Why do some people have effortlessly amazing skin but you don’t? Why does the product that works wonders for your friend, make you break out?
Whatever happens in your body is the effect of the biological energies, tridosha i.e. Vata, pitta and Kapha, acting together with the outer environment, and it is unique for each person. In a healthy body, the doshas are balanced, however, an imbalance in them gives you greasy skin.
Oily skin is characterised by-
- Enlarged pores
- Acne, pimples or blemishes
- Greasy to touch, even after multiple washes
- Shiny t-zone and chin but dry cheeks and mouth area
Why is My Skin So Oily all of a Sudden
The sebaceous glands located under the skin produce a waxy substance called sebum which serves as a natural moisturizer. However, an overproduction of sebum due to certain imbalances leads to the problems of oily skin.
The reasons behind greasy skin could be-
The Climate
Hot and humid climates tend to make your skin produce more sebum than any other. Sweat and sebum can clog your pores and cause breakouts in such conditions.
Puberty
During the age of 15-30 your skin’s sebum secretion is the highest. Oil production is also regulated with androgen hormone secretion, particularly dihydrotestosterone (DHT). This might be why your facial skin becomes even more sensitive around the time of the menstrual cycle or pregnancy.
Genetics
Your body type is largely determined by hereditary attributes. So, if oily skin runs in your family you’re more likely to be affected by it too.
Overwashing
No matter how bizarre it may sound, overwashing can make you oily! It depletes the natural oil from your skin making it dry, in response to which, your skin produces even more sebum to make up for the lost moisture and you get stuck in this vicious cycle.
Stress
Most of the skin and other health issues arise due to stress and anxiety. Increased levels of the stress hormone, cortisol, cause an overproduction of oil and give you greasy skin. Therefore, doing certain types of yoga poses will help to calm your nerves and prevent excessively oily skin.
Owing to all these reasons, sensitive and greasy skin can be a difficult combo to manage. Moreover, jumping from remedy to remedy, in a desperate search for a solution, can do more harm than good.
Ayurvedic treatment for oily skin
Facial skin is highly sensitive and prone to damage when exposed to unhealthy habits like excessive sun exposure, makeup, cosmetic products, bad hygiene and/or wrong skincare.
Cosmetics, such as synthetic fragrances and other small oil-based molecules, like essential oils, penetrate the skin and some of them get absorbed into the bloodstream.
So, keeping it natural is probably the best option available to avoid the chemicals entering your body. On top of that, greasy skin types differ from person to person, which is why you need to find a skincare regimen that works especially for YOU. And that’s where Ayurveda comes to your rescue to fight the oily skin characteristics.
Ayurveda, an ancient system of preventive healthcare that works on the origin of the health issue and nips it in the bud. Also, it provides a highly personalized approach that improves your insides which ultimately reflects in your appearance and outward health.
Skin Types Based on Three Doshas & Tips to Care for Them
When you know about your Prakriti, balancing dosha and treating health problems become easy. It also helps a great deal in choosing the right kind of products to use and avoid those which might cause any harmful reactions. But do not worry as we’ve got you covered with the ayurvedic remedies that will help you deal with your skin problems!
Vata
The skin for Vata dominant people is thin, dry, fine-pored and prone to wrinkles. If vata dosha is imbalanced your skin may become dry and flaky.
- Harsh cleaners should be avoided for such skin types.
- A thin layer of honey can be applied to fight inflammation.
- A slice of tomato with fine sugar for scrubbing helps in removing dirt and oil gently.
- Natural cleansers made with raw milk should be used to restore the lost moisture.
- Consuming a diet for Vata dosha balance will help a great deal.
Pitta
The skin for pitta dominant people is soft, medium thick and sensitive. It needs protection from sunburns and tanning. An out-of-balance pitta can cause redness blemishes and excess oil production in T-zone regions and lead to shiny greasy skin.
- Avoid spicy and deep-fried food.
- Use mild cleansers like lemon juice with raw milk which will rinse sebum and fight bacteria.
- Follow the diet for pitta dosha balance.
Kapha
Healthy Kapha skin is lustrous, moist and supple. If imbalanced it is characterized as oily and thick with large pores. It needs to be cleaned frequently as excess sebum and sweat cause severe acne outbreaks in Kapha skin type.
- Scrubbing with lemon will remove excess oil from clogged pores and help you get rid of overly greasy skin.
- Mud mask (Multani mitti), mixed with turmeric paste controls sebum production and pimples causing germs.
- Always use natural astringent like rose water after cleansing, it will close pores and prevent dirt from entering.
- If required to wash often, use plain water. Pat dry the face as frequent rubbing may irritate the skin.
- Follow the diet for Kapha dosha type Diet based on the dosha types.
Tips to Diet for Healthy Skin (For all doshas)
What if you don’t know your dosha type? We will get you out of that fix too. Here are some general tips for all that you should follow. These are essential for naturally healthy and glowing but no greasy skin.
- Eat fruits enriched with Vit-C and antioxidants like gooseberry, oranges or squeeze lemon to your home-cooked dal.
- Add omega-3 fatty acid to your diet from spinach(wonderful for skin), soy products, nuts.
- Go makeup-free or at least wipe it off completely before sleep to let your skin breathe.
- Apply a cucumber mask to soothe the skin.
- Drink plenty of water.
The Takeaway
To yield the fastest results, each skin type should be dealt with according to its own Prakriti based on the age-old ayurvedic wisdom. Along with proper care and diet, a correct lifestyle is also indispensable to get healthy oil-free skin.
Most of the time, our bad lifestyle and a lack of discipline may lead to one problem which ultimately welcomes several others. That’s why Ayurveda provides an ideal Dinacharya, or daily routine, to help you keep up with a schedule for certain things during the day. This way you can avoid the chances of dosha imbalance and also keep greasy skin at bay.
Happy skincare!
FAQs
Skin conditions are largely affected by the secretion of hormones. It has been observed that during puberty, testosterone which is present in both the sexes and the stress hormone cortisol, make your skin produce more oil.
You have what is called a combination skin type. You should use mild cleansers because of your dry skin and avoid frequent washes. Always pat dry. Washing with plain water frequently works fine for dry and greasy skin type mix.
Sometimes the product that you use might be causing acne and pimples, in such cases, avoid trying any new products without consultation. Leave your skin be and see if the acne has reduced. Some skin types just can not tolerate most of the products that everyone else uses.
In dry weather, your skin produces sebum packed with lipids and fats to lock in the moisture. However, this can make your skin oilier than necessary, so frequently splash plain water on your face and pat-dry or dab blotting paper to soothe your skin.