My last post on hormonal acne received such a huge response that I decided to invite beauty blogger Sophia Smith to introduce us to some Ayurvedic treatments for acne. Ayurveda is one of the world’s oldest systems of holistic medicine. Ayurveda uses diet, herbal treatments, and yogic breathing to balance bodily systems.

Even woman who’s had it easy in her teens can still struggle with hormonal PCOS acne. The good news is that Ayurvedic approach can be very helpful for restoring the imbalances at the root of PCOS acne. Ayurvedic healing methods encourage you to restructure your life in order to restore your hormonal balance and help your skin heal. The following are Ayurvedic methods for resolving the imbalances associated with acne.

Help Your Body Detox

Our bodies are already designed to cleanse themselves, to use up the nutritious foods we eat while at the same time discarding the elements that are not healthy for us. This process is similar to the way you breathe: your lungs effortlessly filter out carbon dioxide and disperse oxygen. According to Ayurvedic principles, acne is an indication that your inherent detoxing systems are having trouble eliminating harmful substances. Ayurveda teaches that regular physical activity improves your body’s natural detoxing system by increasing your metabolism, improving the oxygenation of your body, delivering nutrients to every cell, and sweating out toxins.

Ayurvedic Diet and Acne

Ayurveda recognizes three basic “doshas,” or types of acne, and recommends specific dietary changes based on the type of acne you have.

  • Vata acne presents with skin dryness and poor digestion. Introducing healthier fats and oils, such as omega-3 fatty acids, can improve this type of acne.
  • If you have skin irritation, such as redness, then you are dealing with Pitta acne, which is caused by inflammation. Cool, calming foods – as opposed to spicy meals – are the best remedy.
  • Women with Kappa acne will have extremely oily skin. Kappa acne sufferers should eat more spicy dishes and avoid oily foods.

Try Jojoba Oil

Even though Ayurveda focuses on what you can do from within to tackle chronic acne, it also recognizes that skincare products can aid in healing. Jojoba oil is famous for its twofold effect: it’s able to help your skin balance the production of sebum, while it simultaneously nourishes your pores. Unlike many other oils, jojoba is not heavy or greasy, but very light and easy to absorb, thus making it a great choice both for acne that comes with flaky, dry skin, and the irritated, oily types of acne.

Home Remedies

You can try homemade treatments that are based on Ayurvedic principles. For example, you can make a paste from turmeric to cleanse pores or use honey to help pimples heal. This article is a helpful reference for homemade ayurvedic acne treatments.

Manage Stress and Get Enough Sleep

Stress makes us restless and keeps us awake at night, which can increase cortisol production and make skin problems worse. Chronic stress and sleep deprivation is bad for your skin and leads to more health problems down the road, so Ayurveda emphasizes the importance of quality sleep and stress management techniques.

If you wish to improve your sleeping habits, you can create an Ayurveda-approved ritual before bed, such as a meditation session, using essential oils such as lavender to soothe your mind, or practicing Abhyanga, Ayurvedic oil massage, before your evening bath.

Ayurvedic methods for treating acne take into consideration your whole lifestyle – from what you put on your skin to how much sleep you get at night. Applying these basic principles or seeking out an Ayurveda practitioner could help balance your hormones and restore your beautiful complexion.

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Erika Portrait

Hi! I'm Erika.

I’m a certified Personal Trainer and Nutrition Coach. I also happen to have Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. I help guide guide women living with PCOS toward a lifestyle that gets their symptoms under control so that they have the time, energy, and confidence to thrive. My tips, plans, programs, and guides cover all the information I wish I had when I was first diagnosed.

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