Whether from sunburn, colder temperatures, or just something you’ve always dealt with, dry skin is an irritation you’ve likely experienced. Although dry skin is not usually something to worry about, it can leave your skin feeling itchy, rough, or crackly and can cause extreme discomfort, affecting your daily life. While these basic indications of dry skin are something many of us have felt, they can also be a sign of an underlying medical condition, such as eczema.

While dry skin is naturally unavoidable to many, you can do a few things to help reduce skin dryness.  

Check the products you’re using.
Skin drying out is a reaction to many things. The products you use, ranging from household cleaning products, air fresheners, and laundry detergents to soaps, perfumes, and topical medications, all influence the natural oil production of your skin. Stay cautious when it comes to the products you’re buying as many of them strip skin of essential water and oils, leading to dryness and irritation.

Look at what you’re eating and drinking.
What you eat has a major effect on your skin. Taking a good look at what you’re putting into your body each day is one of the first steps to seeing why your skin is reacting the way it is. Things like sugar, alcohol, salt, and coffee can impact the way your skin looks and feels. Introduce foods that are rich in antioxidants and omega-3s, like avocado, nuts, greens, berries, and fish, to help you glow naturally. Natasha St. Michael, Integrative Nutrition Health Coach and creator of The Clear Skin Essentials, shares, “Unfortunately, coffee is not your skin’s friend. It dehydrates and inflames your skin. If you want to get rid of redness, dry patches, flaky skin, and dullness – ditch the coffee.” 

Create a skincare routine.
When you get out of the shower or finish washing your face, set up a routine that includes moisturizing. (Tip: Avoid hot water as it can disrupt the body’s natural balance of moisture.) Steer clear of lotions that can strip your body’s natural oil, and instead go for naturally produced oils, like coconut, argon, avocado, and jojoba. Take oat baths weekly as they’re an easy and inexpensive way to show your skin some extra love – oatmeal has been found to restore skin and soothe eczema and atopic dermatitis.

Try this simple recipe to make your own moisturizer:

• 1/2 cup coconut oil
• 1 tsp vitamin E oil
• 5 drops lavender oil

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