Winter certainly blew in to the Tri-Cities quicker and harder than it has in many years.
Weeks of cold, icy weather outside and dry heat inside are especially hard on our skin,
nails, and hair.
I was prompted to address winter skin health by several readers, and must confess that
the effects of harsh weather on my skin are no longer high on my radar. I haven't really
experienced dry or chapped skin in at least ten years, and it isn't because I inherited my
mother's wonderful skin (that blessing went to my daughters.). I simply figured out that less
is more and that natural choices in personal care products can make a huge difference.
Of course, other things are important, as well, including eating right, drinking enough water,
getting enough sleep, and avoiding behaviors like smoking that are known to impact skin
texture, moisture, and resiliency.
Although this article focuses on skin health, what is helpful for skin is also beneficial for hair
and nails, due to their similar cellular makeup and function.
Skin is actually our largest organ and may make up 15-20% of our total body weight. It
is multilayered and contains collagen for structure, melanin for color and UVA protection,
and keratin for protection and waterproofing. Skin protects our interior, helps us regulate
temperature, and has critical sensory functions. Hair and nails are nothing more than
specialized epidermal cells with higher keratin content.
Remember that any product you put on your body, ends up in your body.
Go to
www.cosmeticsdatabase.com to find out what your favorite products contain. Don't assume
that baby products, pharmaceuticals, or even natural products are free of irritants. Find out
what's in them!
Avoid petroleum based products (mineral oil, petrolatum) that block pores and dry
the skin (and may be toxic innately or due to contaminates like dioxane). You may
feel "moisturized", and petroleum can certainly seal in the skin's moisture, but ultimately,
the more you use these products, the dryer your skin will be. This is especially true for
lip balms. From a business point of view, this is great—the more you use, the more you
require. Need I say more?
Choose organic or truly natural products. I make my own luscious body creams from
coconut oil, cocoa butter, and other natural ingredients. My clients love them and many
begin making their own. For those without time or inclination, there are many organic & natural lines to choose from. Look for coconut oil, cocoa butter, olive oil, shea butter,
beeswax, or jojoba oil as key ingredients for maximum moisturizing and protection.
And here is my best kept secret: raw, organic coconut oil (the same one sold for cooking)
is the perfect whole body moisturizer for the entire family—on lips, hands, feet, body,
privates, etc. It will be absorbed and won't leave skin feeling greasy. It will be hard or liquid
depending on ambient temperature but liquefies fairly quickly in your hands. As a bonus, it
has natural antimicrobial properties.
Gradually, as your own body oils normalize, you will need less of the natural products so
not only will you spend less, your skin will be healthier.
Sodium Lauryl/Laureth Sulfate (SLS) is a foaming agent found in dozens of products:
clothes detergents, soaps, bubble baths, shampoos, and toothpastes. It was originally
developed as an engine degreaser and even small amounts can strip skin of natural
moisture. Many people find that they no longer have cold sores or chapped lips when they
switch to toothpastes free of SLS. Use the mildest, most natural products you can find, and
don't worry that they don't foam up—foam is primarily a marketing tool. (At my last dental
check-up, my hygienist asked me what toothpaste I had switched to because my teeth
and gums were significantly improved. She was amused when I told her all I've used for
nearly 2 years has been coconut oil with baking soda & sea salt, followed by a quick rinse of Young Living Oils Thieves Mouthwash.)
There are many pure olive oil based castile soaps in both liquid and bars for the most
sensitive skin, and some of my more sensitive clients even use them as shampoos. Dr.
Bronner's Magic Soaps are available in many area stores.
Beware of alcohols, parabens and ureas in your products. These are known irritants
and may even have carcinogenic effects. Know too, that corticosteroid creams can be short
term friendly and long term harmful because the cause the skin layers to become thinner,
potentially creating permanently thinner, drier, and more sensitive skin.
Change your bathing habits. Soaping up under hot water every day is a sure recipe for
dry and damaged skin. I am not advocating acceptance of body odor; most of us simply do
not need to scrub every inch of our bodies every day, especially during the winter. Small
children and older adults have particularly sensitive skin and are less likely to need daily full
body baths. Soap up only the areas that really need it, using warm (not hot) or cool water
to wash & rinse. Consider alternating a full bath/shower every other day with a sponge
bath for strategic areas on the non-bathing days. Hand held showers are perfect for spot
bathing and hair washing.
Apply natural moisturizers to damp skin to maximize the benefits, but be sure to dry
exposed areas like hands before going out. Wear appropriate clothing on cold, windy
days.
Last, don't lick your lips! The enzymes in saliva will literally eat holes in damaged skin.
Be consistent about caring for your skin. One day you'll realize you no longer have dry itchy
skin, and don't have to carry lip balm in every pocket.