Think of what happens when you take a fresh, soft slice of bread and put it in the toaster for two minutes. The heat removes the moisture and the bread becomes hard, dry and crumbly.
When your skin is dry, it's lacking water. A common misconception is that dry skin is a result of a lack of oil in the skin, but it is actually a condition brought on by a lack of moisture or water in the epidermis (the outermost layer of skin.)
The epidermis is composed of tissue primarily made up of sulfur containing fibrous proteins called keratin, the same chemical basis as hair and nails. Keratin needs water to keep it supple and pliant. When moisture evaporates more quickly, the result is dry, itchy skin which, in extreme cases, can lead to dermatitis.
Eight Tips for healing extremely dry skin:
Exfoliate your skin. When the skin is dry and flaky, an essential part of your skin care regime must involve gently removing the dead skin cells on the top layer of your skin. Body brushes are great for this. A body brush is along wooden brush with soft bristles that gently remove dead skin cells and can also be used to wash hard to reach places like your upper back. If you're not interested in a body brush you can use either salt or sugar scrub to exfoliate while you're in the shower or bath. Two great options are 4Mula's SaltGlo and Red Flower's Lemon Coffee Blossom Olive Stone Scrub. Once your skin is exfoliated it's ready to absorb moister, which can then be retained in the skin cells.
Lubricate your skin. Use a moisturizing lotion to trap the water in. First, pat dry with a clean, soft towel. Do not rub because this only tends to irritate dry skin. Then apply a moisturizer. Look for ingredeitents that will lock moister into the skin such as beeswax and shea butter or serine, which is an amino acid, or hyaluronic acid. Top (perservative free!) picks for moisterizers are:
- Red Flower's Plum Blossom Silk Creme for an amazing scent that will last for hours after applying it to your skin. This creme leaves the skin very smooth.
- Boscia Jujube Rejuvenist Whipped Body Creme for a thick moisturizer that gives impressive results after just a few days when used in extremely dry climates. Also a great choice for someone who may be sensative to scents or perfumes.
- Dr. Hauschka Rose Body Moisturizer because it's so gentle you can use it on babies everyday!
Turn down the thermostat. Try keeping the air somewhat cooler by turning the thermostat down a notch or two. Think of the dry, parched heat baked desert floor as opposed to the smooth, malleable soil of the forest. Just like the ground we walk on, skin will react better to cooler conditions.
Use a humidifier. Place humidifiers throughout the house, especially in bedrooms. If you do not have a humidifier, keep a kettle of water on the woodstove.
Get more plants. A healthy dose of plants in each room will help to keep moisture in the air, but be sure to water them frequently.
Take a bath. Instead of showering every day, revitalize your skin by spending a few minutes soaking in lukewarm water every other day or at least two times a week. Do not use hot water and do not oversoak. A simple fifteen minute bath will do the trick.
Enjoy the sunshine. Get out there and frolic in the snow but be sure to cover your skin with the proper clothing and use lip balm and suntan lotion on exposed areas. Sunshine helps the body to convert Vitamin D, and exercise helps to circulate the blood throughout the body. Good circulation is crucial to good health.
Get Your Omegas. Incorporating the essential fatty acids omega 3 and omega 6 into the cell membranes is one way to combat dry skin. These can be found in nuts and seeds as well as the oils of soybean, sunflower and evening primrose.
Follow these tips for just a few short weeks and you'll begin to feel the benefits of having soft, smooth skin.
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