What Are Skin Problems And Its Common Causes?

As the largest organ in the body, skin is a common source of problems. Skin problems have a serious impact on people’s quality of life, causing lost productivity at work and school, and discrimination due to disfigurement. Skin changes may also indicate the presence of more serious diseases that need treatment.

 In the past, such conditions were ignored or given low priority by people because they were usually not fatal. The distress they cause can unfortunately often be overlooked by many. 

 Surveys suggest that 20-30 per cent of us have a skin problem which deserves medical attention, but that most of us do not see doctors about them, preferring to treat them ourselves. Skin problems are among the commonest reasons for which people seek Ayurvedic treatment. 

 If you are worried about your skin conditions, it is extremely important to seek help from a medical professional. You do not need to suffer in silence.

 Common Skin Problems

 Eczema

Eczema, or atopic dermatitis, is a chronic skin condition that causes the skin to become dry, inflamed, itchy, and red. In more severe cases, skin may become scaly, chapped, or cracked, and develop small red bumps. Eczema flare-ups typically appear on the hands and feet, elbows, ankles, wrists, face, and neck.

 Causes & Symptoms:

 Eczema can be caused by genetic mutations, immune system dysfunction, and some potential triggers such as stress, low humidity environments, hot showers or baths, harsh cleansers and soaps, and allergens such as cigarette smoke, dust, pet dander, and certain foods. 

Itching, redness, grainy appearance to the skin, dry, scaly skin, and pale patches on skin are some classic symptoms of eczema. More severe cases, such as those covering large areas of the body, those accompanied by oozing sores, and those with evidence of infection may require immediate medical treatment.

 Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a common, persistent, and chronic autoimmune disease that causes cells to build up quickly on the skin, creating thick, discolored (white, silvery or red) patches of skin. These patches, called plaques, range in size and severity, but can become extremely itchy and tender. Very visible plaques can make patients feel self-conscious and affect quality of life as well.

 Causes & Symptoms:

 Psoriasis tends to run in families; it most commonly comes on in late teenage or early adult life. It can be triggered by some medicines (antidepressant, antihypertensive and anti-malarial drugs), injuries to the skin, hormonal changes, stress and anxiety and infections with streptococcus bacteria.

 The main symptoms of psoriasis are red, flaky, crusty patches that may have easily-shed, silvery scales covering them. They are also likely to cause an intense itching or burning sensation.

 Leucoderma or Vitiligo

 Vitiligo is a condition that causes the loss of pigmentation (or color) of the skin. It appears as lighter patches of skin with undefined borders. Vitiligo can affect any part of the body, such as skin, hair, or even the pigment of your eye. The condition is not life threatening or contagious.

 Causes & Symptoms:

 Immune system issues, heredity, physical trauma or stress, psychological distress, exposure to industrial chemicals, UV rays, pollutants, or other environmental factors seems to trigger vitiligo.

 Patchy loss of skin color, premature whitening or greying of the hair on scalp, eyelashes, eyebrows or beard, loss of color in the tissues that line the inside of your mouth and nose, and loss of or change in color of the inner layer of the eyeball (retina) are some of the common symptoms of vitiligo.

 Urticaria or Hives

 Hives, also called urticaria are red, itchy, raised bumps or welts on the skin. They may be small, like mosquito bites, or many inches wide. Hives can appear alone, in a group or can connect with each other to cover bigger areas. When pressed, the center of the hive turns pale. They can be made worse by scratching. 

 Causes & Symptoms:

 Viruses and infections, extreme hot or cold temperature, direct sunlight, rubbing or scratching of skin, wearing tight-fitting clothes, emotional stress, exercise, foods, medicines - antibiotics and pain killers, latex, plants, insect stings or bites, animal dander, and chemicals may trigger hives.

 Symptoms of ordinary hives flare up suddenly and usually for no specific reason. Welts appear, often in several places. The welts may be skin-colored, pink, or red, and they flare, itch, cause swelling, and go away in a matter of a few minutes to hours, only to appear elsewhere. This sequence may go on from days to weeks. 

 Best Ayurvedic Treatment For Skin Diseases

Ayurveda aims to maintain the natural balance of an individual’s skin by curing the imbalances in the three doshas in the body – Pitta, Kapha and Vata. 

 While dermatological ailments are known to be caused due to the aggravation of Pita in the body, it is also triggered by impairment of the nervous system, controlled by Vata. Critical level of toxin accumulation in tissues may make the skin hyper-responsive or allergic to environmental substances. 

 Ayurveda offers holistic treatment through the customised combination of ayurvedic herbal medication, ayurvedic medicinal massage treatment and dietary recommendations. 

 Since removing toxins is the basis for treating skin problems, detoxification therapy and Panchakarma are the much-advised treatment methods. The Allergy Management treatments help in fighting allergy symptoms, controlling and preventing them from reoccurrence, naturally. This is also helpful in fast-tracking the treatment process.

 Removal of toxins from the body is the core principle of Ayurvedic treatment for allergies and skin issues. The comprehensive treatment includes:

 

·          Medicated massages to reduce blockage of circulation to tissues and to            improve skin condition.

·         Ayurvedic medication for improving digestion and elimination processes.

·         Colon cleansing using gentle laxatives and enema therapy.

·         Vata balance-restoring solutions to boost the natural healing process.

·         Panchakarma treatments.

·         Ayurvedic medications for boosting immunity.

·         Internal cleansing herbal preparations and supplements to eliminate the built-up toxins.

·         Stress reduction and management therapies.

·         Recommendation of diet and lifestyle modifications.

 According to the constitution of the body, diet follow-up is essential for health and longevity. Every patient should observe precautions in diet the time of usage of the medicine to avoid aggravation and to obtain speedy results.