Stay hydrated
An adequate fluid intake is the first step to improving dry skin, helping cells to stay plumped up and healthy by drawing water out of the bloodstream. Drinking frequently throughout the day will ensure that you don’t become thirsty and dehydrated.
If you struggle to do this, try drinking at specific times instead. For example, drink a glass of water first thing in the morning, one 30 minutes after lunch, one when you get home from work, another after dinner and a small glass before you go to bed – that’s already five glasses with hardly any effort. Caffeinated drinks are not ideal, because they act as diuretics, causing you to pee more. The long-term use of diureticA diuretic is a substance that increases the amount of urine produced and therefore makes you urinate more frequently…. medicine, used to lower blood pressure, also has the same effect and may contribute to dull, scaly, flaky and dry skin. Naturally caffeine- free herbal teas are a better option. Rooibos (red bush) tea contains no caffeine and has a similar taste to black tea; it can be taken with milk or lemon.
Encourage sebum production
The amount of natural oils produced by the body is the second factor in dry skin. Normally, the sebaceous glands, which are present in the deeper layers of the skin, produce sebum to lubricate the skin surface and form a barrier preventing the evaporation of moisture from the top layers of the skin. Sebum is comprised of an oily mixture of fats and triglycerides, and unique substances, such as squalene and a small amount of cholesterol. It is particularly important to avoid using harsh cleansers on the skin because they will strip the sebum from the skin leaving it feeling ‘squeaky clean’ but dry.
When the skin does not produce enough sebum, it becomes underprotected and susceptible to dryness. This condition is more typically seen in young skin. Mature skin that becomes dry, on the other hand, tends to lack both oil and water. Sebum secretion is primarily under the control of androgens, a type of sex hormone, but it has also been shown that calorie-restricted diets can decrease the sebum secretion rate, so it is wise to avoid these. Hormonal deficiency, for example during the menopause can also contribute to dry skin. Conversely, eating fats, especially processed or burnt ‘trans’ saturated fats and carbohydrates has been shown to increase production. The best carbohydrates to eat are whole-grain and unprocessed foods such as brown rice, brown pasta and pulses. These low-GL options naturally balance your blood sugar levels, thereby reducing stress hormone release which promotes sebum, bringing the added benefit of reducing the inflammatory processes that underlie chronic dry skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis.
Eat cold-water fish such as sardines and mackerel, as well as flax or chia seeds and their cold-pressed oils to help provide the omega-3 essential fats, linoleic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPAEPA is short for Eicosapentaenoic Acid. It is an essential omega-3 fatty acid found in fish such as salmon, mackerel and herring, and is often…) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHADHA is short for Docosahexaenoic Acid. It is an essential omega-3 fatty acid found in fish such as salmon, mackerel and herring, and is often…). Some supplements also provide evening primrose or borage oil for the most beneficial omega-6 fatThere are many different types of fats; polyunsaturated, monounsaturated, hydrogenated, saturated and trans fat. The body requires good fats (polyunsaturated and monounsaturated) in order to… gamma-linolenic acid (GLAGamma Linolenic Acid (GLA) is an essential fatty acid within the omega-6 family. It is found primarily in plant based oils such as evening primrose…). As well as reducing inflammatory processes, these essential fats provide the necessary raw materials for sebum production, helping to form part of the skin’s protective fatty layer, and they are also incorporated into the...
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