Skin Disease Ayurveda Care!

Ayurveda also believes that wrong diet and lifestyle are two main causes of skin diseases. For instance, following a diet or lifestyle that is against the season or nature of a person, results in the creation of imbalances in bodily energies, thereby contaminating body tissues resulting in skin disease. Skin is the biggest organ of the human body, constituting of seven layers. Unlike what many of us think, skin is not merely peripheral but stretches itself to deeper levels in the body. Hence, Ayurveda believes that skin diseases have deep-rooted causes. Most skin diseases are rooted deeply in various tissues, and ‘dhatus’ like fat, blood, muscles etc. 

Common skin diseases and its characteristics: 

Some major skin diseases are: Itching, Erythroderma, Psoriasis, Urticaria, Eczema, Blisters, Angioedema, Metastatic skin carcinoma, Widespread blistering, Photosensitivity, Acne, Scabies, Pressure sore, and Vitiligo.

1. Itching (Pruritus) – provokes a desire to scratch, sometimes accompanied by a scaly rash, and is a common symptom of primary skin diseases and underlying medical disorders. 
2. Erythroderma – Eczema, drug eruptions, psoriasis, lichen planus may all rarely progress to erythroderma, which presents itself with or without scaling on all of the body surfaces. 
3. Urticaria – This is also known as Nettle Rash or Hives, characterized by itchy or burning swellings, occurring throughout or anywhere in the body and lasting less than 24 hours. 
4. Photosensitivity – Sunlight is the main cause of several skin diseases, due to exposure from UV radiation and visible light. Face, particularly nose and cheeks or area under the chin, hands, are usually light-exposed sites subjected to photosensitivity. 
5. Eczema – Presents itself with symptoms like redness and swelling, ill-defined margin and papules, blisters, vesicles, cracking or scaling.
6. Psoriasis – is a non-infectious inflammatory disease of the skin, presenting with defined erythematous plaques with large adherent silvery scales.  It is believed to be due to an excessive division of cells in basal layers, and is well-treated in Ayurveda. 
7. Vitiligo (Leucorderma) – This disorder is due to little or no melanin in the skin, and is an acquired condition, with depigmented patches developing often in the wrists, knees, neck and around the body orifices. Psoriasis is believed to be due to emotional stress that poisons internal system, manifesting in the form of rashes and skin problems in the body’s surface. Ayurveda believes that Urticaria is largely caused by allergies, whether external or internal, while Eczema is caused by major aggravation in kapha, which coincides with more minor unsettlements in vata and pitta. 

Causes of skin disease: 
According to Ayurveda Skin diseases may manifest when a person indulges in one or more of the below listed reasons: 

1. Intake of incompatible food combinations such as milk with fish. 
2. Consumption of excessive amounts of drinks which are unctuous and heavy to digest. 
3. Suppression of the urge to vomit or other natural urges.
4. Physical exercise or wandering in excessive heat after eating a heavy meal.
5. Haphazard intake of foods with hot and cold properties.
6. Use of cold water immediately after exposure to scorching sun heat, exertion or exposure to frightening situations.
7. Intake of excess food, uncooked food and eating before the complete digestion of the previous meal.
8. Improper administration of Ayurvedic detox therapies.
9. Excessive intake of foods made from freshly harvested grains, curd, fish, salt and sour substances.
10. Excessive intake of black gram, radish, pastry, sesame seeds and jaggery. 
11. Performance of sexual activity while suffering from indigestion.
12. Sleeping during the daytime. 
13. Insulting people and engaging in sinful acts. 

Although skin diseases are caused due to imbalances of the doshas, the prime dosha involved here is Pitta, which symbolizes heat or fire. 

Apart from that, allergies, over-exposure to hot conditions, mental stress, genetic disorders and fatigue are also common. Diabetes is also a major cause of skin disorders, as the excess sugar in the body is an ideal breeding ground for bacteria, which multiply rapidly using the skin cells.