According to Ayurveda, stress can trigger, or aggravate skin disorders such as acne, hives, eczema, psoriasis, rosacea, warts, cold sores and blisters.  This is because skin is an organ, connected to our physiology and also our mind.  Skin is affected by stress much as any other organ would be.  In stressful situations the fight-or-flight mechanism kicks in, sending the flow of blood and nutrients to areas of the body that are necessary to respond to the stress, and away from areas considered non-essential, such as the skin.  If this happens often enough, the skin is deprived of both blood and oxygen, making it dull, dry, and more prone to clogged pores.  Stress impacts our immune system, and also our digestion.  Poor digestion affects skin health because the nutrients of the foods are not properly absorbed, and the undigested impurities accumulate in the body faster than the body can get eliminate them.  What to do?  Ayurveda recommends a holistic system for stress management and skin health:

-Meditate to help keep the mind and emotions balanced.

-Eat a balanced diet of fresh foods recommended for your dosha.  Avoid caffeine.

-Make sure you get the sleep you need, both quantity and quality

-Exercise, but don’t overdo it.  Practice yoga, pranayama (breathing exercises) and walk to relax the mind and tone the body.

 

Absolute Beauty: Radiant Skin and Inner Harmony with the Ancient Secrets of Ayurveda