5 Tips for Fighting Dry, Itchy Skin

Rummaging through my closet today, I was reminded of how winter does a number on my skin.  Most of my winter wear seems to be wool, and though I’m not allergic, the drier my skin, the more wool seems to irritate it.  So, I’m putting together a list of my 5 favorite tips to fight itchy winter skin.

1. Drink more water - You can’t have healthy skin without this essential ingredient.  Since your body is made mostly of water, it’s a good idea to get in the right amount.  Simply take your body weight and divide by two and you’ll get the number of ounces of water you should drink in one day.

Ex: A 150 pound person would need to drink 75 ounces of water per day.  150/2=75

2. Eat your vegetables – If your skin is flaking off because it’s too dry, your body has to make replacement layers.  This means you have to have the right nutrients to make these layers.  If you can’t eat a balanced diet to get all the vitamins and minerals that you need, supplement your diet with a good whole food multi-vitamin.

3.  Get some good fat – No, I don’t mean a cheeseburger and fries.  I mean your EFA’s or essential fatty acids.  Some people give their pets EFA’s to keep their coats healthy and we can apply the same principle to our skin.  Not only do you need EFA’s to make new skin cells, they help to keep your skin from drying out.  Flax seed oil, coconut oil and fish oil are good sources of these fats.

4. Check your lotion’s ingredients – If you’re using lotion with mineral oil or petroleum, put them away.  These common lotion components create an impenetrable layer on your skin, not allowing any air or water to get in or out of your skin.

5. Skip the morning shower – Some of you may be crinkling your noses, but the more you shower, the drier your skin will be.  Each time you lather up, you’re washing all of your body’s essential oils and that leaves you feeling dry and itchy.  Try showering 2 times every 3 days or once every couple days.  Unless of course you’re breaking a sweat, then please do us all a favor and hop in the shower.

-Dr. Jamie Murphy