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.

Scientists have found that a type of morning-after pill may help protect young women from developing breast cancer. The drug, which is already available for free on the NHS, blocks the hormone progesterone and has been shown to trigger changes in breast tissue that make it less likely for cancer to form. One woman who chose to undergo a double mastectomy as a preventive measure says the discovery “offers hope” to others at high genetic risk of the disease.

A team from Manchester University studied 24 women between 2016 and 2019 who were at high genetic risk of breast cancer due to family history. These women, aged between 34 and 44, took ulipristal acetate, and researchers observed that their breast tissue became less dense and less stiff, conditions that make it harder for cancers to grow.

What Is Ulipristal Acetate?

Ulipristal acetate is commonly prescribed as emergency contraception and to treat moderate to severe uterine fibroids. It works by blocking progesterone receptors, delaying ovulation, and altering the uterine lining to prevent pregnancy, as per 1mg.

Earlier research has also shown that triple-negative breast cancer tends to return or spread more quickly than other breast cancer types, especially within the first few years after diagnosis.

Is Ulipristal Acetate A Promising Step Toward Prevention?

Dr Sacha Howell, lead author of the study and Consultant Oncologist at The Christie Hospital in Manchester, said, “Our research shows that progesterone has a vital role in the development of breast cancer among high-risk women. By blocking its effects, ulipristal acetate and similar drugs could serve as effective preventive treatments,” he explained.

The findings suggest that using ulipristal acetate to prevent breast cancer may one day help women at higher risk before menopause.

Currently, these women face only two preventive options: long-term hormone therapy, which can cause side effects like higher blood clot risk and reduced bone density, or preventive surgery to remove part or all of the breasts.

The Need for Better Options

Dr Simon Vincent, chief scientific officer at Breast Cancer Now, which funded the study, said, “We urgently need better preventive treatments that protect both health and quality of life for women at high risk of breast cancer. Repurposing existing medications, like ulipristal acetate, could be a major step forward. Right now, the available options—preventive surgery or hormone therapy can have a serious impact on both the body and emotional wellbeing.”

The study, published in Nature, found that ulipristal acetate reduced the growth of certain breast cells known as luminal progenitors. These cells can develop into triple-negative breast cancer, an aggressive form of the disease that often affects younger and Black women.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before starting, stopping, or changing any medication or treatment.

New research suggests there is a strong connection: if your heart health isn't great when you are in your 40s or 50s, you have a higher chance of being diagnosed with dementia much later in life. The study, published in the European Heart Journal, of 6,000 people found those who developed dementia had high levels of a protein called troponin. This protein signals heart muscle damage and showed up in their blood up to 25 years before they were diagnosed with the brain condition. People with high troponin levels were 38% more likely to get dementia.

How Can a Heart Test Reveal Dementia Risk?

Troponin is a chemical that doctors usually look for when they think someone has had a heart attack. However, even if you haven't had a heart attack, high levels of troponin can still mean your heart muscle is being damaged bit by bit over time or isn't working as well as it should.

This damage can hurt the body's blood vessels, which in turn can reduce the amount of vital blood flowing to your brain. The researchers checked health data from a long-running study that followed people for an average of 25 years after they had their heart protein levels tested.

How is Heart and Brain Health Connected?

According to the American Brain Foundation, poor heart health significantly raises your risk for a stroke because arteries supplying the brain can become narrowed by plaque buildup or instantly blocked by blood clots. This damage, called an ischemic stroke, is accelerated by issues like high blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, and smoking. Taking care of your heart ensures your brain receives the necessary healthy blood flow.

Keeping your heart and blood vessels healthy also significantly lowers your risk of developing dementia later on. Heart disease is closely linked to memory decline; coronary heart disease alone increases dementia risk by 40%. Managing risk factors like high blood pressure, diabetes, and especially cholesterol is key to protecting your long-term brain health.

Thinking about your brain's blood flow may not be a daily habit, but adopting healthy habits consistently over the long term can make a huge difference. No matter your age, it is never too late to start focusing on improving and protecting your circulatory and brain health.

Can Testing for Heart Diseases Prevent Dementia?

The researchers points out that the damage leading to dementia happens very slowly, over many years. They emphasize that if you manage common problems like high blood pressure in your middle years, you might be able to slow down or even stop the development of dementia, just as you protect yourself from heart problems. The scientists think testing for troponin could eventually become a key part of a doctor's check-up to predict someone's future risk of developing dementia.

Heart Health is Brain Health

Health experts agree that these findings are a strong reminder that the health of your heart and your brain are inseparable. The best ways to protect your brain are the same ways you protect your heart: keep your blood pressure and cholesterol down, exercise regularly, manage your weight, and avoid smoking. Medical foundations are now putting more money into research focused on understanding and preventing this connection, particularly vascular dementia.

A recent study has listed 11 risk factors that could reveal your risk of developing dementia. As you may know, dementia affects millions of people throughout the world. According to the World Health Organization in 2021, 57 million people worldwide lived with dementia, and about 60% of them lived in low- or middle-income countries.

Dementia, like many other conditions, does not have a cure, so its treatment involves delaying the onset of symptoms. The best way to ensure the symptoms stay under control is by getting an early diagnosis. However, the visible effects of conditions like dementia take a long time, they only become obvious when the disease has affected your body for a long time.

With the help of these risk factors, published in the BMJ Mental Health, people can work on reducing their chances of developing dementia.

11 Key Risk Factors of Dementia

To help people know if they are at high risk and inspire them to make changes, UK researchers have developed a new tool. This tool, called the UK Biobank Dementia Risk Score (UKBDRS), uses a set of characteristics to correctly predict up to 80% of dementia cases. Researchers believe that using this score could help prevent up to 40% of future dementia cases.

Researchers tested 28 different factors linked to dementia but found that 11 characteristics stood out as the most important predictors. These 11 factors include a mix of things we can change and things we cannot change. The new factors identified in the study, published in BMJ Mental Health, are:

• Age
• Education
• Family history of dementia
• Poverty
• History of diabetes
• Stroke
• High blood pressure
• Depression
• High cholesterol
• Being male
• Living alone

This new score was found to be just as effective as, and even outperformed, three other widely used dementia risk tests.

Who Is More At Risk For Dementia?

Some of these factors, like age and a family history of dementia, have long been known to increase risk. However, the study highlighted some newer or previously less emphasized risks:

Men were found to be more susceptible to dementia. While historically women have had higher rates, men often face increased risks for heart and blood vessel problems like cardiovascular incidents and tend to visit the doctor less often. Lifestyle habits more popular among men, such as smoking and heavy drinking, can also raise the risk.

Regardless of gender, living alone and living in poverty also increases the likelihood of cognitive decline. Feeling lonely can raise the risk of dementia by as much as 31% in older adults. Not having enough basic necessities, like food or shelter, can increase chronic stress, which is linked to higher rates of dementia.

While these new factors are very promising for predicting future cognitive health, it's important to note one limitation of the study: the participants were not officially diagnosed using the standard clinical assessments.

Despite this, the findings are helpful. People who score highly on this risk test, meaning they have several of the 11 risk factors, may benefit from seeing a doctor for additional testing and early intervention as more research is done.