How to Soothe and Eliminate Winter Dry Skin

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http://www.mercola.com/2003/dec/27/dry_skin.htm

 

 

How to Soothe and Eliminate Winter Dry Skin

 

 

 

By Dr. Joseph Mercola

with Rachael Droege

 

 

 

If you’ve ever been plagued with dry, itchy skin--and who hasn’t--then you know

what an irritating and frustrating problem it can be. There are many factors

that come into play to create dry skin. Dry winter air, forced heat from

radiators, exposure to the elements and excessive washing with harsh soaps are

some of the more common external causes, but did you know that dry skin can also

be a sign of something off kilter inside your body?

 

 

 

In many ways your skin is a mirror of what’s going on inside your body. Healthy

skin is created by a healthy body, so if you find that you skin is excessively

dry, stop putting all the blame on the winter weather (although this can

certainly contribute), and take a look inside.

 

 

 

Dry Skin is Often a Sign of Fatty Acid Imbalance

 

 

Your skin cells need to have healthy cell membranes to prevent moisture loss,

capture nutrients and keep toxins away. Fatty acids are necessary for this and

to help keep skin cells strong and functioning properly. If you aren’t eating

enough of the right fats, chances are your skin will be dry as a result.

 

In the majority of cases, fatty acid imbalance occurs because a person eats too

many omega-6 fats, found in such products as corn, soy, canola, safflower and

sunflower oil, and not enough omega-3 fats. These two types of fat, omega-3 and

omega-6, are both essential for human health, however, the ideal ratio of

omega-6 to omega-3 fats is 1:1. Our ancestors evolved over millions of years on

this ratio. Today, though, our ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 averages from 20:1 to

50:1! That spells danger for you--dry skin is only one problem associated with

omega-3 deficiency. Others include dyslexia, violence, depression, memory

problems, weight gain, cancer, heart disease, eczema, allergies, inflammatory

disease, arthritis and diabetes.

 

To remedy the problem, you need to not only reduce the amount of omega-6 in your

diet (a good start is to avoid hydrogenated vegetable oils) while increasing the

amount of omega-3. Some omega-3 can be found in plant sources such as flaxseed

and walnuts, but the best type of omega-3 by far are those found in fish. That's

because the omega-3 in fish is high in two fatty acids crucial to human health,

DHA and EPA.

 

Unfortunately, fish is widely contaminated and I don’t recommend eating it from

any source unless you have had it tested for mercury and other toxins. Routine

consumption of fish oil is my highly recommended method of increasing your

omega-3 intake. Fish oil contains high levels of the best omega-3 and, as it is

in pure form, does not pose the mercury risk of fresh fish. The Carlson brand of

fish oil and cod liver oil, regularly tested by an independent FDA registered

laboratory, is the most highly recommended for its potency and purity. I now

offer the Carlson brand of fish oil and cod liver oil in my " Recommended

Products " section, or you may be able to find this exceptional quality brand in

your local health food store.

 

Another outstanding option for increasing your omega-3 intake--and reducing your

omega-6 intake--is the omega-3-rich ostrich meat offered exclusively on this

site. Most store-bought meats, such as beef, are raised on grain-rich diets that

will only increase your omega-6 ratios, but this ostrich is free-ranged and fed

a diet primarily of alfalfa grass enriched with flax seed for omega-3.

 

Underactive Thyroid

 

 

 

Underactive thyroid, known as hypothyroidism, can also cause dry skin. Although

the causes of this condition are not know for sure, it is widely accepted that

diet plays a large role. Environmental stressors such as chemical pollutants,

pesticides, mercury, and fluoride also contribute to thyroid problems.

 

 

 

You will need to have a thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) test to find out if

your levels fall within the normal range, but please be aware that normal

reference ranges for thyroid that have been used in the past were not correct.

If the event your thyroid is found to be out of balance, you will want to be

careful with using synthetic thyroid to treat the problem, since starting on

thyroid hormones could condemn you to taking thyroid hormone for the rest of

your life. For more information, I strongly suggest you read my major revision

of hypothyroid diagnosis guidelines.

 

 

 

Not Enough Good Fats

 

 

In addition to the omega-3 fat mentioned above, other sources of fat can also

help to relieve dry skin from the inside out. These would include butter (raw,

organic), raw milk, raw cream, raw milk cheese, raw coconut and avocado.

 

 

 

 

 

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