The skin is an outward reflection of our internal health. Dull skin, for instance, may indicate dehydration, a lack of essential nutrients, or an inconsistent skincare routine. As the most visible organ, the skin also provides insight into the health of the body tissues it protects. It's more than just an aesthetic aspect—it’s a window into overall well-being. Disorders of the gut, blood, hormones, and even the heart can manifest as skin issues, such as rashes.

Ayurveda has long emphasized the importance of skincare. In today's fast-paced world, a proper skincare routine is indispensable, not only for physical health but also for mental well-being. While modern skincare offers a plethora of products, many come with side effects. Ayurveda provides a holistic solution, addressing skincare concerns naturally and sustainably.

Ayurvedic Skin Types

Ayurveda classifies skin types based on the three doshas:

1. Vata (Wind) Vata

Vatadominant individuals tend to have dry, rough skin that wrinkles easily if not properly moisturized.

• Oil application: Pinda taila is ideal for moisturizing dry skin.
• Internal care: Mahatiktaka ghrita helps reduce dryness.
• Face pack: Use Eladi churna or Navara rice face packs to moisturize and reduce dryness.
• Hydration: Drink plenty of water to combat dehydration.

2. Pitta (Fire) Pitta

Pitta dominant individuals often have oily skin, prone to acne, rosacea, and discoloration.

• Oil application: Nalpamaradi tailam is best for pitta skin.
• Cleansing: Wash your face with Eladi or Manjishtadi water to reduce discoloration and tone the skin.
• Cooling elements: Use aloe vera, turmeric, and sandalwood to combat inflammation, pimples, and redness.

3. Kapha (Water and Earth)

Kapha skin tends to be cold, oily, and prone to pimples, whiteheads, and water retention.

• Avoid oil-based creams: Use face masks regularly to control sebum production.
• Therapy: Dhara with Triphala churna or Eladi water is beneficial.
• Oil application: Eladi coconut oil is ideal.

Panchakarma for Healthy, Radiant Skin

Panchakarma therapies help detoxify the body and enhance skin health. Key treatments include:

Abhyanga and Pizhichil: These therapies pacify doshas, enhance skin tone, and act as natural moisturizers.

Navara Kizhi: Improves skin softness and complexion.

Snehapana: Internal lubrication with ghee to maintain hydration and promote a natural glow.

Ubtan: A traditional herbal paste for exfoliation and nourishment.

Lepam: Herbal poultices to soothe inflammation and heal skin conditions.

Garshan/Udwarthanam: Dry brushing to stimulate circulation and exfoliate dead cells.

Shirodhara: Oil pouring therapy to relax, de-stress, and improve sleep quality.

Panchakarma Detox: A five-step detoxification process to cleanse the body and rejuvenate the skin.

Internal Routine for Healthy Skin

1. Stay hydrated and drink 2–3 liters of water daily. Incorporate water-rich fruits and vegetables like watermelon, cucumber, and oranges. Herbal teas with ginger, lemon, or chamomile aid digestion and promote glowing skin.

2. Follow a balanced diet based on your Ayurvedic prakriti and elevated doshas. Include whole grains, dairy, seasonal fruits, and antioxidant-rich foods like tomatoes, broccoli, and papaya. Avoid fried, refined, and processed foods, as well as excessive sugar, salt, and red meat.

3. Regular exercise promotes blood circulation, detoxification, and skin nourishment. Activities like yoga, walking, or dancing improve oxygen flow, flushing out toxins and revitalizing the skin.

4. Maintain a consistent sleep schedule. Restful sleep stimulates growth hormones, promoting collagen and elastin production, which keeps skin firm and youthful.

Small, gradual adjustments in daily routines can lead to healthier, more radiant skin. Embrace an Ayurvedic skincare regimen, complemented by panchakarma therapies, to achieve sustainable and natural skin health.

Metformin is the first-line treatment for type 2 diabetes in adults and children aged 10 years and above. The drug has also found applications in managing Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS), formerly known as Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). But a recent study says that it may have some potential use in a non-metabolic health condition: Long COVID.

Researchers found that people who were prescribed metformin shortly after testing positive for COVID-19 had a significantly lower risk of developing Long COVID than those prescribed other medications.

How Was The Study Conducted?

Also read: 'It’s The Best-Studied Vaccine In Human History': Former CDC Adviser Busts Common Myths About COVID Vaccines

The study, titled Metformin at the Time of COVID-19 Infection and Risk of Long COVID: A Target Trial Emulation Study, was published in the Journal of Medical Virology recently.

Researchers have been exploring metformin's antiviral and anti-inflammatory effects, especially during the early stages of COVID-19 infection. They are specifically investigating if metformin could reduce the risk of Long COVID if taken soon after contracting the infection.

The researchers examined health records of more than 21 million people from the US National COVID Cohort Collaborative (N3C). They identified adults who had tested positive for COVID-19 between March 2020 and September 2023. They compared two groups:

Metformin group: People who received a new prescription for metformin within six days of their documented COVID-19 infection.

Comparison group: People who received prescriptions for other medications, including fluvoxamine, fluticasone, ivermectin or montelukast, during the same period.

The researchers excluded people who were already taking metformin or had conditions like diabetes, PCOS or gestational diabetes that could explain why they were prescribed the drug.

After statistical adjustments to make the groups more comparable, the researchers compared 248 people in each group. They then tracked the development of Long COVID or death over the following 180 days (six months).

Also read: Can Low-Dose Naltrexone Ease Long COVID Symptoms? New Study Examines The Evidence

Can Metformin Help Reduce The Risk Of Long COVID?

People who were prescribed metformin within six days of a COVID-19 infection had a 53% lower relative risk of Long COVID or death compared to those on other medications.

“Metformin prescription within the week following documented SARS-CoV-2 infection was associated with a 53% reduction in LC/D [long COVID or death] over 6 months in this primarily Omicron-infected sample,” wrote the authors, led by researchers from the University of Minnesota Medical School.

The study found that the risk of Long COVID or death within six months was 4.0% in the metformin group as 10 out of 248 people developed symptoms.

In the comparison group, the number was 8.5% as 21 out of 248 people presented symptoms of Long COVID. Overall, the weighted chance of Long COVID or death in patients on metformin or control treatment within six days of diagnosis was 6.3%. The absolute difference between the two groups was 4.5 percentage points.

“These results are also consistent with a recent sequential target trial analysis in the United Kingdom that assessed metformin started within 90 days of infection, HR [hazard ratio] 0.36,” the authors wrote. “The replication of results in clinical trials is important for informing treatment guidelines.”

More About Long COVID

Long COVID refers to symptoms that occur after a SARS-CoV-2 infection and cannot be explained by another diagnosis.

Symptoms may include brain fog, fatigue, cognitive difficulties, breathlessness, sleep disturbances and problems with everyday activities. These symptoms may last for months or even years.

Research has also suggested that brain inflammation may persist even after the virus is no longer detectable.

Some people improve over time, while others experience prolonged illness that affects their ability to lead routine lives.

When a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer, the conversation tends to centre on surgery, chemotherapy and targeted drugs. At She Takes Charge, a unique forum held in Delhi, eminent women oncologists turned to what comes with it: the fear, the diet confusion, the follow-ups, the return to work, and beyond just treating the cancer.

She Takes Charge brings leading women oncologists from across India onto one platform to improve breast cancer survivorship care. It extends the Take Charge campaign, launched by Novartis with Times Network in October 2025, which aims to help patients and their families advocate for themselves, hold informed discussions with their doctors and make the choices that are right for them. The campaign shifts the focus from survival alone to empowered living, with an emphasis on lowering the risk of recurrence while protecting quality of life. It reached around 90,000 people through its website last year.

The Delhi chapter, the first of the forum, was organised by Times Network and Novartis with the Hansa MedCell team, and was attended by oncologists in person and online. It is a pilot, meant to shape counselling toolkits for patients and paramedical staff around three themes: support, heal and empower.

In attendance were Dr Meenu Walia, Dr Pankaj Goyal, Dr Seema Singh, Dr Jyoti Wadhwa, Dr Priya Tiwari, Dr Saphalta Baghmar and Dr Kripa Bajaj. While, many joined virtually and included Dr Shalaka Joshi, Dr Shona Nag, Dr Jovita Martin and Dr Sailakshmi Dayana. Dr Priya Parmar, chief operating officer of the Indian Cancer Society in Delhi, who helped shape the Take Charge initiative, offered the patient perspective.

Information in her own language

“We need women to be armed with information,” Dr Parmar said, adding that it must come in a language the patient understands. She noted that a simple question such as “what should I eat” can hide something larger: a woman now living on dal, bhaat and aloo, and feeling guilty about what her illness has cost her family.

One size does not fit

Doctors suggested tailoring material by age, education and employment, and urged organisers to add economic status. Dr Dayana, a gynae-oncologist at Apollo Hyderabad, said women with a strong family history or a BRCA mutation need more intensive counselling, since they worry about what they may have passed on to their children. Others asked for separate content for women under 30, and for material that follows the treatment a patient is receiving.

Anticipate, then share the load

Moderating the support segment, Dr Walia said the aim is “treating the woman in totality.” She argued that side effects should be anticipated and managed early, with the whole treating team, including nurses and paramedical staff, ready to answer simple questions on food and nausea. One oncologist said the antiemetic section of the toolkit should reflect that a 2.5 mg dose of olanzapine, tested in a Tata Memorial randomised trial, had led to a change in NCCN guidelines.

Doctors also spoke of the burden on the treating oncologist. Patients in India often expect one doctor to explain the diagnosis, the treatment, the diet and the exercise, and some consultations run to an hour. Participants called for trained support staff and counsellors to share the work.

Video, volunteers and time alone

Doctors agreed that patients forget much of what they hear in the consulting room. Many now ask patients to record counselling sessions, and Dr Dayana said she wished for “a better and animated, a better edited video” to offer instead. Video was also seen as the way to reach women outside the metros, who may not see a specialist often. Dr Joshi described pre- and post-operative classes at her hospital, led by patient volunteers for almost a decade and now being converted into a QR code. Dr Baghmar urged oncologists to give each patient five to ten minutes alone, away from family members who often speak for her.

Myths on the plate

Diet drew the liveliest debate, with sugar, keto diets and boiled fruit coming up repeatedly. Dr Joshi’s advice was simple: “roti, sabzi, dal, rice is a kind of a square Indian meal that cannot go wrong.” Another oncologist said she sets no restrictions beyond avoiding food that is too spicy, too oily or cooked by someone whose hygiene is unknown. One doctor raised weight gain after treatment, noting that some patients on endocrine therapy ask about weight-loss injections. The advice was to check thyroid function and see an endocrinologist, not to give blanket advice.

On exercise, doctors favoured mild activity such as walking and yoga during treatment and strength work afterwards, always cleared by the treating oncologist. The group agreed to build evidence-based consensus documents on diet and sexual well-being.

Beyond the breast

Participants asked for content on contraception, pregnancy after treatment, genetic testing, screening for other cancers, breast prostheses, health insurance and caregivers, described by one doctor as a neglected pillar of cancer care. Doctors also flagged two issues that are often missed. Young women need counselling on preserving their eggs before chemotherapy, and some patients develop shoulder and spine problems after mastectomy that are mistaken for other pain. Follow-up testing was another gap: doctors said some clinicians still order routine chest X-rays, and the group wants a consensus on which scans are needed.

Novartis demonstrated two tools: an offline HTML tool for HR-positive, HER2-negative early breast cancer that walks patients through a treatment plan, and a patient microsite that adds follow-ups and medication reminders to a phone calendar. Feedback from She Takes Charge will feed into a white paper.

Ahead of Diwali festivities, Delhi is once again battling its annual air pollution crisis. The city's air quality index (AQI) - which measures PM2.5, fine particulate matter, has crossed 500 in some regions, entering the "hazardous" category, raising health concerns for millions in the capital.

The effects of air pollution are not just limited to physical health. Apart from your lungs and heart, long-term exposure to toxic air can render you feeling anxious, stressed, demotivated and mentally fatigued.

The reason behind this is not one-fold. The worsening of mental health due to air pollution is a culmination of many factors.

From particulate matter triggering inflammation and negatively affecting the body’s stress response to restrictions on outdoor activities, disturbance in sleep and lack of physical activity, air pollution contributes to mental health burden in many ways.

Dr Varsha Viswanathan, psychiatrist at Athulya Senior Care and Athulya Geriatric Care Hospital, Chennai, told HealthandMe that particulate matter in polluted air can enter the bloodstream and trigger inflammatory responses.

She explained, “This may lead to oxidative stress and affect brain functions involved in mood regulation, attention, memory and emotional processing. Over time, these changes may contribute to increased irritability, mood disturbances and difficulty managing emotional responses.”

Air Pollution & Stress

Also read: Climate Crisis Is A Health Crisis: Just 6 Actions Could Save 1.6 Million Lives, Says WHO

PM2.5, consists of tiny airborne particles that can penetrate into the lungs. Some can even enter the bloodstream and cause inflammation and oxidative stress. These effects may also affect the brain and its functions.

Cortisol is a hormone related to the body’s response to stress. Changes in stress regulation due to pollution may make it harder for some individuals to manage everyday challenges. Dr Viswanathan explains that air pollution may also affect the body’s stress-response system.

“Repeated exposure to environmental pollutants can affect the regulation of stress hormones such as cortisol. This may increase physiological stress and contribute to symptoms such as restlessness, heightened alertness, difficulty relaxing and persistent feelings of tension,” she says.

Air Pollution & Anxiety

Also read: Air Pollution In Delhi: Experts Warn Of Red Eyes, Itching, Watering In Children

Apart from stress, living in highly polluted cities can also cause one to feel constantly uncomfortable, uncertain and anxious. Kakul Faruqi, Senior Consultant Psychologist at LH Hiranandani Hospital, Mumbai, told HealthandMe that pollution can become a source of fear and withdrawal.

She said that someone who is prone to anxiety, breathing difficulty may be interpreted as a sign of immediate danger, which could trigger further fear and distress.

“Psychologically speaking, pollution can be a source of discomfort, fear and withdrawal. A coughing fit, trouble breathing and insomnia can exhaust an individual, making it more difficult for him or her to cope with daily stresses. An individual who is susceptible to panic attacks can experience fear and negative interpretations of physical symptoms due to trouble breathing,” Faruqi explains.

She also said that repeated exposure can also make the threat feel inescapable. Faruqi says that when individuals perceive pollution as a problem beyond their control, the resulting uncertainty can become extremely overwhelming.

Lack Of Outdoor Time May Contribute To Depression

Also read: Supreme Court Allows Green Crackers In Delhi-NCR Ahead Of Diwali: Are They Really Safe For Your Health?

Faruqi explains that pollution can make it harder to engage in behaviours that support psychological health.

When pollution levels are high, people normally avoid spending time outside socialising, exercising, walking, and spending time in green spaces. These activities often provide opportunities for physical movement, social connection and relaxation. Missing out on these activities can affect one emotional and mental well-being.

“The reduction in outlets for relaxation, in addition to experiencing feelings of loneliness and frustration, can lead to depression,” she says.

Dr Viswanathan also highlights how poor air quality can disrupt sleep, physical activity and normal social routines, which could further worsen mental well-being.

“Inadequate sleep and reduced physical activity can, in turn, affect emotional regulation, concentration and the ability to cope with everyday stress,” she says.

How To Protect Your Mental Health When AQI Is High?

When AQI is high, it is important to reduce exposure but at the same time, maintaining routines that help psychological well-being is also important. Faruqi recommends checking air quality in one’s locality, adjusting exercise habits accordingly and making an effort to preserve sleep and social interaction.

Some practical measures include:

• Adjust outdoor activities: Check local air quality levels and move exercise indoors when pollution is high. Avoid strenuous outdoor activity during severe pollution.

• Maintain physical activity: Indoor exercise can help preserve movement and routine when outdoor conditions are unsuitable.

• Protect sleep: Maintain regular sleep and wake times, and reduce indoor pollution where possible.

• Stay socially connected: Continue interacting with friends and family, even when outdoor meetings are difficult.

• Limit repeated pollution checking: Stay informed through reliable sources, but avoid continuously monitoring pollution levels without taking practical steps to reduce exposure.

• Seek professional support: Constant anxiety, depressive symptoms or difficulty carrying out everyday activities should not be ignored.

Faruqi advises that “if one experiences persisting anxiety, depression, or impairment in functioning, a visit to a mental health professional would be advisable.”