Dry Hands, Nails, and Cuticles No More

Natural Remedies for Dry Winter Skin

Our personal care routine changes as the weather changes. In the colder months our skin dries out and begins to crack more often than it does in the warmer months. This is a result of several factors such as: wind, cooler temperatures, and more time spent inside in "heated" rooms.  No matter where you live, there are noticeable seasonal changes, albeit some more drastic than others. Each of us needs to make some changes to our skin care routine as the seasons change (or as we travel to a different climate for business or pleasure).

Why Does our Skin Dry Out in Winter?

Research has indicated the cause of seasonal dry skin is simple: a lack of moisture and natural oils (ceramides - lipid molecules containing fatty acids) which the body doesn’t produce as readily in dry air conditions. “The winter weather disrupts your skin’s barrier function (the protective lipid layer and immune system), causing irritated, dry and cracked skin,” says “The Skin Saint” Holly Cutler, owner of Michigan skin care clinic, FACE.

Natural Remedies

Drink extra water

Extra hydration INSIDE your body will help OUTSIDE your body. Skin is our largest organ, hydration will help it function properly. Hydration not only benefits your skin, it also can boost your mood, help you focus, and help your digestive system. I start each day with hot water and lemon to detoxify my body.

 

Avoid EXTRA HOT showers

Yes, when it is cold outside a HOT shower can warm the body but it can also dry out your skin. Take a warm shower and then use a plant based moisturizer with Vitamin E to seal in your skin's moisture.

Moisturize
Moisturize with plant based products with skin-mimicking ingredients, such as glycolipids, fatty acids and ceramides.  Nutrient- and fatty acid–rich plant ingredients such as  calendula, avocado oil, chamomile, and castor seed oil are recommended for soothing, healing and hydrating 

Another up-and-comer for tackling severe dryness and irritation is cannabidiol (CBD), derived from the hemp plant. CBD is thought to manage inflammation when applied topically and contains vitamins A, C and E, along with a range of essential fatty acids.  

Dry Hands, Nails, and Cuticles No More

One strategy I have used for years to repair my dry feet also works for my hands. I apply a rich, plant-based cream every single night to my feet and put on a pair of socks to repair my feet (especially my dry heals) from the day. You can also do this with hand cream and gloves! Olive oil, beeswax, calendula, and shea butter are just a few of the ingredients to look for on ingredient lists to ensure you are getting a nourishing hand cream. Cuticles can also be nourished at the same time your hands are hydrated. Each night, you can soften your cuticles by applying jojoba, neem oil, or cocoa butter when you use your hand cream before you put on gloves. 

Nails need to be cared for just like your skin. Nails can be repaired through nutrition. Nails are made of keratin, a protein. According to Lisa Drayer, RD, author of The Beauty Diet (McGraw-Hill, 2009), one needs to obtain about 25% of their daily calories from protein. She suggests consuming a mix of protein sources to provide the most optimal range of amino acids to support strong nails. 

Disclaimer: Portions of this post was provided by New Hope Network. I am a member of the New Hope Influencer Co-op, a network of health and wellness bloggers committed to spreading more health to more people.”

Understanding CBD Oil

Many products are entering the marketplace containing CBD oil. In order to know what I am getting when I purchase products with the supplement, I did some research.

What is CBD Oil?

 Marijuana and hemp are derived from different parts of the cannabis plant.  Cannabis that is grown for industrial use is what has been legalized in a handful of states and, most recently, in Canada. This plant contains less than .3% THC and is used for supplements, oils, clothing fibers, paper, and more.

CBD oil is also known as hemp oil. It is extracted from the hemp portion of the cannabis plant. CBD offers health benefits, but includes none of the psychoactive properties of THC, thus products containing hemp/CBD extract can be legally sold, used and shipped nationwide.

Why Use CBD Oil?

Cannabis products work on the body’s innate endocannabinoid system, a recently discovered whole-body system, similar to your nervous system or cardiovascular system. Cannabinoids don’t just come from the cannabis plant, we also make them in our bodies. The ones we make are called endocannabinoids (endo meaning coming from within). The well-known “runner’s high” is actually an endocannabinoid, which increases in the blood during aerobic exercise and then crosses the blood-brain barrier and binds to cannabinoid receptors in the brain. One of the primary jobs of the endocannabinoid system is to keep the body in balance, a state known as homeostasis. The ES has a profound effect on sleep, appetite, exercise, pain, inflammation, female reproduction, metabolism, anxiety, and immunity.

The cannabis related products unlock the body without providing a high like THC does. The FDA has begun to approve pharmaceutical-grade CBD for medicinal purposes as it has been proven to be an anti-inflammatory, aid sleep, reduce anxiety, ease chronic pain, reduce nausea from chemotherapy, and more.

What CBD Oil Products Should I Purchase?

CBD Isolate is similar to the drug the FDA is about to approve.

Full Spectrum CBD Oil is an industrial, hemp-derived oil that is found in mainstream, over-the-counter products.

Are There Any Precautions I Should Take?

Because of the legally murky nature of marijuana, the FDA has not stepped in to regulate products like CBD oil. States are struggling to put regulations in place, but they don't have the deep pockets of the federal government.  According to WebMD, a 2017 study led by Bonn-Miller found that nearly 7 of 10 CBD products didn't contain the amount of marijuana extract promised on the label.
Nearly 43 percent of the products contained too little CBD, while about 26 percent contained too much, Bonn-Miller said.

Studies on CBD also have raised concerns about possible interactions with other drugs. There is also concern about long term use and organ damage. There also is some indication that CBD might harm the liver. About 10 percent of people taking CBD in studies had increases in liver enzymes, which would indicate possible liver damage.

What is the Bottom Line?

CBD oil is new to the market and we will know more after more and more people use the product. Consult a doctor who knows your medical history and has read up on CBD Oil to advise you what might be best for YOUR body. 

More information can be found at WebMD , Better Nutrition, and  Delicious Living Magazine