Say Goodbye to Dry Skin

Many factors can lead to dry skin. Factors like what we eat, what we use on our bodies, stress and lifestyle.

So, how do we eliminate dry skin when all of these factors can play a role? We get to the root cause.

Factors:

What You Are Eating:

The foods we eat can play a huge role in how our skin appears. Our skin is the largest organ of the body and is usually the first to show signs of disbalance within our bodies.

It is a good idea to do an elimination diet when you are unsure why you are experiencing chronic dry skin. An elimination diet is when you eliminate certain foods for at least 3 weeks from your diet, then add the food back in and take note of the symptoms. If you have adverse symptoms like bloating then remove the item from your diet completely. Dry skin can usually be closely tied to something you are eating, as symptoms will present in the body as a warning sign to you.

Coffee, sugar, salty foods, and refined carbs can irritate the gut and cause symptoms like dry skin. Coffee is very dehydrating and acidic. Fixing dry skin can be as simple sometimes as just eliminating a food irritant. For example, a lot of individuals that suffer from dairy intolerances will experience symptoms like dry skin, acne, rashes, skin irritation, eczema, etc. And by removing dairy from their diet, they can experience complete skin healing.

Some supplements could be helpful such as probiotics, digestive enzymes, collagen and fish oil. They will help with reducing inflammation, healing the gut and helping you digest better, which will aid in the overall health of your skin. Try also incorporating antioxidants that are great for the skin such as green tea, blueberries, raw cacao, turmeric, garlic, and pomegranates. Raw cacao is also known as a skin superfood because it is so high in antioxidants, improves circulation and hydrates the skin.

What You Are Using On Your Body:

Just as important as what we eat, is what we use on our bodies. If we use skin care products, make-up, laundry detergents, and cleaning products that are full of chemicals these can all affect our skin and cause dry skin.

It is important to look at the ingredients of any product you buy. Ingredients that are un-pronounceable are good indicators that it is not good for us. Look into more natural health products for your skin as these will have fewer toxic ingredients.

Shea butter is a simple moisturizer that is great for dry skin, extremely nourishing and moisturizing. Calendula cream can be very soothing to dry skin. Aloe is very healing for the skin. Silk pillows while sleeping are very helpful as cotton pillows will absorb your natural oils leaving your skin feeling dry in the morning. Vitamin E oil is super healing and moisturizing to our skin, as well as seabuckthorn oil, almond oil and jojoba oil (which is the closest to our natural skin's oil). And remember to always protect your skin from the sun with natural sunblock as this can be very damaging and drying to the skin.

Cleansers can strip the natural oils on your skin. Try using oil like jojoba or olive oil with a wet cloth instead. This will draw out more impurities. This is also why soap can be very drying to the skin as it rids the body's naturally protective layer of oil. So, try not to use it all over the body too much. And when getting out of the shower, still wet, apply coconut oil to help naturally moisturize dry skin. 

Keeping it simple is always best when putting anything on your body.

Stress And Dry Skin:

Stress is a major factor in skin health. Stress can dry out skin, as well as age our skin. When our body is in the sympathetic nervous response (the fight or flight) it can weaken our skin’s barrier and can affect how we retain water. Stress has a direct response chemically on your skin as well as making it more sensitive and reactive. When you are stressed, it takes much longer for your skin to heal. When your body is stressed, it doesn't have enough resources to hydrate the body adequately and properly maintain its functions of the body. Make sure to reduce stress if you are dealing with dry skin. You can try meditation, going for a walk, yoga, breathing techniques, and l-theanine supplements just to mention a few.

Try some of these simple steps and you should be able to see an improvement in the way your skin looks and feels!