Acne vulgaris

A clear, radiant face is often celebrated as a symbol of health and beauty. It reflects not just physical attractiveness, but also vitality and confidence. Smooth skin, with an even tone and natural glow, can enhance one’s features, making the eyes sparkle and the smile brighter. A beautiful face invites connection and can convey emotions effortlessly.

The human face showcases this beauty in its most natural state, but it is often impacted by a common skin condition known as Acne Vulgaris. A face with acne is often met with societal challenges, but it’s important to recognize that acne is a common skin condition affecting millions, especially during adolescence and young adulthood. Acne can manifest as pimples, blackheads, whitehead, papule, pustules  and cysts, resulting from various factors such as hormonal changes, genetics, stress, and diet.

Dealing with acne can be frustrating and emotionally taxing, it's essential to approach it with compassion and understanding. Each pimple tells a story of growth, change, and resilience. A face with acne reflects a journey of navigating skin health, and it can serve as a reminder that beauty is not just about perfection but about embracing one’s authentic self.

In Ayurveda, this condition is referred to as Mukhadooshika or Youvana Pidaka, resulting from an imbalance of the three doshas: vata, pitta, and kapha, with vitiation of blood. Shape of the pimples resembles the thorn of Shalmali tree. Contributing factors include poor diet and lifestyle choices, inadequate skin care, and mental stress. Depending on which dosha is imbalanced, symptoms of acne can vary: vata leads to severe itching and dryness with blackish discoloration; pitta causes redness, heat, and pus; while kapha results in increased oiliness and pus formation.

Management of Acne

In Ayurveda,  mainly two types of Chikitsa (treatment)  are  described  Shodhana Chikitsa (purification  treatment)  and  Shamana Chikitsa (palliative treatment). In Shodhana Chikitsa, it seeks to excite the doshas in the body and then it is subsequently expelled  out through the nearest  route available. Once these Doshas are expelled, disorders  due  to  Kapha  and  Pitta  have  a  lesser  chance  of reoccurrences. Common sodhana therapies are vamana (emesis), nasya (nasal instillation) and raktamoksha (blood letting). In  Shamana Chikitsa,  it  is  the treatment which neither aggravates the doshas nor is it  expelled  out  of  the  body,  instead  it  seeks  to normalize the doshas in their  sthanas (location) to bring about a state of equilibrium of the doshas in the body. Here we are make use of certain internal medicines along with dietary modification which helps to reduce the vitiation of doshas and external therapies like lepa (face pack), kshalana (washing with medicated water) .Manjishta, lodhra, yashtimadhu ,Kumkum,kumari are some of the herbs which have proven efficacy in treating various acne conditions.

Taking care of acne is a journey that requires patience, understanding, and self-compassion. It’s important to remember that acne does not define you; it’s simply a part of your skin’s story. By adopting a consistent skincare routine, making mindful lifestyle choices, and seeking professional guidance when needed, you can effectively manage breakouts and promote healthier skin.