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Springtime Support for Your Skin
April 10, 2002

Ayurveda suggests a skin care calendar that follows the rhythm of the seasons. Spring is the ideal season to focus on deep-cleansing the skin from within and without. This will foster healthy skin cell growth and counter excess oiliness and breakouts, which tend to be more common at this Kapha time of the year.

In spring, toxins inside the body start to liquefy naturally, and your body works hard to cleanse itself. Some of the accumulated toxins are expelled through the skin, so you need to focus on deep exfoliation and cleansing to keep it looking clear and radiant through this season.

Rx for Spring Skin

Your skin is a mirror of what's happening inside your body. Beautiful skin begins from within, with a balanced diet, good digestion and proper absorption of nutrients by your body. "Start with an ama reducing diet," advises ayurvedic dermatologist Rama Kant Mishra. "If you combine a light, easy-to-digest diet with an internal cleansing program, your skin will look beautifully smooth and radiant."

Here are some tips from Vaidya Mishra for cleansing from within:

Eat light. Cut down on heavy cold foods, deep-fried foods and rich sweets.

Include several servings of fresh organic vegetables, especially cooked leafy greens, in your diet. Whole grains such as quinoa and amaranth are excellent sources of nutrients and fiber.

Eat lots of cleansing foods, such as sweet juicy fruits, during the day.

Add spices such as coriander, cumin, turmeric, and fennel to your diet to help stimulate the digestion and detoxify the skin.

Drink plenty of warm water to help the cleansing process.

For healthy skin, it's also important to keep the elimination system running smoothly.

A seasonal detox program can help purify the whole body, including the skin. Ayurvedic herbal formulas for internal cleansing aid the body in flushing out toxins that tend to accumulate through the winter.

An herbal skin care program

Natural skin care products rich in botanicals that gently cleanse toxins from the skin and nourish skin cells will help rejuvenate winter-weary skin and bring the bloom back.

Here are some things to remember:

Do a warm oil massage regularly and follow with a warm bath to allow impurities to liquefy and flow out of the body tissues.

Thoroughly cleanse your face morning and night with a gentle, non-drying cleanser. Rinse with plenty of warm or room temperature water.

Exfoliate your skin with natural herbal clay, preferably one infused with nourishing herbs and pure essential oils, twice a week to eliminate toxins, wash away that heavy, oily feeling and leave your skin feeling fresh and youthful.

It's important not to put anything on the skin that can clog the pores. Choose a moisturizer that nourishes the skin without being greasy or clogging.

Wear a hat when you go out in the spring sunshine to protect your skin and maintain moisture balance.

With a little care and a routine in step with the seasons, your skin can look truly beautiful and radiant all through the spring.

Note: This ayurvedic information is information and is not intended to replace standard medical care or advice.