Natural cures for skin that is rough or cracking
Skin becomes dry when it is dehydrated. Dryness causes it to scratch and eventually crack. Surprisingly, you can find natural items that can soothe and calm dry skin in your cupboard or gardens.
At it’s best, cracked, dry skin is unpleasant; at worst, it’s painful and uncomfortable. Preventing it from happening in the first place is, by far, the best course of action. So, how do you handle this situation?
Avoiding washing away your body’s natural oils is one method. L long, hot shower are bad for removing natural oils. Use warm water—not hot—and only stay in the shower long enough to do your laundry. Using soap can have extremely drying effects on your skin. It’s not hard to find a good alternative that is friendlier to your skin, however items from stores may still incorporate harsh chemicals as preservatives. So think about preparing a soap alternative at home. A excellent substitute are sugar scrubs. Coconut oil, brown sugar, coconut oil, and your preferred essential oil make an easy recipe. Combine and keep in a bathroom-ready sealed jar.
Your skin may also become dry from the environment in your house. This is exacerbated in the winter because windows and doors are closed and the heat is on. Try using a humidifier to make the your home environment less drying to your skin. Put a small tub of water beside heaters if you can’t afford one, or put moist towels on radiators. They work exactly as effectively. Better still, let some windows open and invite the outdoor air in. And even better, go for a brisk walk outside. Not just your skin will reward you; your entire body will.
Never use hot air to dry your hands. Paper towels won’t dry your hands as thoroughly as hot air, however they might not be as bad for the environment. Avoiding harsh detergents and perfumes is also a good idea. Your skin may become irritated by them, dry up, and break as a result. Wearing natural fibres that allow the skin to cool, such as linen, silk and cotton, is another excellent way to preserve your skin. Wool and man-made textiles might irritate skin that is already sensitive.
Lack of fluid, and especially water, leads to dry skin. Water is necessary for your entire body’s operation as well as for lubricating your skin and joints. Consuming plenty of pure water will help keep your skin hydrated from within, which will enhance the general look and feel of your skin. Start drinking extra water during the day to better treat your cracked or dry skin. If you can, try to drink 5 pints per day. Your epidermis will appreciate it.
It is important to bring up what you eat while we are talking about moisturising your skin internally. Omega 3 fat-rich diets aid to keep the skin moisturised (1).Oily fish like sardines, salmon and mackerel, walnuts, flaxseed, eggs, and even free range beef contain this fat. If these meals genuinely aren’t your thing, invest in a high-quality multivitamin. Your car needs oil to function correctly and to maintain it’s lubrication. That also applies to your body.
Staying out of the sun during the hot summer months will prevent your skin from becoming dry and cracked. If you want to tan, you must protect your skin from the sun because it can cause skin cancer in addition to drying out your skin (2).
Eating the omega-3-rich meals we previously discussed can help some degree with skin cancer and sunburn prevention. Another compelling argument in favour of regularly consuming oily fish (3).
Wear gloves when handling detergents to protect the skin, especially on your hands. This may seem apparent. Put on those rubber gloves when performing your household duties.
A fantastic all-natural moisturiser is coconut oil. It has moisturising effects, prevents loss of moisture from the skin, and anti-inflammatory characteristics (4). This implies that it might relieve the pain brought on by dry skin.
Skin that is cracked and dry is more susceptible to bacterial and germ infections. These can also be eliminated by coconut oil, which safeguards the skin and keeps it supple for longer (5). Apply it frequently to your skin to help keep it hydrated, nourished and healthy.
Vitamin E, another excellent treatment for the skin, is found in olive oil. However, olive oil should never be used to moisturise the skin. It can harm dry skin (6) and has been connected to the development of eczema, particularly in young children (7). Therefore, it is preferable to consume olive oil to reap its benefits for dry skin. So that it can maintain the moisture and suppleness of your skin from the inside out. Over salads and pasta dishes, drizzle extra virgin olive oil without blending. Better yet, consume 1 tsp daily. Other health advantages of olive oil abound as well (8).
The ageing procedure is another factor in dry skin. It has been discovered that olive oil lessens the appearance of dry and wrinkled skin. Thus, in addition to being healthy, it will also help you seem younger for longer (9).
Gel from aloe vera is excellent for treating rough, dry skin, notably eczema. aIt is excellent for relieving minor skin irritations and will fight inflammation and destroy germs. Aloe Vera has these traits because it is a natural antiseptic (10). Many skin care products contain aloe vera, but you can also use it straight from the natural state of the plant.
The importance of moisturising your skin internally with water has been discussed. Juice from the Aloe Vera also has this effect. Due to the addition of electrolytes, which include vitamins and minerals, it is preferable to water (11).This will aid in the healing of rough and cracked spots. Juice extracted from the aloe vera juice has a moderate flavour, but not everyone likes it. You can visit a health store to pick some up and give it a try.
A bath in oatmeal is a home cure for compromised skin that you may or may not have heard about (12). To allow the water to flow through the oats, place it in a cotton bag and hang it over the bath’s faucet. Make certain the water temperature is warm, not hot. Let the bag of oatmeal soak for approximately 15 minutes. By assisting in the formation of a barrier that traps moisture, this will give the oatmeal the chance to perform its magic on your unhealthy skin. Use a soft cotton towel to gently pat yourself dry after getting out of the bath.
The best time to do this is at night, after which you should moisturise your skin with a natural moisturiser before going to bed. In this manner, it has the entire night to absorb into your skin and slowly heal it.
Another very effective way to maintain the skin’s natural hydration is with honey. Because of this, you can frequently find it in over-the-counter moisturisers and herbal remedies (13). It relieves dry, chapped skin, especially skin afflicted by psoriasis and eczema. Even better, as it is antibacterial, it will eliminate the bacteria at the root of these irritating and painful disorders (14).
The advantages mentioned above are more potent with raw honey instead of processed honey. This is because many of the antioxidants in honey are destroyed during processing (15). Similar to olive oil, honey provides numerous advantages for general health.
Honey can be used to exfoliate the skin rather than soap. U se a mixture of a teaspoon of honey and a little lemon juice to apply to your face, then rinse it off.
Or you may create a moisturising face mask using honey. Combine 30 ml of honey and 10 ml of milk. 15 minutes should pass after you put it on your face. After that, remove by rinsing.
This is yet another fantastic face mask concoction that works especially well on particular dry regions. Combine one teaspoon of unprocessed honey with one teaspoon each of olive oil and freshly squeezed lemon juice. Once more, wait 15 minutes before rinsing it off with lukewarm water There are yet additional methods, such as shae butter, royal jelly, avocado pear, and jojoba for treating your abused skin. However, the best approach to take care of your skin is to hydrate continuously and judiciously, treat your skin gently, and maintain a balanced diet. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, as the old (and time tested!) saying goes.
References
- Dietary supplementation of gamma-linolenic acid improves skin parameters in subjects with dry skin and mild atopic dermatitis https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22123240/
- Epidemiology and Risk Factors of Melanoma https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31753105/
- Effect of eicosapentaenoic acid, an omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid, on UVR-related cancer risk in humans. An assessment of early genotoxic markers https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12771037/
- Development of virgin coconut oil based body lotion https://www.thepharmajournal.com/archives/2020/vol9issue5/PartB/9-4-89-214.pdf
- Anti-Inflammatory and Skin Barrier Repair Effects of Topical Application of Some Plant Oils https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5796020/
- Effect of olive and sunflower seed oil on the adult skin barrier: implications for neonatal skin care https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22995032/
- Olive Oil, Sunflower Oil or no Oil for Baby Dry Skin or Massage: A Pilot, Assessor-blinded, Randomized Controlled Trial (the Oil in Baby SkincaRE [OBSeRvE] Study) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26551528/
- Benefits of Extra Virgin Olive Oil https://www.stockland.com.au/retirement-living/news/16-health-benefits-of-extra-virgin-olive-oil
- Olive oil and skin anti-aging. https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/gsr/5/2/5_86/_pdf
- Isolation, Purification and Evaluation of Antibacterial Agents from Aloe vera https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3768575/
- 9 Healthy Benefits of Drinking Aloe Vera Juice https://www.healthline.com/health/food-nutrition/aloe-vera-juice-benefits
- Oatmeal Baths for Itchy Skin https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/eczema/colloidal-oatmeal-baths
- Honey in dermatology and skin care: a review https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24305429/
- Honey: A Therapeutic Agent for Disorders of the Skin https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5661189/
- Medicinal and cosmetic uses of Bee’s Honey – A review https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3611628/