Winter is perhaps the most pleasant weather; no sultry heat, no humidity. But when it comes to skin health, the cold season spells trouble for many. During this time, experiencing dry and itchy skin is quite common, which occurs due to a fall in temperature and humidity. This causes your skin to lose moisture and natural oils, making it appear dull and flaky. In general, weather is one of the major variable factors contributing to dry skin. Since the cold air drastically affects your usually smooth skin, it is crucial to re-evaluate your skincare regimen to ensure your skin gets the care it deserves. Without proper care routine, dry and itchy skin can become a severe problem.

Dryness can leave your skin feeling tight, rough, and itchy which may appear unpleasant and discomforting. In severe cases, dry skin tends to crack up too. Besides, there is a possibility of different skin diseases occurring as well like eczema, psoriasis, and conditions like acne that can cause irritation. 

Many people prefer cosmetic creams and other products for treating such issues. Since creams that contain steroids can further trigger side effects,  you can consider products that are gentle on the skin. For instance, in Ayurveda,there are several at-home dry skin treatment options available to help maintain flawless, healthy skin all year long. Want to know more about them? Keep reading!

What are the Symptoms Of Itchy Skin?  

Itching may occur in a specific location of the body, such as legs, arms, scalp, or in the whole body. It may happen without any specific changes on your skin. Otherwise, itching may be accompanied by a few noticeable changes such as: 

• Scaly or leathery patches
• Cracked, and dry skin
• Blisters, spots, or bumps
• Scratch marks
• Redness
• Swelling

In a few cases, the itchy sensation could last for an extended time period with varying intensities. After you scratch or rub the affected space, it can trigger a loop of itching, redness, and restlessness. For some people, it can be difficult to interrupt this response.

Dry And Itchy Skin Causes

Skin is the first line of defense for the body. This is why it is more susceptible to diseases, infections, and other problems. Usually, dry skin happens due to various factors in the environment.Here are some causes of dry and itchy skin: 

Harsh detergents or soaps: Soaps, shampoos, and detergents are designed to remove oil from your skin but they can also strip away moisture, leaving your skin dry and dehydrated. 

Heat: Any heat supply, from area heaters and heating plants to fireplaces and wood stoves, will lower the moisture in the space and turn your skin dry.

Hot showers or baths: Taking long, hot showers or soaking in a hot bath could cause dry skin. 

Swimming in pools: Chlorine, a chemical that keeps pools clean, can make your skin dry. 

Weather: During the winter, humidity and temperature usually drop. This can make your skin drier. 

Age: If you’re 40 or older, your chances of having dry skin are higher. Over 50% of older adults have dry skin. 

Geographical location People living in cold or dry climates without much humidity also suffer from dry skin.

Your job: If your skin gets wet often during your job, it’s more likely to dry out. Swimming instructors and hairstylists often face this issue as their skin is regularly in water. 

Genes: Some people may inherit certain health conditions from their parents that cause dry skin like thyroid, eczema, diabetes, kidney disease, and other hormone disorders.

Ayurveda And Skin

According to Ayurveda, Pitta is responsible for the color, texture, and temperature of your skin, along with its luster and glow. It helps to govern the sweating function, absorb everything that we apply externally to the skin, and digests anything that contacts the skin (like chemicals, dust, irritants, and allergens). It’s also important to highlight the fact that excess heat and redness are almost always a sign of aggravated Pitta. 

Skin is one of the primary places where Pitta resides in the body. This not only makes it vulnerable to Pitta imbalance but also an active outlet for it. So, you may need to go a long way to maintain Pitta’s balance in your body. Dry skin treatment in Ayurveda consists of herbal formulations and dry skin natural remedy that helps to maintain your skin health as well.

Effective Ways to Soothe and Manage Itchy Skin 

Moisturizing your skin on a daily basis and maintaining a healthy diet to nourish your skin from the inside are crucial. Most skin experts recommend the following tips and suggestions to prevent itchy and dry skin:

1. It is advisable to take a bath with lukewarm or cold water since hot water aggravates itching if you have dry skin. Along with that, you should try to limit your bathing time to 10 minutes.

2. Avoid using any “fragrance-based” detergents, soaps, lotions, and creams if you’re experiencing skin irritation. Be careful while choosing products labeled as ‘unscented’ as most of them contain harsh chemicals which may further irritate your skin condition.

3. Always use a herbal, natural, and light moisturizer on your skin. Try to use a gentle moisturizer that suits your skin. Also, avoid going out in direct sunlight.

4.  It is recommended to wear stretchable, light, and comfortable clothes made with cotton and other natural fabrics. You should avoid rough textiles and fabrics as they may irritate your aggravated skin and lead to severe itching. 

5. You are recommended to wear stretchable, light, and comfortable clothes made with cotton and other natural fabrics. You should avoid rough textiles and fabrics because they may irritate your aggravated skin, and lead to severe itching.  

6. Extreme stress is also known to worsen skin itching. To manage your stress levels, you can meditate, exercise, and cultivate a hobby besides practicing a healthy lifestyle. 

Ayurvedic and Home Remedies for Dry and Itchy Skin

As per Ayurvedic practice, excess vata is a primary reason behind dry skin. Vata dosha is characterized by attributes like coldness, roughness, dryness, and clarity. Elevated vata dosha may show symptoms like dry and rough skin, thinner blood, electrolyte imbalance, insomnia, chapped lips, and more. To manage dryness caused due to vata dominance, you must practice remedies that display the contrasting qualities like softness, warmth, or thickness. Here are a few easy Ayurvedic and at-home remedies to ease dry and itchy skin naturally:

1. Home Remedies For Dry Skin

There are various home remedies that will help you to relieve itching and the burning sensation of the skin.

A. Cold Applications 

One of the effective methods to reduce itching is applying ice on the affected area. You can either choose a damp cloth, cool showers, or cold compress to bring instant relief. It will slow down the advancement of a skin rash, prevent swelling, and ease itching sensation. 

When you apply cold water or ice to your skin rash, it also helps in reducing the inflammation and swelling immediately. You can go for a cold water shower to relieve body itching.

B. Apple Cider Vinegar 

The primary constituent of apple cider vinegar is Acetic acid, which has been used as an antiseptic and disinfectant. You can apply it to the affected region directly with a washcloth. Along with that, you can add 2-3 cups of vinegar to the bathwater and soak your body in it for about half an hour to relieve body itching. 

C. Baking Soda Or Oatmeal Baths 

Baking soda is popularly used in many medicated powders and ointments because it has antifungal properties. Studies have found its effectiveness in treating and managing different kinds of flora diseases that sometimes cause itchiness.

D. Ayurvedic Lepa 

Lepas are Ayurvedic medical dressing that is prepared from various herbs such as Vacha, Kushtha, Amalaki, and Barley. Lepas have a semisolid or paste-like consistency that is externally applied to the affected skin. As per the ancient Ayurvedic texts, the three classes of Lepas are Varanya Mukhalepa (beautifying), Doshaghna (minimizing Doshas), and Vishaghna (removal of poison). 

A Lepa made from Triphala (Haritaki, Bibhitaki, and Amalaki), Haridra, Sarsapa Taila, Manjishtha, Tulsi, and Aaragvadha is recommended for minimizing itching caused by Dadru. Jeevantyadi Yamaka Lepa, Mahamarichyadi or Jatyadi oil, Tuvaraka, and Karanja are externally applied to help reduce symptoms of psoriasis-like itching.

E. Opt for Abhyanga

Abhyanga refers to an effective self-massaging technique using the appropriate vata-balancing oils like sandalwood, rosewood, almond, orange, lemon, and ylang-ylang, among others. It provides relief by smoothening skin, tissues, or bones that may be experiencing dryness due to vata imbalance.

2. Ayurvedic Solutions For Dry Skin

Along with home remedies you can also consider Ayurvedic solutions for healing dry and itchy skin.

A. Gandhak Rasayana 

Gandhak Rasayana is made with iron, Shuddha Gandhaka (pure brimstone), Cinnamon barks and leaves, Amalaki, Ela, Honey, Trikatu, Maricha, Shunthi, Pippali, and Jaggery. 

All these herbs help in purifying the bloodstream which enables it to effectively treat leprosy, boils, and various other severe skin diseases. The Ayurvedic formulation is also helpful in the treatment of eczema and alleviating itching associated with the skin condition.

B. Arogyavardhini Vati 

Arogyavardhini Vati only helps in treating various skin disorders but also helps in improving the overall health of an individual. It is beneficial in treating and managing skin disorders such as psoriasis, eczema, and ringworm. Along with that, it minimizes the excess doshas, thereby improving the efficacy of panchakarma therapies.

C. Mahamanjisthadi Kwatha

Mahamanjisthadi Kwath is a mixture of ten powerful herbs that are administered to treat diabetes, arthritis, and chilblains (skin sores and bumps). Other than that, it is also considered in the treatment of various skin disorders such as eczema and its related issues. 

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Conclusion

Ayurveda is the most popular well-being system, known for delivering efficacy in alleviating skin disorders and diseases. By adopting a holistic approach, Ayurvedic remedies and solutions can assist with managing a variety of skin issues. Made using the finest natural ingredients, Ayurvedic supplements harness the power of herbs to facilitate healthy, smooth, and flawless skin throughout the year. 

Ayurvedic treatment for dry skin will be helpful for people who suffer from allergic symptoms of the skin. There may be different causes of having skin issues, but it is very important to maintain doshas balance for healthy and beautiful skin. Ayurvedic medicines and home remedies for dry and itchy skin help treat the condition and help maintain the doshas balance. You can also consult with an expert Ayurvedic practitioner for detailed and customized treatment for your skin issues. Healthybazar stands out for offering a wide variety of targeted Ayurvedic medicines for complete skin health. Explore natural skin supplements from top-rated brands and get free shipping on orders above Rs. 499.