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Acne is among the most common of skin conditions. It
afflicts most teenagers to some degree, and can even extend into adulthood, or
reoccur in menopause. The degree of severity can vary, from a few
breakouts, to extensive formation of cysts and sometimes even can create scarring.
All degrees of acne can have a significant effect on social and
emotional health and can be the source of physical pain and
local skin infections. Ayurveda Viewpoint Ayurveda is the traditional medical system in India, which has been in place for thousands of years. According to ayurveda, there are three doshas, or mind/body types – Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. An imbalance in the doshas causes disease. Acne typically involves an imbalance in all three doshas, which is why you need to approach it through multiple modalities. An imbalance in Vata results in impaired digestion and accumulation of toxins. An imbalance of Pitta affects the blood and liver allowing for inflammation. Excess Kapha, which controls the production of sebum, results in clogging of the pores. This combination of impaired digestion, accumulation of toxins, inflammation, and over-production of sebum creates the perfect environment for the overgrowth of bacteria resulting in chronic acne. The overgrowth of bacteria is only an effect of the underlying imbalances, but not the ultimate cause of acne. That is why treating acne with antibiotics orally and topically may never fully cure the problem. |
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