Q. My skin is very dry and flaky. Please help!

A. According to ayurveda, dry flaky skin occurs when Vata dosha is out of balance in the physiology. Vata dosha is made up of the two elements space and air. Space and air predominant skin is delicate and prone to dryness and flakiness. Ayurvedic healers recommend the principle of opposites to restore balance. Here are some tips that will help:

Include lots of sweet juicy fruits of the season in your daily diet. Ripe sweet mangoes, in particular, are excellent for your skin type.

Drink lots of pure water for adequate hydration. Favor spring water with a pH of 7.5 for balanced hydration.

Try almonds (soaked and blanched), walnuts (soaked), and raisins (particularly the darker kind) as snack foods.

A full-body daily massage with a relaxing massage oil can help revitalize both body and mind. Bonus: Your skin receives the benefits of added lubrication and enhanced circulation.

Drink whole organic milk to feed and hydrate your skin. Boil the milk, cool to a comfortable temperature and then drink it.

Use gentle cleansers that are not soap based. Lentil flours mixed with cream or yogurt make nourishing natural cleansers.

Moisturize skin twice daily. Ayurvedic facial oils offer replenishment and rich lipid support for delicate parched skin.

Amalaki, Brahmi, Triphala and Ashwagandha are powerful ayurvedic herbs that restore balance to Vata and help Vata skin look healthy and glowing.