“Daag Acche hai, but certainly not on the face.” “I was craving for dimples, somehow, the nature heard it as pimples”. “They just came like guests and stayed there forever”. I am sure, many of you must be thinking like this when the topic of pimples crops up.
Pimples or acne are these tiny little pops on your face that come to announce your entry into the teenage and they remain there sometimes forever. Is it like, we cannot control them or manage them or get rid of them completely? Do these fast action creams, which claim to treat pimples overnight really work?
We will try to answer all of these queries with the most simplified natural Ayurvedic ways, that can help you to kick off your acne completely.
Let’s first understand What is Acne?
Acne is one of the most common skin conditions that affects one out of every seven persons globally. In a market survey, it was observed that more than 90 percent of the world population experience acne at some age in their life. The gravity of the problem is that although it is just a skin disease, it can lead to major emotional and psychological issues in the person’s life. It is commonly caused by the plugging of your hair follicles with oil and dead skin cells. This clogging can result in whiteheads, blackheads, or pimples. Although acne is most common among teenagers, it has been shown to affect all ages.
The Sanskrit name for acne is Tarunyapitika or Yuvanpitika, meaning the skin eruptions occur during young age. This is classified under the Kshudraroga means minor diseases as per Ayurveda. However, acne being skin complaints are always considered chronic and time-consuming to treat.
Causes for Acne
The most common cause for acne is hyperplasia (swelling) in the sebaceous glands present in the skin. This causes abnormal follicular differentiation with increased keratinization, accumulation of microbes, and activation of the adaptive immune system which increases inflammation. There are various types of acne, such as acne vulgaris, acne rosacea, acne cosmetica, acne fulminans, and acne mechanica.
Some of the common triggers for acne development are hormonal imbalance, certain medications (like steroids, hormonal medications, or lithium), dietary habits (carbohydrate-rich foods, oily foods, fast foods, caffeine-rich drinks, etc.), faulty lifestyle, and stress.
As per Ayurveda, acne can result from the vitiation of all three Doshas, Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. There is also vitiation of Rasa (Serum / Plasma), Rakta (blood), and Mamsa (Muscle tissue) that contributes to the development of acne. Common factors like incompatible foods (milk with salty food, sour food or meat, consuming hot and cold food simultaneously, etc.), spicy food, food rich in pungent, sour or salty taste, very oily or fried foods, poor sleeping habits, smoking, and other addictions, stress, etc are majorly responsible for this skin condition, the consequences of these being acne.
Acne treatment in Ayurveda
Looking at the overall cascade of acne development, we can understand that this is not just an external eruption on the skin but holds its roots internally. It has a deep connection with your complete dietary habits, lifestyle, and mental conditions too. And hence, when it comes to the management of acne it becomes imperative to cure it inside out rather than only applying some creams on the spot.
Using only cosmetic preparations externally would be effective in correcting the damage for that particular spot, but cannot prevent further eruptions and, hence the problem lasts forever. Ayurveda is a science that always tries to look for the root cause of any complaints and also tries to correct them by balancing the Doshas, correcting the digestive capacity (Agni), and holistic management of all body tissues.
Some of the most useful tips to follow while taking care of acne are
Washing and gentle scrubbing
Wash your face with lukewarm water at least twice a day. You may use any gentle cleanser or some herbal powders like Triphala, Anantmoola, Lodhra. Avoid using harsh soaps or strong abrasive scrubs. Do not prick or burst the pimple as it may leave an unwanted scar or pit on the skin.
Herbal Face Pack
There are some really good home-made face packs that you can apply not just to manage acne but to improve skin health. Some of them are
- Turmeric Powder + Neem Powder + Fresh Aloe Vera Gel and mix it with honey.
- Anantmool Powder + Lodhra Powder + Multani Mitti
- Triphala Powder + Neem Powder + Tulsi Powder + Fresh Aloe Vera Gel
- Fresh Curd + Besan (Gram flour) + Honey
- Licorice Powder + Red Sandalwood Powder + Milk + Saffron
You may also add tea tree oil, thyme oil, cinnamon oil, rosehip, or rosemary oil in these face packs if you wish to.
Healthy Mind and Body
This is the most important but underrated part when it comes to managing acne. It becomes very essential to break the chain of reactions responsible for the persistence of the problem. This will happen by adopting a healthier and active lifestyle. Certain dietary factors have the potential to trigger acne which needs to be stopped. Avoid consuming fast food, foods with excessive salt, acidity, sugar, and preservatives.
Also, try to refrain from fermented foods, alcohol, bakery items, and spices. Refrain from smoking at all costs. It is always essential to maintain a healthy routine concerning sleep and eating patterns. Ensure to get at least 7 hours of quality sleep.
Include meditation or mindfulness practices at least 20 min per day. This will help control stress which is one very important factor in the progression of acne or any other skin complaints. Also, it is essential to consume 8 – 10 glasses of water every day. The requirement may increase if you are involved in some physical activities.
Gentle Oil Massage
Although excessive oil clogging is one of the major reasons for acne, some oils help neutralize the imbalanced Dosha in the skin and further stimulate healthy skin growth. Also, because extensive use of chemical cosmetics tends to make skin dry and lustreless, the application of some exclusive Ayurvedic oils can help nourish and moisturize the skin.
You may apply Kumkumadi Tailam, Neem Oil, Nalpamaradi Keram Tailam, Hemp Seed Oil, or Argan Oil and gently massage your entire face before bedtime.
Supplement (if required)
Sometimes, merely changing diet and lifestyle or external treatments take quite some time to cure this issue. You may add certain herbal supplements to the regimen. The underlying problem as per Ayurveda for all the skin issues is a poor liver function, vitiated Rakta tissue, and increased body heat.
You may consume fresh Amla or Aloe vera juice (not the packaged one) or take ½ a spoon of a mixture of equal quantities of coriander seeds, fennel, Anantmool, Lodhra, Turmeric, and Triphala powders with warm water before both the meals. Those having constipation or other digestive issues may also consume Isabgol or Triphala Powder for cleansing of bowels. In some cases, where the problem is chronic and widespread, you may go for detoxification procedures like Virechana under the guidance of a qualified Ayurvedic Physician.
Certain blood purifiers like Nimbamrutasava, Kumari Asava, Khadirarishta, Laghu Manjishthadi Kashayam can also be consumed after consultation with a qualified physician.
Acne is one of the complaints which help us realize that we should never underestimate the smaller issues, lest they be in our life or our body. Also, the solution to all the problems lies in understanding the root cause and working on it rather than merely resorting to superficial treatments. What we need to do is just relax, focus on ourselves and our health and listen to our body.
Author: Dr Omkar Kulkarni (INFS Faculty)
