Winter & Ayurveda: Why Skin Gets Dry and How to Take Care of It

Hemanta Ritucharya explained — simple, evidence-linked, and patient-friendly guidance for healthy winter skin.

Author: Dr. — (Ayurvedic Physician). Format: Article 1 in Winter Skin Series.

1. Which season is this? — Understanding Hemanta Ṛtu

In classical Ayurveda the cold season is divided into two: Hemanta (mid-November to mid-January) and Śiśira (mid-January to mid-March). Hemanta marks the beginning of winter when the environment becomes colder and drier; Vata starts to accumulate though Agni (digestive/transformative power) is strong. Śiśira is colder and tends to aggravate Vata further.

हेमन्ते हि बलं पुरुषाणां भवति… वातानुलोमनार्थं स्नेहनं स्वेदनं च।
Aṣṭāṅga Hṛdaya, Sūtrasthāna 3/7–12 (Hemanta description)

Takeaway: Right now (Hemanta) the body is best nourished with unctuous, warming measures — particularly snehana (oiling) and mild swedana (steam). These practices protect the skin from the dry, rough qualities of Vata.

2. Why does skin become dry in winter? (The Dosha story)

Winter air is cold, light, and dry — the same qualities as Vata. Ayurveda describes Vata as rūkṣa (dry), śīta (cold), laghu (light) and mobile — conditions that lead to moisture loss from the skin and reduced pliability.

रूक्षो मरुत् शीतो लघुश्चलोऽनिलो।
Aṣṭāṅga Hṛdaya, Sūtrasthāna 11/28 (Nature of Vata)

Clinical effects: Increased transepidermal water loss (TEWL), reduced sebum production, skin tightness, scaling, chapping of lips, cracked heels and aggravation of chronic dry skin disorders such as eczema and psoriasis.

Modern correlation: Dermatology confirms that low humidity and cold reduce barrier function and sebum output — the same clinical picture Ayurvedic texts attribute to increased Vata.

3. Classical view: Skin (Tvak) in Ayurveda

Ayurveda describes skin as being composed of multiple layers and linked to the five mahābhūtas. Winter mainly affects the outermost layers producing roughness and loss of luster.

त्वगस्ति मज्जा मेदोऽसृगनिलं पित्तमेव च। रक्तं च पञ्चभूतानि त्वक् पंचतलं स्मृतम्॥
Suśruta Saṃhitā — Śārīrasthāna (Five layers of skin)

Clinical tip: Protecting outer layers with external unctuous agents (oils, ghṛta) and nourishing the inner tissues (via rasāyana and diet) preserves skin health during Hemanta.

4. General skin-care measures in Hemanta (Ritucharya)

A. Daily Abhyanga (Oil massage)

Abhyanga is the single most important daily measure for winter skin. It nourishes the skin, increases lubrication and reduces Vata. Even short self-massage (5–15 minutes) every morning or evening gives measurable improvement.

अभ्यङ्गं त्वग्वृद्धिकरं स्मृतम्।
Aṣṭāṅga Hṛdaya, Sūtrasthāna 2/8

B. Recommended oils & ghṛta

Condition	Recommended oil/ghṛta	Notes
General dryness	Sesame oil (तिल तैल)	Warming, nourishing; classical first choice for Vata
Very dry / eczema / cracked skin	Śatadhouta Ghṛta (100× washed ghee)	Cooling, deeply soothing; safe for sensitive areas
Complexion & anti-aging	Kumkumadi Taila / Kumkumadi Ghṛta	Traditional brightening and anti-pigmentation formula
Stiff joints & whole-body	Mahanarayan Taila	Used for Vata stiffness and musculoskeletal comfort

C. How to perform simple Abhyanga (practical)

Method: Warm 1–2 tbsp oil (adjust to body size). Apply gently from head to toe with circular motions on joints. Spend extra time on dry patches, heels and elbows. Leave 20–30 minutes (or 5–10 min for a quick routine) then bathe with warm water and a mild cleanser.

D. Steam (Swedana)

Mild local or facial steam pacifies Vata, improves circulation and helps topical oils penetrate. Avoid intense steaming if you have rosacea, active inflammation or severe acne.

स्वेदनं वातनाशनम्।
Aṣṭāṅga Hṛdaya — (Swedana pacifies Vata)

5. Diet for healthy winter skin (Hemanta Ahāra)

Hemanta is an ideal season for nourishing the tissues. Ayurveda prescribes warm, unctuous, easily digestible foods that build rasa and meda—the foundational support for healthy skin.

Classical pointer: Ghṛta and unctuous foods are strengthening and nourishing in winter (Caraka & classical śāstras).

Category	Examples / Foods
Healthy fats	Desi ghee, sesame oil, soaked nuts, coconut
Warm grains	Rice, wheat, millets (bajra, jowar)
Dairy	Warm milk with turmeric, paneer (in moderation)
Fruits & antioxidants	Amla, pomegranate, dates
Vegetables	Carrot, sweet potato, beetroot, greens

Hydration & herbal drinks

Prefer warm hydrating drinks (ginger-cinnamon tea, mulethi decoction) rather than iced beverages. A spoon of ghee in warm water (or ghee + honey in appropriate doses) may be used as a short-term nutritive tonic under physician guidance.

6. Internal herbs & rasāyana for skin

For complexion, tissue nutrition and antioxidant support choose classical rasāyana herbs; these are useful during Hemanta when the body is receptive to nourishment.

Herb	Primary benefit	Classical note
Amla (Emblica officinalis)	Antioxidant, improves complexion	Caraka: described as a prime rasāyana and varnya
Yashtimadhu (Glycyrrhiza glabra)	Softens skin, anti-inflammatory	Used to improve skin tone
Manjistha (Rubia cordifolia)	Blood purifier, supports pigmentation	Commonly used for skin discolorations
Ashwagandha	Anti-aging, stress support	Classical rasāyana

Clinical note: Use these agents under guidance if the patient is on medication, pregnant or has chronic disease.

7. Face & local care (daily and weekly)

Daily essentials

• Gentle cleansing with milk or mild cleanser
• Apply a small amount of ghee (or Kumkumadi/Kumkumadi-like oil) on cleansed face at night
• Use lip protection (ghee or medicated balm)
• Avoid long, hot showers which strip natural oils

Weekly: Hydrating ubtan (paste)

Simple ubtan recipe: sandalwood 1 tsp, yashtimadhu 1 tsp, manjistha 1 tsp, multani mitti 1 tsp. Mix with milk/rose water + ¼ tsp ghee. Apply 10–12 minutes and rinse gently.

उत्सादनं त्वग्मलघ्नं वर्ण्यं च।
Aṣṭāṅga Hṛdaya, Sūtrasthāna (on utsādana/ubtan)

8. Winter skin problems & Ayurvedic solutions

Problem	Why (Ayurvedic)	Suggested Ayurvedic measures
Dry skin / scaling	Vata increase → rūkṣatā	Daily Abhyanga (sesame oil / ghṛta), internal rasāyana, warm diet
Cracked heels & lips	Severe local dryness	Night application of sesame oil + ghee; occlusive dressing for heels
Winter dandruff	Vata-Kapha imbalance	Oil massage followed by warm wash; neem-based hair oil
Eczema / psoriasis flare	Vata-Kapha aggravation with impaired skin barrier	Śatadhouta Ghṛta externally, manjistha/neem decoctions, physician supervision

9. Practical patient advice (Simple & action-oriented)

1. Start with short daily self-Abhyanga (5–15 min) using warm sesame oil.
2. Include 1–2 tsp desi ghee in warm foods or as advised (not in uncontrolled hyperlipidemia without physician check).
3. Replace iced drinks with warm herbal teas (ginger, mulethi).
4. Use a gentle weekly hydrating ubtan rather than abrasive scrubs.
5. See an Ayurvedic physician for persistent eczema, severe dryness or altered sensation.

Quick home remedy for chapped lips: apply a thin layer of ghee or sesame oil + a pinch of turmeric at night. Reapply morning after cleansing.

10. Classical references

Primary classical sources cited in this article:

• Caraka Saṃhitā — Sūtrasthāna & Cikitsāsthāna (rasa, ghṛta & ritucharya references)
• Aṣṭāṅga Hṛdaya — Sūtrasthāna (Hemanta, Abhyanga, Swedana references)
• Suśruta Saṃhitā — Śārīrasthāna (Tvak / five-layer description)
• Bhāvaprakāśa — for classical rasāyana and varnya dravyas

(Use standard printed editions for word-for-word quotes and page references when preparing academic citations.)

Final takeaway: Hemanta Ṛtu calls for nourishing routines — daily oiling, warm and unctuous diet, gentle steam and rasāyana herbs — to protect and revitalize the skin. These classical measures map closely to modern dermatological advice on barrier repair and hydration.

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