Ayurvedic  Skin  Types

All skin types look clear and radiant when the doshas are in balance. No skin type is better than  another. They are simply different in design, and all perfect in their own right when undisturbed. But, depending on our constitution, each of us is born with a tendency to develop specific types of skin problems when we are imbalanced.

Vata  skin  in balance:

Thin, fine pored, darker complexion with a whitish or grayish hue

Cool to touch, especially in hands and feet, dry or rough and flaky in patches

Climate sensitive

Vata skin out of balance:

Lack of tone or luster

Rough patches, chapping and cracking

Dry rashes

Corns and calluses

Dry eczema

Pitta skin in balance:

Fair, peachy, coppery, often freckled

Soft lustrous, warm

Chemically sensitive

Pitta out of balance:

Rashes, inflammation, itching

Oily T-zone

Premature wrinkling

Yellow acne, blackheads, whiteheads, general excessive oiliness

Discoloration of natural pigmentation

Kapha skin in balance:

Thick, moist, pale

Soft and cool to touch

Tones well, ages well

Kapha skin out of balance:

Dull, sluggish, congested

Enlarged pores overall

Blackheads or large white pustules or cystic formations

Thick oily secretions

See also: Essential oils and skin care.

TODAY’S  TIP:

If you are confused about your skin type, check the appearance of your pores. Small fine pores overall are sign of Vata skin, enlarged pores overall, a sign of Kapha skin; and enlarged pores on the T-zone with small, fine pores elsewhere are a sign of Pitta skin.