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Home >
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Health
Concerns Articles > Dry
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Health
Concerns Articles |
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DRY SKIN
Articles by a Naturopathic
Doctor ( N.D.) |
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DRY SKIN?
ESSENTIAL FATS TO
THE RESCUE! |
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Dry skin can be frustrating, but
diet can often play
a role, as does
toxicity in the
body. The
right food,
supplements, and
herbs will usually
make a difference. |
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Dry skin
can be a very frustrating
condition. Nutritional
supplements, especially
essential fats can make a
difference for most... |
The skin is
the largest organ in the
body. Its function is to
act as a barrier to the
external environment, allow
the exchange of water and to
modify vitamins. Dry skin
can be simple or complex.
Simple dry
skin occurs when the skin is
deficient in natural oils
and fails to hold water in
skin cells. Oil normally
lubricates the skin and acts
as a barrier to avoid
excessive evaporation of
water from the upper layers
of the dermis.
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Simple dry skin usually
occurs in women under the
age of 35. Complex dry skin
lacks both oil and moisture.
The protein components of
the skin may be damaged from
prolonged UV exposure.
Complex dry skin tends to
develop brown spots, fine
lines and enlarged pores.
Complex dry skin usually
affects older adults and is
associated with aging.
Dry skin appears dull,
scaly, flaky, chapped or
cracked, and develops fine
lines and wrinkles more
readily than healthy skin.
It may feel tight after
washing and be relieved when
moisturizer is applied. It
most commonly occurs on
areas of the body that are
exposed to the elements. It
can be caused by nutrient
deficiencies, dehydration,
environmental factors (like
dry heat, sun or wind),
chemical use, cosmetics,
excessive bathing and harsh
soaps. |
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What you can do FOR
HEALTHY SKIN: |
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EAT LOTS OF
VEGETABLES |
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AVOID
ALLERGENIC
FOODS |
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DETOXIFY
YOUR BODY
WITH HERBS
(SEE BELOW) |
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AVOID
REFINED
SUGAR |
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DON'T EAT
DEEP FRIED
FOOD |
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TAKE
ESSENTIAL
FATS |
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ENSURE
PROPER
DIGESTION
WITH AN
ENZYME
SUPPLEMENT |
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DON'T SMOKE
OR DRINK
COFFEE;
CAUSE THE
SKIN TO AGE
PREMATURELY |
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DID YOU KNOW?
(SKIN HEALTH FACTS) |
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An eruption
on the skin
can be a
symptom of
toxins
building up
in the body. |
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The skin is
the largest
organ |
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Antioxidants
can help
slow the
degeneration
of skin
cells |
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To fight dry
skin topically, avoid
chlorinated tap water for
drinking and bathing. Stay
out of the sun. Use gloves
while handling any substance
that irritates the skin.
Avoid perfumes and
colourings
in laundry and personal
hygiene products. Use
glycerin and natural soaps
to wash your body, face and
hair. Take oatmeal baths to
relieve itching.
Calendula or
vitamin E cream or ointment
or aloe vera gel can be used
to nourish the skin. Steam
the skin with herbs such as
chamomile, lavender or
peppermint.
Dietary change is important
for nourishing the skin.
Water. Water. Water. Eat
foods high in zinc such as
whole grains, sunflower
seeds and raw nuts.
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Eat lots of fruit,
especially mango and
apricot, for its water
content and alpha-hydroxy
acids. Sulphur rich foods
like garlic, onions, eggs
and asparagus, provide raw
material for building skin
proteins.
Essential fatty acids are a
source of the good fats for
the skin. Use cold pressed
oils like flax, olive,
sunflower and safflower.
Avoid hydrogenated fats,
fried foods, soft drinks,
sugar, chocolate, junk
foods, cigarettes and
alcohol. Ask your health
professional if the
prescription medication you
are taking is contributing
to your dry skin.
The following list of
supplements can be used to
manage dry skin. Adult
doses are given.
(CLICK SUPPLEMENT NAME FOR PRODUCTS).
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SUPPLEMENT |
DOSAGE |
THERAPEUTIC
EFFECT |
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Silica |
1000mg horsetail
extract daily |
Needed for
production of
proteins to repair
damaged skin |
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Essential fatty
acids (flax and
evening primrose) |
Flax
2-4 tbsp daily
EPO
1000 to 3000 mg
daily. |
Active ingredients
are linolenic and
linoleic acid that
are used for skin
repair and proper
fat metabolism. |
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Collagen or
Hyaluronic acid |
As directed on label |
Provides proteins
needed for effective
repair of skin. |
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Betaine HCl |
As
directed on label |
Low
levels of
hydrochloric acid
are commonly found
in dry skin
sufferers. Do not
use if you have
stomach ulcers. |
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Vitamin B complex |
50-100mg 3 times
daily |
The
body’s natural
chemical processes,
including digestion,
need B vitamins.
Biotin or B6
deficiency has been
linked to
dermatitis. Helps
the body when under
stress.
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Zinc |
30-80mg daily, do
not exceed 100mg
daily |
Helps
heal tissues and is
involved in the oil
production of the
skin. Consider
supplementation with
copper for long-term
use. |
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Vitamin A
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50000
IU acutely, then
5000-25000 IU
daily.
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Helps
heal the skin. Do
not use when
pregnant. |
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Red clover,
dandelion leaf and
root, milk thistle,
burdock root
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As
directed on label |
One
or more herbs can be
used as a tea,
tincture or raw
herb. They help to
cleanse the liver,
kidneys and blood. |
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Also
beneficial for DRY
SKIN: |
Multivitamins,
digestive enzymes,
beta-carotene,
Vitamin C, Vitamin
E, Vitamin D,
chromium, garlic,
chlorophyll, MSM,
selenium, chamomile,
gotu kola,
goldenseal. |
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For
informational
purposes only.
Please consult your
health care
practitioner before
taking natural
health care
products. Click here
for full disclaimer. |
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All articles
copyright National Nutrition
2001 - 2012. For educational
purposes only. Please note
that while National Nutrition
supports your right to use
natural health care products for
any therapeutic purpose that you
see fit, that the information on
this website should not be
considered as a claim or as a
substitute for medical advice. |
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