ACTINIC KERATOSIS- Ayurvedic Treatment, Diet, Exercises, Yoga & Pranayama

  Actinic keratosis is included under skin diseases. It is the formation of a rough, scaly patch on the skin caused by years of sun exposure.  It is also known as solar keratosis.

• SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF ACTINIC KERATOSIS
• CAUSES OF ACTINIC KERATOSIS
• PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF ACTINIC KERATOSIS
• DIAGNOSIS OF ACTINIC KERATOSIS
• TREATMENTS FOR ACTINIC KERATOSIS
• PROGNOSIS OF ACTINIC KERATOSIS
• COMPLICATIONS OF ACTINIC KERATOSIS
• ACTINIC KERATOSISAND AYURVEDA
• NIDANA- AYURVEDIC CAUSES OF ACTINIC KERATOSIS
• PURVAROOPAM- AYURVEDIC PREMONITORY SYMPTOMS OF ACTINIC KERATOSIS
• SAMPRAPTI – AYURVEDIC PATHOGENESIS OF ACTINIC KERATOSIS
• LAKSHANA- AYURVEDIC SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF ACTINIC KERATOSIS
• AYURVEDIC PROGNOSIS OF ACTINIC KERATOSIS
• CHIKITSA- AYURVEDIC TREATMENT FOR ACTINIC KERATOSIS
• AYURVEDIC LOCAL TREATMENT FOR ACTINIC KERATOSIS
• AYURVEDIC SAMANA TREATMENT FOR ACTINIC KERATOSIS
• AYURVEDIC SHODHANA TREATMENT FOR ACTINIC KERATOSIS
• COMMONLY USED AYURVEDIC MEDICINES FOR ACTINIC KERATOSIS
• HOME REMEDIES FOR ACTINIC KERATOSIS
• DIET AND BEHAVIOUR FOR ACTINIC KERATOSIS
• YOGA FOR ACTINIC KERATOSIS

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF ACTINIC KERATOSIS

• Thickening of skin
• Scaly patches
• Itching
• Crusting

CAUSES OF ACTINIC KERATOSIS

• Intense exposure to sunlight

PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF ACTINIC KERATOSIS

The long term exposure to UV light causes the formation of thick scaly patches on the skin. They are typically located on the face, scalp, neck and extremities.

DIAGNOSIS OF ACTINIC KERATOSIS

1. EXAMINATIONS

• Inspection of the skin by a dermatologist

• INVESTIGATIONS

• Laboratory tests – to detect the underlying pathology

TREATMENTS FOR ACTINIC KERATOSIS

• Laser treatment
• Cryosurgery
• Photodynamic therapy

PROGNOSIS OF ACTINIC KERATOSIS

• Generally, actinic keratosis is manageable with medications

COMPLICATIONS OF ACTINIC KERATOSIS      

• Actinic cheilitis
• Skin cancer
• Psychosocial problems

ACTINIC KERATOSIS AND AYURVEDA

• In Ayurveda,actinic keratosis falling under ‘charma kushta’.
• According to Ayurveda, twak rogas are known by the general term Kushta. Charma kushta is one of the types of Kshudra Kushta. General medicines used for the treatment of skin diseases (kushta) are effective in actinic keratosis.

NIDANA- AYURVEDIC CAUSES OF ACTINIC KERATOSIS

• Excess consumption of dry, oily, unctuous food
• Vitiation of dosha and dhatus
• Exposure to skin irritants
• Exposure to sunlight

PURVAROOPAM- AYURVEDIC PREMONITORY SYMPTOMS OF ACTINIC KERATOSIS

• Thickening of skin

SAMPRAPTI – AYURVEDIC PATHOGENESIS OF ACTINIC KERATOSIS

 In the pathogenesis of charma kushta, tridoṣas (vāta, pitta and kapha) are involved, particularly vata along with rasa and rakta dhatu.

LAKSHANA- AYURVEDIC SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF ACTINIC KERATOSIS

• Hasthi charma khara sparsa – skin resembling that of an elephant and rough to touch

AYURVEDIC PROGNOSIS OF ACTINIC KERATOSIS

• Sadhya – curable with proper ayurvedic therapies.

CHIKITSA- AYURVEDIC TREATMENT FOR ACTINIC KERATOSIS

Ayurvedic local treatment for actinic keratosis

• Rubbing kushtadi churna with karanja oil

AYURVEDIC SAMANA TREATMENT FOR ACTINIC KERATOSIS

• Patolamooladi kashaya
• Gandhaka Rasāyana
• Panchatikta ghrita
• Mahatiktakam kashayam
• Mahamanjishtadi kashayam
• Vilwadi gulika

AYURVEDIC SHODHANA TREATMENT FOR ACTINIC KERATOSIS

• Vamana- emesis
• Virechana – purgation

COMMONLY USED AYURVEDIC MEDICINES FOR ACTINIC KERATOSIS

Internal administration

• Patolamooladi kashaya
• Arogyavardhini Rasa 
• Gandhaka Rasāyana
• Panchatikta ghrita
• Mahatiktakam kashayam
• Mahamanjishtadi kashayam
• Vilwadi gulika

HOME REMEDIES FOR ACTINIC KERATOSIS

• Intake of Indian gooseberry – Nourishes the skin

DIET AND BEHAVIOUR FOR ACTINIC KERATOSIS

• Avoid food items that produce dosha imbalance like cold and dry food, hard to digest. Because dosha imbalance aggravates the symptoms.
• Consume easily digestible food items
• Avoid exposure to dust, smoke, irritants
• Avoid exposure to sunlight for a long duration

YOGA FOR ACTINIC KERATOSIS

• Nadi Shuddi Pranayam    – calms the mind  and provide overall immunity and healthy skin

The patient needs to be seated in a meditative posture with the head and spine erect, with the body relaxed. The patient has to close his one nostril (e.g. left nostril if using the right hand and vice versa) with the thumb and exhale completely through the other nostril. Again, he will have to breathe in deeply through the other nostril while the opposite nostril is still closed with the thumb.

                              Video:  https://youtu.be/d324ZzE-uXc

• Sarvangasana
• Halahalasana                 provide healthy skin
• Bhujangasana