Winter is Here: Dealing with Dry, Cracked and Itchy Skin

“Mo” one of my most loyal and faithful contributors to Mythbuster Beauty, recently sent me a distress call:

“Hey Jen, I have a mission for ya! Winter has hit and we are in desperate need of a good lotion for our family. Last year I used bath and body works cream and it was nice and thick and did well, but this year we seem to be drier than ever! I’m getting red bumps all up my arms and my hands are starting to crack. My husband spends all night scratching his legs and rubbing up against things like a bear.

We’ve already switched to a bath gel instead of bar soap, and the scrubbies ensure we get exfoliated pretty well. The dryness and itch is excruciating!!! We can’t afford to keep buying and trying lotions until we find what works. So, we need something relatively inexpensive (Under $20) that will work well and that doesn’t smell very strong, so my husband will use it! I know you can do it!! Thanks, M”

Oh, the agony of winter dry skin… I had to rule out the obvious questions, was there a sudden change that might have led to this dry skin attack?  No.  Mo reports nothing obvious has changed. They are using the same laundry detergent and soap products, just the change of season. Her husband aka “Curious” is scratching himself like a bear? That is a bit concerning! I suppose most bloggers wouldn’t fret about another family from a different state suffering from epithelial issues, but I sense her desperation! When Poppa Bear ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy.

My family also suffers from the winter itchies. Utah being a desert, becomes even more arid during the cold months. My 8 year old daughter Sarah licks her lips and ends up with a sore red mouth all winter long, this problem led me to find a lip balm that would help her, and wrote the post, “Sarah Loves Chicken Poop.”  We all get cracked and bleeding knuckles as well. Finding good dry skin solutions that don’t sting, smell perfumey, or feel too greasy is a challenge.

Now Mo, I realize that you would specifically love to solve the dry skin issue with a magical lotion or cream. However, winter dry skin is a tricky, multi-faceted issue. After doing some research, the Green Living website had some interesting solutions that might be worth a try:

• AROMATHERAPY - To help chronically dry skin retain more of its natural moisture, Fair Oaks, California, aromatherapist Victoria Edwards recommends this fragrant face and body oil:  Add ten drops each of the essential oils lavender, Roman chamomile, neroli, rosemary and carrot seed to two ounces of a carrier oil such as almond, olive or sesame. (Carrier oils are available in most health food stores.) Apply the oil once a day after your bath or shower, while your skin is still slightly damp, says Edwards.
• FOOD THERAPY – “Eat fish at least twice a week,” suggests author Earl Mindell, R.Ph., Ph.D. The oil in salmon, herring and other cold water fish is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which help replenish lost moisture in dry skin and hair, according to Dr. Mindell. Up to two tablespoons of flaxseed oil a day can also help replenish hair and skin oils, says Julian Whitaker, M.D. It has a nutty-buttery taste, so you can use it as a topping on popcorn, potatoes or other foods you might otherwise flavor with butter, he says. Flaxseed oil is available in most health food stores.
• REFLEXOLOGY – To deal with dry skin, pay special attention to the thyroid and adrenal gland reflexes on your hands and feet, says reflexologist and author Dwight Byers. To help you locate these points, consult hand and foot reflex charts.

Mo, I am only beginning to “scratch” the surface of this dry skin issue. After all this extensive research I came up with some amazing information. Too much information for any one post. I will continue to write more on this subject! So hopefully some of this will help, and please kind readers, let us know if you have any other suggestions…