PREVENTING DRY SKIN

Natural Prevention for Dry Skin - More Than Home Remedies

Dry skin is itchy and unsightly. It is also easier to prevent dry skin that it is to fix it.

Drink plenty of water daily.

Get enough fat in your diet. Too much fat in your diet is not healthy, but neither is too little. Most people have no trouble getting enough fat, but dieters can go overboard. The Institute of Medicine says we should get 20 percent to 35 percent of our calories from fat, and children need even more. The minimum amount of fat needed in a diet of 2,000 calories diet would be 45-75 grams, while low-fat diets can restrict you to 22 grams. UCLA recommends that this comes from mostly monounsaturated and omega 3 fats, and that you keep saturated and trans fat as low as possible (less than 10% of your total calories). One way to tell if you are getting too little fat in your diet is that your skin will itch terribly.

Avoid caffeine, smoking and alcohol.

Keep the water temperature down in the bath or shower.

Hot water dries skin.

Avoid deodorant soaps and cleasers that are abrasive.

Use oil, lotion or cream on your skin. Moisture can be locked in if these products are added to damp skin, and even moreso after a short soak in the tub - a long soak will dry the skin.

Be sure to moisturize before and after being in the sun, cold weather, wind, or low-humidity environments (like a plane).

Use a humidifier in the home and office.

Work up a sweat at least a few times a week.

For dry feet, stop going barefoot.

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