MY SKIN FLAKES DURING WINTER
QDuring winter, my skin flakes a lot and I also get frostbite. During summer, my palms sweat a great deal and I perspire excessively. Can this be managed by ayurveda? A Most dry skin conditions are caused by environmental exposure. The weather, central heating and air conditioning, hot showers and harsh soaps could also cause skin issues. In the winter, falling temperatures and low humidity dehydrates the skin and may cause some peeling. Excessive sun exposure also causes the top layer of the skin to peel.
Frostbite cases are rare in the UAE unless you have been in direct contact with ice, very cold metals or liquids or are out in the cold wind for long periods of time. Some of the more serious causes of what you describe include eczema, psoriasis, thyroid disorders and allergies. Meet an ayurveda doctor to rule out any of these problems.
Make sure to drink enough fluids daily to avoid the tendency of getting dry skin in the first place. Switch to a milder soap. Sticking to a diet rich in protein, iron and Vitamins A, B and C can show an improvement in your skin.
Protein-rich foods include meat (not fried), fish, nuts and dairy products. You can get your iron from beans, peas and cereals. Lots of citrus fruit and vegetables will help you get your daily intake of Vitamins A, B, and C. Also, use a moisturiser right after your bath. This will seal in the moisture.
Pitha (fire) body types are prone to excessive sweating, according to ayurveda. The severity can vary from time to time. It can be made worse by triggers such as anxiety, emotions, spicy foods and heat. Anxiety about the sweating itself may worsen the condition. Others may have sweating as a symptom of medical conditions such as over-active thyroid gland, gout, rheumatoid arthritis, liver disease, hypoglycemia and anxiety disorders. Localised over-sweating affecting the palms, soles and/or armpits is responsive to emotional stimuli rather than to temperature stimuli. When stress levels are high, the sweat glands go into overdrive, leading to the development of palmoplantar hyperhidrosis.
Daily intake of a teaspoon of ghee can be helpful in your case; medicated ghees like Mahathiktakam ghritham, Vidaryadi ghritham are drugs of choice. Finally, I suggest you include black raisins in your daily diet. Raisins help balance the pitha. You can have around 10-15 raisins a day, either soaked in water overnight and had in the morning or sauteed in ghee and eaten.