Skin

[tractor]

I know winter will be over soon, but for some reason my skin has dried out mate than normal this year. I use a body lotion every morning when I get out of shower (Lubriderm), but I wonder if there is any kind of Magic pill (or food) I can take to help my skin from drying out? Any ideas?

[wvugurl26]

I've heard drinking plenty of water can help.

[ArchietheDragon]

[Tennesseer]

Olive oil?

"While you may reach for a thick, moisture-trapping emollient hand cream to help relieve your dry, cracked winter skin, you'll likely get similar results with the extra virgin olive oil stored in your pantry -- whether you ingest it or apply it topically.

Unrefined olive oil is full of inflammation-inhibiting antioxidants, which means it will help relieve skin conditions such as eczema. But among those antioxidants is one called squalene, an antioxidant known for its skin health benefits as well as its cancer-fighting properties. The antioxidants in olive oil help repair skin damage, soothe and relieve chapped, itchy and cracked skin and help rebuild the skin's moisture barrier to prevent further moisture loss from occurring -- and as a bonus those antioxidants will also reduce damage that leads to wrinkles and discoloration."

5 Ways Olive Oil Helps Your Skin

[Chocolate Lover]

Olive oil works so does coconut oil....... and drink LOTS of water

[tractor]

Thanks for the tips, I keep trying to drink lots of water, just doesn't seem to help this year. The olive oil sounds interesting, I love the stuff, but could eat more. Maybe I need to fill the tub with it, although that would get pretty expensive.

[Chocolate Lover]

You might have to up the water intake even more.  I'd settle for slathering on a little oil AFTER you get out of the tub. Less mess to clean up. 

[The Captain]

Neutrogena light sesame body oil.  I spray a little of it on my damp skin after bathing and just smooth it all over.  It feels so wonderful, smells great, and does wonders.

Also, I second drinking more water. 

[Angel!]

You could try Vanicream. DS2 was having major problems with dry skin/eczema.  After trying tons of stuff, the doctor recommended that & after just a week his skin looks so much better. 

[Green Eyed Lady]

Mine is so bad in the winter (dry), I have a medicated cream from the dermatologist. I don't have exema or anything like that - just very dry.   It works great and my skin looks and feels great, but the cream has a steroid in it and it can thin out your skin so it's only to use occasionally.  At least that's how I understand it.

Someone mentioned something to me about Vitamin E capsules. Anybody every try this? I'd sure rather try something non-medicated. I've tried every OTC bottle out there and nothing gives me much relief.

[busymom]

Tractor, do you have any Scandinavians in your family tree? My dermatologist tells me they seem to have the most trouble in the Winter with drying skin, & sadly it only gets worse as you age. (I've got a prescription cream I use when my skin gets really bad. Otherwise, I'm a big fan of Neutrogena products.)

[Malarky]

My hands were so bad in December that I was filling cracks with superglue to stop the bleeding. Just about every time I bent my fingers a new crack would appear.  I probably wash my hands 30 times a day.  I had been soaking them in straight coconut oil but it didn't seem to help.


I used to work with the woman who runs this company:  www.vermontnaturalwhippingqueen.com  and I have to say, I love the stuff.  And I trust that there isn't anything harmful in the body butter.   I'm really sensitive to perfumes and heavily scented items (Yankee candles make my eyes water and I can't breathe.)  Her products are very lightly scented.  

I don't usually try to sell people on any particular product, but this has been a game changer for me.


My hands no longer have the texture of a concrete sidewalk, complete with cracks.

[tractor]

Feb 26, 2015 13:34:25 GMT -5 busymom said:

Tractor, do you have any Scandinavians in your family tree? My dermatologist tells me they seem to have the most trouble in the Winter with drying skin, & sadly it only gets worse as you age. (I've got a prescription cream I use when my skin gets really bad. Otherwise, I'm a big fan of Neutrogena products.)

Maybe, my grandfather and grandmother were born in the Neatherlands. Might not be far enough north, but close. It does seem to get worse the older I get, it might also be the frigid temps we've been having over the past few weeks. I don't like scented stuff, but the body butter sounds fun.

[Shooby]

A couple things that work for me.   One is Baby Oil Gel.  Right after you shower, get out and before you towel dry, use baby oil gel on your arms or legs.  You can regular baby oil too but I like the gel.  Then pat dry with a towel.

 For really dry hands, get 2 white cotton tube socks.  Get a huge glob of Vaseline petroleum jelly.  Glob it all over your hands and put those cotton socks over your hands right before bed and sleep with them on.  Your hands will feel great in the morning. 

[Shooby]

One other point.  Get a steam Vaporizer . I have a Vicks one, they are like $15. We have 3 of them. Fill it with water and add one or two teaspoons of salt. It will put a lot of moisture back into the air.  Put a towel under it because the salt makes it sputter a bit.

[mroped]

unsalted lard or sour cream should work. no chemicals in it either.

I work with mortar that is lime based so once in a while i have to use something for my hands.
As far as creams, i found in an amish store something called "Corn huskers" cream

[zibazinski]

I've been using the spray on lotion. Pat dry a bit while still in shower, spray, rub on, get out and get dressed.

[ՏՇԾԵԵʅՏɧ_LԹՏՏʅҼ]

Vaseline Intensive Care "Aloe Fresh" or "Aloe Smooth" body lotion. It also comes in a body spray. It's a miracle worker when it comes to winter & dry skin on arm/legs - or dry cracking skin on hands.

[Cookies Galore]

I like the Neutrogena sesame oil. I also started using a ginger sugar scrub a few months ago that has almond oil and orange peel oil in it. Hubs uses it too. The fun with that one is having your spouse jump in the shower if you need someone to rub the stuff on your back.

[The Captain]

For the real rough areas (I have psoriasis) I use an OTC lotion called "Dermal Therapy".  Now truth is it doesn't have the most pleasant scent, but it works.  This stuff keeps my flare ups under control better than any other OTC product and many prescription productions (many of which also contained steroids).

You can get it on amazon...

www.amazon.com/Dermal-Therapy-Strength-Lotion-irritated/dp/B000NN5GTY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1424989698&sr=8-1&keywords=dermal+therapy

Yes, it's pricey but it works.

[Happy prose]

Really try the Vasaline. I even put a tiny dab on my face. Try your hands first though to make sure you're not sensitive to it.

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

I use Cetaphil cream (in a tub) especially during the winter.  It seems to do the best about keeping the moisture in, and most importantly it doesn't smell like anything.

[Deleted]

I love the Neutrogena oil, but it's not enough for my dry skin in the winter. I use it as long as my skin isn't really really dry. I like Curel lotion for my dry hands, I have bottles all over my house, in my car, in my purse. The last couple of winters, I've used Shea Moisture body lotion. It's made with raw Shea butter. I slather it on after my shower and it works well for me. There are different scents and while I like the one I use (frankincense and myrrh) I have to caution you that the scent on that particular one is strong enough that other people smell it. People that have asked what it was were complimentary, but it's not a good choice if you're sensitive to smells I guess.

Before I discovered Shea Moisture, I used Curel on my body.

What do you bathe with? Some products can contribute to dry skin too. At least imo.

[andi9899]

Try Eucerin Calming Cream. Don't use the regular Eucerin though. It would be far too greasy. Drink lots of water.

[andi9899]

I know people that swear by Skin So Soft by Avon. Seems too greasy to me though. It does smell pretty good however.

[ՏՇԾԵԵʅՏɧ_LԹՏՏʅҼ]

Feb 26, 2015 21:12:53 GMT -5 andi9899 said:

I know people that swear by Skin So Soft by Avon. Seems too greasy to me though. It does smell pretty good however.

When Avon first came out with Skin So Soft, I used it regularly. Now I look back on how "oily" it was - and it left a horrible film on the bathtub.

For Bathing, I've found that Lever 2000 Bath/Shower gel is nice. It comes in various very mild scents.

Another that I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE! is "Method Pure Naked" body wash - The scent I use is called "Surfside" with aloe vera - the blue/white bottle.

It's a gentle white lotion body wash that smells so fresh & the Surfside is a "barely there" scent. Very gentle on the skin, and makes it soft & smooth. It's heaven in a bath (or shower).

Available (Canada) at Shopper's Drug Mart and other retail drugstores or places like Walmart - also available in US at various drugstores, such as Walgreens etc 0 or online.

[Opti]

No magic pill that I know of. I've had the same issue this year, but it has been colder

and I think lower in humidity as well. I think its just the usual apply more lotion more

often and stay hydrated.

Humidifiers do help.

[andi9899]

I only buy Dove soap since Thing 1 has eczema. We like the cucumber green tea kind.

[weltschmerz]

Feb 26, 2015 13:36:04 GMT -5 Malarky said:

My hands were so bad in December that I was filling cracks with superglue to stop the bleeding. Just about every time I bent my fingers a new crack would appear.  I probably wash my hands 30 times a day.  I had been soaking them in straight coconut oil but it didn't seem to help.


I used to work with the woman who runs this company:  www.vermontnaturalwhippingqueen.com  and I have to say, I love the stuff.  And I trust that there isn't anything harmful in the body butter.   I'm really sensitive to perfumes and heavily scented items (Yankee candles make my eyes water and I can't breathe.)  Her products are very lightly scented.  

I don't usually try to sell people on any particular product, but this has been a game changer for me.


My hands no longer have the texture of a concrete sidewalk, complete with cracks.

Have you tried Bag Balm? I works like magic, it really does. They even used on the paws of cadaver dogs after 9-11. The people I know who work outside, especially in the winter, resulting in cracked and bleeding hands, swear by it. Yes, it was originally formulated in the 1800s for cracked and irritated cow udders.

[tigerpause]

 This cream is amazing. The comments in the links below say it all.
www.makeupalley.com/product/showreview.asp/ItemId=112030/Uremol-20/Unlisted-Brand/Lotions/-Creams
www.canadianliving.com/blogs/health/2014/01/03/winter-dry-skin-miracle-product-uremol-20/