How to Treat Dry Skin Naturally
Some dermatological conditions require medical treatment to control. Fortunately, most run of the mill cases of dry skin can be treated naturally through diet, exercise and by using everyday home remedies.
- Difficulty:
- Easy
Instructions
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1
Take a bath. Dry skin is due to a loss of water from the skin. The best way to replace that water is to take a nice soak for about 15 minutes in a lukewarm--not hot--bath.
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2
Moisturize your skin after you bathe to retain hydration. Gently pat dry your skin, leaving it somewhat damp. Then apply mineral or baby oil. Even petroleum jelly works fine. You do not need to spend tons of money on high-priced moisturizing products.
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3
Catch some ZZZs. Your body repairs and regenerates its skin cells during sleep. If you aren't getting enough good sleep each night, your skin will become dull and dry.
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4
Avoid soap--or at least soaps that are high in lye content. So-called "superfatted" soaps, such as Dove or Neutrogena, have a higher fat content than lye content, which is less harsh on your skin.
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5
Skip a day. Americans are so preoccupied with cleanliness that we are literally washing our skin health down the drain. Under normal living conditions, it is not necessary to bathe every day. So skip a day. Take a sponge bath every other day and spare your skin the aggravation. You'll save your skin and some natural resources in the process.
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6
Control your environment. Dry, warmer air tends to make skin dry out faster, resulting in tight, flaky, itchy skin. Humidify your home if the air is dry, and turn the heat down a couple of degrees.
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7
Eat a balanced diet that includes plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Try to eat foods that high in vitamins A and B, which contribute to skin health. Avoid processed sugars and caffeinated beverages. Caffeine is a diuretic, which dehydrates your skin.
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Tips & Warnings
Dry skin is due to water evaporating from the skin. It has nothing to do with the loss of your skin's natural oils.
Mineral and baby oils are a serious hazard to children. If ingested, the oil can coat the child's lungs, blocking oxygen, resulting in chemical pneumonia and, possibly, death. If you plan to use such oils to moisturize, be sure to keep the containers properly sealed, well out of reach of curious kids and--better yet--locked up.
