“My skin is really dry and I’m miserable, do you have any help for me?”

There’s usually some help to be had for those who search for answers and are willing to make some changes.

Dry skin is so common, and yet a complex problem due to the many factors that can produce or contribute to the dryness.  Some of these factors include heredity, environment, nutritional status, exposure to chemicals and irritation of the skin from any source. 

 There are plenty of products claiming to alleviate dry skin, however for many people the problem is not solved by simply smearing on the newest in advertised creams.  My suggestions approach the problem from two aspects - inside and out; making changes in only one area will likely leave you with less than optimal results. 

 I’ve listed specific things your body requires to build and maintain healthy skin.  Examine your habits and compare them to the list to see what changes you can make to help yourself be more comfortable.

 Help your skin from the inside:

•  Drink 6-8 8 oz glasses of pure water each day.
• Sleep in adequate amounts, this is when your body heals and repairs itself.
• Avoid smoking and drinking alcohol.
• Eat a balanced nutritious diet - your skin can’t glow if it doesn’t have the fuel.  You do your body and skin a favor by including as much organic and all natural food as possible in your diet plan.
• In addition to a well balanced diet, include foods that contain essential fatty acids (EFA);  flaxseed, flaxseed oil, safflower oil, sunflower seeds, sunflower oil, walnuts, hemp oil, evening primrose oil, peanuts and sesame seeds are all high in EFAs.

Help your skin from the outside:

• Use only fragrance-free products; perfumes and synthetic fragrances are the #1 skin irritant.

      Practical tips for avoiding perfume and synthetic fragrances:

• read ingredient labels carefully, looking for the words perfume, fragrance or fragrance oils and avoiding any product that contains them.
• check laundry supplies and cleaners.
• check skin care and hair care products.
• check Kleenex, toilet paper and personal care item
• Protect your skin from weather extremes, especially the sun and cold weather.
• Protect your skin from physical irritation-example: wear gloves when gardening or working outdoors.  Wear long sleeves and pants when engaging in activities were skin can be irritated or damaged.
• Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize.

      Practical tips on using moisturizers:

• Buy a good quality, natural moisturizer.
• Moisturizer everywhere daily and the driest areas of skin as often as you necessary to stay comfortable.
• Moisturizers are most effective right after bathing; they seal in the water that your skin absorbs from the bath.
• Choose a moisturizer without glycerin if you live in a dry climate or your moisturizer will actually draw the moisture from your skin.
• Protect your skin from chemicals in general – this one is important and you may not have considered the negative effects to your skin.  Most commercial products contain chemicals that are hard on your skin, this includes the majority of cleaners, sprays, hair care and skin care products.

      Practical tips to keep irritating chemicals off of your skin:

• use natural products whenever possible, they tend to be less irritating and much gentler to the skin.
• wear gloves when working with cleaners, solvents, doing the dishes etc.
• remember that anything you spray into the air, like cleaning solutions or hairspray, will drift around and may settle on your skin.
• Tone down the temperature of your bath; steamy hot water dries out your skin. 
• Avoid swimming in chlorinated water.

Question & Answer (Part II):

“The skin on my face must be really dry.  I get these white flakes, especially on my cheeks and it looks awful.   People comment on what dry skin I have, but it doesn’t itch or hurt and I use lots of lotion.  It’s worse when it’s cold outside. What do you recommend?”

Everyone’s skin is constantly being renewed, with new skin being built from within and the old skin flaking off.  This process is natural and occurs continually without most of us even noticing the event.  For some people the process gets off balance and there are things you can do to help it along.

 The problem has two main components: the general condition of the skin and the rate of the renewal cycle.  To address the skin health aspect of your problem  read through the suggestions in the previous question on dry skin.  To specifically take care of those annoying skin flakes, you need to exfoliate your skin.

 Exfoliate means to remove the surface scales or flakes from the skin.  This will make your skin smoother, softer and improve the overall appearance.  The process when done correctly will also increase circulation, allow other skin care products that you use to reach deeper into the skin and leave you with healthier skin overall.

Be cautious when choosing an exfoliant;  you want a natural product that relies on gentle ingredients to prevent any damage to your skin.  When you use an exfoliant product, read the instructions carefully and use a light touch yourself until you know how much pressure and massage is needed to exfoliate your skin.

**We have many products that will help with dry skin!  My "go-to" products are the Dakota Free Moisturizer, Dakota Free Baby Balm, Dakota Free Facial Cleanser, Scrub, and Mask, and Millennial Essentials Lavender Relief .  If you have allergies or any sensitivities, please reach out to us as these products may not work for you and we have alternatives!!