Do you find your skin feeling dry, tight, rough and itchy when winter hits? Not only does winter bring the shorter days and chillier nights, it also brings us the winter itch! This is where our skin becomes EXTREMELY dry, cracked and the perfect opportunity for germs to infect the body. Not to mention, we feel a little uncomfortable and perhaps a little self-conscious.
So, best stop the winter itch in its’ tracks at the beginning of winter! Here’s 10 easy ways to get out of the Winter itch ditch!
- Make sure you’re nourishing your skin from the inside, out!
In order to nourish the skin on the outside, we need to nourish it on the inside. The BEST way to do this is through omega-3 fats, which help normalise the skin fats and prevent dehydration in the cells. This keeps the skin cells strong, healthy and full of moisture!
Consuming fish such as sardines, anchovies and herring are your best bet to provide your body with the omega 3-fats. Alternatively a good quality supplement such as krill oil would be highly beneficial!
- The miracle of coconut oil!
We’ve all heard the benefits of coconut oil to nourish our bodies, but it’s also a fantastic way to heal and hydrate the skin!
Coconut oil contains anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-protozoa properties when used. Applying it topically helps exfoliate the outer layer of dead skin cells, making your skin smoother. An alternative to using coconut oil alone on your skin is to add your favourite essential oil (so long as it’s high-quality and safe for topical application). Another fun trick is to whip the coconut oil with a mixer to make a light and fluffy moisturiser (great for the winter weather)!
- Drink more water
By this, we mean a lot more water! When your skin’s outer layers is dehydrated, your skin becomes rough and dry.
- Eat only the good stuff!
And by good stuff, we mean consuming fresh veggies and avoiding the sugars, fructose, grains and processed foods. Fresh vegetable juice can do wonders for your skin as well as fruits that are red, orange and yellow!
- Indulge in Fermented Vegetables
Have you ever heard that the health and quality of your skin is linked to the health of your gut? Well, it’s true! Which is why fermented veggies are the key to promote the growth of beneficial intestinal bacteria. Optimizing your gut bacteria has been shown to produce clearer, acne-free skin as well to help nourish the skin!
- Don’t OVERWASH your hands!
We know it sounds weird, but don’t wash your hands too often otherwise your skin will inherently pay the price! In saying this, please continue to wash your hands to rid them of germs, but use a plain, gentle, non-antibacterial soap. It’s also handy to rub some coconut oil on your hands afterwards to help counteract the dryness.
- Watch out for hot water!
All you feel like in winter is a HOT shower! But unfortunately hot water is extremely drying for the skin. When showering, make the water warm and be sure to have coconut oil at the ready post-shower to seal in the moisture.
- Deal with the lack of moisture in the air.
During winter, the humidity levels drop, consequently contributing to dry skin, scratchy throat and even allergies! The best thing to do is to increase the humidity by means of a vaporiser or humidifier. A SUPER simple trick is to place bowls of water around your home!
- Avoid the heaters or fireplace.
Our natural instinct when we’re cold, is to warm ourselves up – usually be means of heaters or a fireplace. Unfortunately though, this does dry out the skin. Best layer up those clothes instead!
- Wear lip balm
Natural lip balms such as burts bees are a great way to keep your lips moist and nourished through winter. Another is Paw Paw ointment!
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