Health : Healing Dry Skin: Eight Easy Home Remedies
|
|
|
|
By: Jamie Jefferson
Date Submitted: 2009-01-22 17:47:38 - Article Views: 11
|
|
Two little old ladies were sitting on a park bench outside the local town hall where a flower show was in progress. One leaned over and said, "Life is so dang boring. We never have any fun anymore! For five dollars I would take my clothes off and streak through that stupid flower show."
"You are on!" said the other old lady, holding up a $5.00 bill.
The first little old lady slowly fumbled her way out of her clothes and, completely naked, streaked (as fast as an old lady can) through the front door of the flower show.
Waiting outside, her friend soon heard a huge commotion inside the hall, followed by loud applause and shrill whistling. The smiling old lady came through the exit door surrounded by a cheering crowd.
"What happened?" asked her waiting friend.
"I won 1st prize as Best Dried Arrangement!"
Many of us know that we do not have to be pushing eighty years old to suffer from dry skin, especially in the cold, winter months. When furnaces are blasting, woodstoves are roaring and fireplaces are crackling, our skin can pay the price. Space heaters and electric blankets can also dry out the skin, and so can the excessive use of tanning beds and saunas.
Dry, flaky skin is not a disease. It is 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.
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.
A common misconception is that the dryness is a result of a lack of oil in the skin. This is not true. It is water that the skin thirsts for and the answer is to keep that water in.
Here are eight easy home remedies for dry skin:
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. Use the right soap. Not all soaps have the same ingredients and some are much harsher than others. Some of them contain lye, which can wreak havoc on dry or sensitive skin. Using a brand that contains lanolin, cocoa butter or cold cream will help reduce dryness.
6. 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. Although most lotions will work just fine for helping to keep the water in, the most effective of all moisturizers are a class called humectants, which include alpha hydroxy acids. They help the skin to maintain moisture.
7. Get your omegas. Incorporating the essential fatty acids omega-3 and omega-6 into the cell membranes is another way to combat dry skin. These can be found in nuts and seeds as well as the oils of soybean, sunflower and evening primrose.
8. 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.
While few of us are in line to win the "best dried arrangement" prize, many of us do know the discomfort of battling dry, itchy skin during the cold, winter months.
Just remember that the most effective treatment is to keep the water in. By applying the above-mentioned remedies to our daily and weekly schedules, you will not only save your skin from premature wrinkling, you will also breathe cleaner air and you will save money as well in lower heating costs and less expensive soaps, lotions and ointments. |
Author Resource Required for Reprint:
Jamie Jefferson writes for Momscape at http://www.momscape.com . Visit today for the latest online Coupon Codes including online coupons for shoes.
|
Article Source: Fully-Explained.com 
|
Tags:
healing dry skin  dry skin treatments natural cures for dry skin home remedies for dry skin |
|
|
Bookmark and Share
|
|
 Health Category Rss Feed |
|
|
-
As Lasik becomes increasingly popular, more and more surgeons are starting practices specialising in the operation. It can therefore be a frustrating feeling going through the many names of the hundreds of Lasik surgeons and their glossy advertisements, each claiming to be better than the other.
Viewed: 9 Times.
Read More ...
-
Treating Osteoarthritis should be a joint effort between the patient and their physician that takes into account the patient's personal needs and medical condition. If you think you may have osteoarthritis, the best thing you can do for yourself is to take a pro-active role in your health.
Viewed: 9 Times.
Read More ...
-
Programs geared to immunize millions involve the efforts of many, many people such as volunteers, medical health practitioners, and nurses, and campaigns must be very carefully organized to prevent failure.
Viewed: 9 Times.
Read More ...
-
Protein can raise your metabolism because it helps to build muscle fibers, it aids in the growth and repair of cells, it produces amino acids and helps lower your cholesterol
Viewed: 9 Times.
Read More ...
-
People spend a fortune on products such as "magical creams" which for the most part, are inclined to be a short term fix.
Viewed: 9 Times.
Read More ...
|
|
| Jamie Jefferson's Author Feed |
|
|
-
By starting learning activities at this age you'll be able to enrich your child's life and help them grow on a variety of different levels. Here are six ideas to get you started on your child's lifelong learning adventure.
Viewed: 9 Times.
Read More ...
-
If you can help your children to adopt a wholesome diet when they are young, you may be able to set them up for a lifetime of healthy living. Here are six simple ways to help you create healthier meals and snacks for your family.
Viewed: 9 Times.
Read More ...
-
If you're packing your child's lunch, you know how much packaging goes into their noontime meal each day. You also know that that amount of packaging each day, five days a week, adds up to a lot of trash! Use these tips to use what you already have or reuse old items in new ways
Viewed: 9 Times.
Read More ...
-
There is a profound vulnerability that comes with putting your deepest feelings in black and white. Here are six ways that fellow journal-writers have handled journal privacy. See if you can combine these ideas in a way that makes you feel comfortable.
Viewed: 10 Times.
Read More ...
-
Apply these tips on your next shopping trip and you'll be eating healthy for less.
Viewed: 10 Times.
Read More ...
|
|
Article use is considered your agreement of our Terms of Service.
This work is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.
Thanks for visiting Fully-Explained.com
Copyright © 2009 - 2010 Fully-Explained.com
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
Print
