The Ayurvedic Approach to Hyperpigmentation

Chronic exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun is the number one cause of hyperpigmentation. This sun damage is because UV rays trigger the production of melanin, and over time, as we age, the melanin accumulates in certain areas of the skin, causing small, flat dark spots. These spots are typically on the face, shoulders, hands and arms. This type of hyperpigmentation is also referred to as liver spots, age spots or solar lentiginosis.

Melasma is a skin condition that causes more prominent dark spots that usually occur on the face as symmetrical patches commonly found on the forehead, cheeks, chin and upper lip. Excess UV rays can cause or trigger melasma, although hormonal changes are usually the root cause. Hence, the reason why melasma is common during pregnancy (referred to as “the face of pregnancy”, and 90% of people who develop melasma are women.

When a person is healing from acne, a wound and/or trauma to the skin, the body has a natural inflammatory response. When this inflammation occurs, it can cause excess melanin production, resulting in post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH). PIH appears as flat discoloration on the skin and is typically tan, brown or dark brown. When one has an acne scar, this is generally a result of PIH.

Screen time on your computer, laptop, tablet or smartphone could also contribute to an uneven skin tone and hyperpigmentation. New studies report that blue light emitted from our devices can negatively affect people with darker skin tones.

It has been well documented that hyperpigmentation is more frequent and severe for people with darkly pigmented skin who don’t use proper sun protection. This sensitivity is common in individuals with Fitzpatrick III - VI skin types, including darker white, light brown, brown, dark brown and black skin. Interestingly, people with these skin types are usually less likely to burn from the sun; hence they may be the ones who are less likely to utilize SPF.

Ayurveda shares that when we keep our bodies hydrated, toxins are flushed away and blood circulation to the skin increases. Through these actions, our skin cells can stay hydrated and refreshed, allowing them to resist the sun’s UV rays more readily. In short, proper hydration supports radiant, glowing skin and an even skin tone.

How much water will keep you hydrated each day? Ayurveda teaches that one should drink half their body’s weight in ounces of water daily. For example, if someone is 140lbs, they should drink at least 70 ounces of water each day and even more if they are engaging in strenuous exercise that results in perspiration.

Eating the colors of the rainbow, especially skinfood favorites like avocados, fatty fish, sweet potatoes, carrots, walnuts, sunflower seeds, watermelon, mangos, papaya and citrus fruits, are all wonderful ways to keep the skin looking and feeling its best. This is thanks to the antioxidant-rich properties that whole, prana (life force energy) rich foods dispense with their essential vitamins, minerals and healthy fats.

To discover healthy, balancing foods for your dosha, explore our vata, pitta and kapha blogs dedicated to this topic.

Treatments that make you perspire or sweat in Ayurveda are called svedana therapies. When we sweat, toxins that have built up in the body's organs are released, circulation increases and, yes, even our skin also benefits! Through svedana, clogged pores expel dirt, grime and toxins from our daily environment, which helps to decongest the skin. Additionally, through svedana, moisture is brought to the surface, rehydrating the skin. Also, the minerals and salt contained within sweat naturally exfoliate and brighten the skin’s surface.

What is the best way for you to break a sweat? Ayurveda suggests steam rooms and stabilizing, slow-moving, strengthening yoga for vata dosha. If you are predominant in pitta dosha, steam rooms for a short period of time are recommended, as well as stabilizing, slow-moving yoga enjoyed in the early morning hours when it is still cool and mild outside. For kapha dosha, Ayurveda recommends utilizing dry saunas and any form of cardiovascular exercises like power yoga, vinyasa yoga or jogging. Last but not least, all doshas can enjoy traditional svedana therapy, which involves an herbal steam tent or box to help induce sweating. The amount of time a person stays in the svedana therapy depends on the person’s Ayurvedic constitution and current state of the doshas.

Getting one’s beauty sleep is no joke! While asleep, your body repairs itself from the previous day’s stress, allowing time for your body to recharge and reset while you are at rest. Even more, if you incorporate the PAAVANI Skincare Ritual into your evening routine, your skin can optimally restore and absorb all of the healing antioxidants and nourishing properties of each product.

A good night’s sleep varies between 6-9 hours per night. Your predominant constitutional dosha determines how much sleep is necessary to feel fully rested and rejuvenated. For instance, a kapha type thrives on 6 or 7 hours of sleep, while a vata type does best with 8-9 hours and a pitta type performs optimally with 7-8 hours per night.

To go to bed at the same time each night and rise at the same time each morning is the best way to ensure a proper night’s sleep. According to Ayurveda, one should be in bed no later than 10 pm and awake no later than 6 am. This timing honors the cycle of the doshas and will guarantee the deepest, most productive “beauty sleep.”

Blue light screen protectors and glasses, like the ones offered by Ocushield, will block the amount of blue light exposure throughout your day. According to Ocushield, their screen protectors block 90% of blue light between wavelengths 380 nm to 420 nm and up to 40% blue light from 420 to 500 nm. Ocushield glasses and clip-on lenses block 95% of blue light between wavelengths 380 nm to 420 nm and up to 50% from 420 to 500 nm. Hence, b lue light blockers provide a significant amount of protection that will reduce the adverse effects of blue light.

Applying skin protection daily onto the face as a lightweight mineral sunscreen will help reduce melanin production and subdue further skin hyperpigmentation. We recommend sunscreen with SPF 50 as it protects you from about 98% of UVB rays. Our goto tinted mineral sunscreen is Sunforgettable Total Protection Face Shield Flex SPF 50 by Colorscience. This hydrating, antioxidant-rich all-mineral formula is powered by patented EnviroScreen® Technology which means comprehensive defense against UVA/UVB, blue light, pollution and infrared radiation, combined with advanced antioxidants and nourishing, hydrating ingredients for long-term skin health.

Ayurvedic skin care recommends gently exfoliating the skin daily to clear dead skin cells, unclog and clean pores, increase absorption of products like our Facial Toners and Facial Serums and can reduce signs of hyperpigmentation. Our Cleansers & Masks offer gentle, daily exfoliation through the help of earth-based clays and organic powdered herbs and essential oils specifically formulated for your skin type. Our Vata Skincare Line supports dry skin, our Pitta Skincare Line balances sensitive and combination skin, our Kapha Skincare Line renews oily, congested skin, our Clarify Skincare Line treats blemish-prone skin while our Tridoshic Skincare Line maintains the longevity of skin that is already healthy and not experiencing any imbalances.