Dry Skin
Tis the season of dry skin. I’m hearing complaints of skin and worsening eczema. Even an uptick in nosebleeds and cracked skin around fingernails.
The humidity is very low right now and most of us are spending hours each day and night in homes and offices with dry heat.
So what to do?
There are some modifications you can do to your environment, some things you can take internally, and some topical applications.
From a Chinese Medicine perspective some of us tend towards “damp” - maybe excess perspiration, loose stools, oily skin. Others of us constitutionally are more “dry.” We rarely perspire, will more likely be constipated, and have dry skin.
These constitutions are also affected by the season. Late summer is a humid time of year - those of us who are damp will suffer more then. Late fall and winter are dry - more trying for those with dry tendencies. The external environment aids or exacerbates our inherited internal environment.
I am dry - no matter how much water I drink right now my lips are dry and will even crack if I don’t apply lip balm multiple times per day. My husband is damp - I don’t think I’ve seen him apply lip balm in the 20+ years I’ve known him!
For those of us (the “dry” ones ) needing some support right now, what to do?
Humidifiers. One in the bedroom or and one in the office are great environmental additions. Get one with a filter that you can be replaced to avoid attracting mold. (I would also be cognizant of using a humidifier in a space that has a history of water damage or where you suspect mold may be already growing.)
Bathing. If you usually shower daily you might think of modifying this right now. Hot water strips our skin of its normal oils. Can you shower every other day or only on days after exercise, before important work or social events? Can the other days be limited to sponge baths where only privates and armpits are washed?
Moisturize. I have moved towards Ayurvedic oils for body moisturizing. It’s good to use hyaluronic acid year-round but especially this time of year. Hyaluronic acid plus vitamin C oil is a great daily routine.
Internally we want to lubricate as well. Nutritionally this means consuming plenty of healthy fats and oils (walnuts, macadamia nuts, avocado, olive and coconut oils, fatty fish like salmon, mackerel and sardines).
Make sure you’re taking your omega 3 oils as well as vitamins D and E. Another important supplement for skin (as well as hair and nails) is collagen.
This is also a great time of year to do 3-4 monthly microneedling sessions. One benefit of micro needling is that it opens up the pores (up to 2000x). This is why we need to be careful what we apply to the skin 24-48 hours after the session, and why applying hyaluronic acid during and after the session lubricates the skin that much more effectively. You can read more about the benefits of micro needling here. https://www.wildwoodmedicine.com/blog/what-is-microneedling-and-what-are-the-benefits.