayurvedic perspective, the major underlying cause of disease is improper diet and lifestyle. If you pursue a diet or lifestyle that goes against your nature (known as your prakriti), you can develop a bodily imbalance that gives rise to skin disorders.

While imbalance of any dosha may cause skin disease, it is associated more with pitta imbalance (the heat element). Any activity that increases the fire or heat element in the body aggravates pitta and can lead to skin problems.

Ayurveda states that sluggish liver (dysfunction of the liver) associated with doshic imbalance causes skin diseases. The accumulation of toxins (ama) in the liver breaks out through the skin.

Some of the common skin condition mentioned in Ayurveda:

• skin cancer, psoriasis, dermatitis and atopic eczema
• any persistent rash or itch
• skin allergies
• skin discolouration, static or changing
• acne, rosacea and other common inflammatory skin conditions
• stubborn acne or acne scars
• bacterial, fungal and viral skin infections

How does Ayurveda approach skin disease?

Before treating skin diseases from an ayurvedic perspective, it is necessary to analyse the person and their skin condition/s. The doctor diagnoses the doshic composition of the individual, their diet and lifestyle, their pulse and their skin health.

The goal of ayurvedic treatment is to restore doshic balance. Treatment methods involve a healthy diet and lifestyle with proper balance of food, exercise, herbs, meditation, and daily routines. There are also several ayurvedic therapies, such as traditional ayurvedic massage (abhyanga), designed to restore balance and promote skin health.

The best therapy to treat accumulation of toxins in the body is ayurvedic detox (panchakarma). As a complete program of cleansing and detoxifying, panchakarma flushes all toxins from the body at the cellular level. When the body is clear of toxins, it gains equilibrium, and the organs, including the skin, begin to function normally again.

Ayurveda always looks for the root cause of disease. While there are many helpful herbs and ointments that bring temporary relief to wounds, skin irritation or lesions, Ayurveda always looks to the underlying cause so the patient can restore their body to healthy balance and eliminate the symptoms of skin disease.

Note

This article is intended for education and awareness. Ayurvedic treatment and advice is always personalised. We recommend you make an appointment with one of our experienced ayurvedic doctors in either of our clinics – Brisbane or the Gold Coast – and find a holistic treatment for your symptoms of skin disease.