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Skin and the Sun |
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| Vital
Health Topic: Skin Savvy: The Ayurvedic Perspective
Protecting your Skin from the Sun |
In our world
of ozone holes and SPF-30 sunscreens, most people have
come to think of the sun as a formidable enemy of the
skin. Many doctors consider visible signs of aging of skin
on fair-skinned people - leathery texture, wrinkles and
age-spots, for example - mainly the result of ultraviolet
radiation. Yet the sun, besides being the source of energy
for mind and body, also nourishes the skin. It's the best
natural source of Vitamin D, which is necessary for
calcium absorption and healthy bones. Many doctors today
recommend 15 minutes of direct exposure to gentle sun on
the hands and face to absorb the minimum daily requirement
of Vitamin D.
"Over-protecting from sun is
not a good idea," says Vaidya Mishra, Director of
Research and Product Development at Maharishi Ayurveda
Products International. "The challenge is to maximize
the benefit from sun and at the same time protect it from
damage.
" People with Caucasian skin
definitely should avoid direct exposure to strong sun,
because their skin makes less melanin, the pigment that
acts as a barrier to UV rays. However, short periods of
exposure to very early morning sun are soothing and mild
on the skin, and allow even very sensitive skin to absorb
necessary Vitamin D.
Vaidya Mishra recommends
avoiding long exposure to the sun whenever you are angry,
hungry or emotionally upset, as these factors increase
Pitta - the fire element - in the body and make the skin
even more sensitive to sun damage. At these times, it's
important to protect yourself by wearing a hat, protective
clothing (full-sleeved shirts and pants, for example) and
sunglasses. People with naturally more Pitta in their
bodies should always take care to protect themselves from
the midday sun. |
DIETARY
TIPS
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It's also a good
idea to cool the body from the inside if your skin is very
photosensitive. Eating green leafy vegetables and fruits
such as raisins, sweet juicy pears, sweet apples, and
pomegranates, for instance, will help nourish and restore
balance to the skin. Amla Berry, available as a supplement
and also contained in Amrit, is also an excellent
anti-oxidant and rasayana for the skin. Rose Petal
Preserve, blended with boiled and cooled milk, is an
excellent cooling beverage.
Cooking your food
with a skin-protecting spice mixture to stimulate
digestion but not overheat your skin helps. Sauté
equal parts turmeric, coriander, fennel and cumin in ghee
and add it to your vegetables and grains.
Even
in winter, people with photosensitive skin should avoid
eating too much ginger, garlic, aesofetida (hing), red
chillies or any types of hot peppers as hot foods can
increase sensitivity to the sun. |
HERBS
FOR THE SKIN
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Watermelon puree is
an excellent mask to cool down facial skin. Apply it
evenly, except in the eye area, and rinse off with room
temperature or lukewarm water after 10-15 minutes. Cotton
pads soaked in rose water can be placed over closed eyes.
Another good way to cool the skin is with a milk
bath. Add a couple of drops of rose water to room
temperature milk and either rinse your face with it,
followed by room temperature water, or apply generously
with cotton pads and rinse off after ten minutes with room
temperature water.
The Youthful Skin Cream
contains Butea monosperma (Flame of Forest), which is
renowned in ayurveda for helping to boost the skin's
natural long-term resistance to sun damage as well as
antioxidants to fight free radical damage. "This
cream is not a sunscreen or sunblock," says Vaidya
Mishra, "but it can help keep skin cells healthy and
well-nourished." |
WINTER
TIPS - BEYOND SUNSCREEN
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"Drink plenty of water, and
avoid very hot water for baths and showers if your skin is
photosensitive to keep your skin properly moisturized and to
protect it from the sun," advises Vaidya Mishra.
Take
a warm bath before and after skiing or exposing your skin to
freezing temperatures for a long period of time. Any time
it's freezing outside, the pores of the skin freeze shut and
heat is retained in the deeper layers. This heat dries out
the skin and lowers its resistance to the sun. That is why
many people get worse sunburns after skiing than at the
beach, and it's also why some people's skin breaks out after
a skiing trip. A warm bath before and after tackling the
slopes helps dilate frozen channels and supports the skin in
its effort to release heat trapped in the deeper layers.
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Tel: 01-4789744 
