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.”