DRY, ITCHY SKIN - In Winter?

Most don't really think of skin as an organ, but in fact it's our largest organ and one of our major channels of elimination.

It has also been known as the 'third kidney'.

Before we get into what we can do about dry skin lets look at what the skin actually does.

The skin performs such important functions as -

it helps to regulate body temperature
protects the body from bacterial invasion
excretes water and salts
synthesises vitamin D via sunlight
relieves kidneys by removing toxins, mineral wastes catarrh and acids through perspiration.

The main reason why the skin dries out during winter is that we spend more time indoors in heated environments. This is especially true in the colder climates. Heaters tend to dry out the air. We also tend to drink less water during winter.

But also, what makes the problem worse is the over use of soaps, shampoos and other skin cleansing products. For all intents and purposes, most of these are basically detergents. Detergents are used to strip oils and that's what soaps and shampoos do. However, our skin needs natural oils to maintain its health.

Help your skin - naturally.

Of course as always, taking a wholistic approach will give you the best results.

First of all try reducing the heating by a couple of degrees. Many offices are so overheated to the point of being uncomfortable, however you become acclimatised to the temperature.
Turn off your central heating when you go to bed.

Keep hydrated by drinking more water. Very important for skin health and nourishment.

Wear natural fibres. Your skin needs to 'breathe', synthetic clothing impedes this important function.

Increase your intake of Omega 3 fatty acids. When it comes to Omega 3 supplementation, many people go for fish oil. There's a far more healthier and cheaper option though - Flax seed oil. A 12 week study found that women who supplemented with half a teaspoon of flax seed oil daily had significantly less irritated, dry skin. Their skin was also smoother.

Another way of getting flax seed oil is by adding ground flax seed to your food - 2 teaspoons a day should be enough for most people.

'Chicken skin' on the upper arms (small lumps that look like the skin of a plucked chicken) is a sign of a EFA deficiency. Vitamin A is also beneficial for dry skin.

I know my next suggestion will probably freak most people out but it's absolutely true.
Stop using (or at least reduce) soaps, shampoo's and all those shower gels and bath products that tend to take up a whole supermarket aisle. For most people YOU DON'T NEED THEM! (It's not like we work down coal mines). Your hair and skin and scalp needs the natural oils that these detergents strip away.

Gradually wean yourself off soap and shampoo, because your body will still want to over compensate for the amount of natural oil it wants to produce. Replace your shampoo and soap with a good natural product, I recommend 'Moo Goo', bought online or from health food stores.
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So, if you use shampoo daily, over the first week use it every 2nd day, then the 2nd week every 3rd day, the 3rd week every 4th day. After 3 weeks you should only need to use shampoo once a week. For most people you should only need soap to wash your hands.

Be careful of what you put onto your skin - most skin care products even the expensive ones contains chemicals that can aggravate your skin.

Use good quality natural products (check the labels).

And finally, plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grains in your diet will reward you with healthy, younger looking skin.

For those who suffer from eczema or psoriasis you need more specialised treatment but the above pointers will be a good starting point.