patches for dry skin

For years, I have had a problem with patches of dry skin, especially on my face and arms. The degree of severity tends to vary with the weather and my diet. Sometimes these patches tend to itch and of course there is a temptation to scratch, but this only makes the problem worse and increases the chances of infection.

I’ve been battling this problem for many years, so I thought I’d offer some advice for those of you who also struggle with patches of dry skin.

1. Improve your diet. That is, drink more water and make sure you are getting enough omega 3 fatty acids (from fish, nuts, chia seeds, supplements, etc.).

2. Switch to natural soaps and lotions. This is the easiest way to avoid the irritating chemicals (I’ll give you a list below) that make dry patches of skin worse. Always read the ingredient label before buying to make sure it doesn’t contain a skin irritant.

3. Exfoliate. I like chemical exfoliants like Alpha Hydroxy Acid Body Lotion, but some people prefer abrasive type exfoliants. This is a personal choice, but make sure you exfoliate regularly to remove old, dead skin.

4. Moisturize with a pure vegetable oil. I think the two best vegetable oils for moisturizing are coconut oil and camellia oil. You only need to use one of these. Other popular options are jojoba oil, olive oil, and almond oil. Whatever you choose, make sure it is 100% oil and has no additives.

AVOID THESE SKIN IRRITANTS

The following ingredients can make patches of dry skin worse. Don’t buy products that have these ingredients, especially if the ingredients are at the top of the list (meaning they have a higher concentration in the product).

• sodium hydroxide
• potassium hydroxide
• Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
• Sodium laureth sulfate
• triclosan

With just a few simple changes, you can improve the condition of your skin. I find these products can be easily purchased at a local health food store and many online merchants. Go for natural products and stores that sell these types of products, as many people report that they are less irritating than other products.

swollen eyes from crying

Well, lately I’ve been going through an emotional roller coaster. Let’s just say a lot of tears are being shed, and I hope it continues for a few more weeks, at least, healing process, you know?

What I want to know is, what should I do with my swollen eyes from crying? It seems like all the water coming out of my eyes is swelling the skin in that area. Not a pretty look! It worsens the appearance of dark circles and accentuates the slight bags under my eyes.

Being that I still have bills to pay and expenses to meet, I still have to go to work, so I want to look decent.

Please share your tips with me on what works to soothe puffy eyes from crying!