Dry Skin Care 
Dry skin is one of the most common skin problems. In order to stay soft and supple your skin needs to retain its natural moisture. But when exposed to direct sunlight in summer or harsh weather (cold and wind) in winter, when the central heating dries out the skin, it quickly loses its natural moisture and oils, becomes dry and chapped.
Dry skin can cause an uncomfortable feeling and is usually unattractive, thus people with dry skin are looking for solutions to their problem.
Dry skin is typically not a serious health problem, however it changes healthy skin cells into withered cells and often produces wrinkles. Some people have skin disorders categorized as ichtyosis which are severe dry skin conditions that are usually due to heredity.
Dry skin has a low level of sebum and can be prone to sensitivity. The skin has a parched look caused by its inability to retain moisture. It usually feels "tight" and uncomfortable after washing unless some type of moisturizer or skin cream is applied. Chapping and cracking are signs of extremely dry, dehydrated skin.
Dry skin is most common in your lower legs, arms, flanks (sides of the abdomen), and thighs. The symptoms most often associated with dry skin include:
- Scaling
- Itching
- Cracks in the skin
Dry Skin Care – Natural Moisturizers
For dry skin care it is usually recommended using moisturizers which reduce the amount of moisture that escapes your skin by providing a seal.
All moisturizers, to some extent, serve to provide a barrier preventing moisture loss from the skin. Good moisturizers will also serve the purpose of delivering a hydrating effect to the skin, replenishing or encouraging the skin’s natural oil balance. When skin is healthy, its protective outer layer (which is composed largely of lipids) keeps moisture in and harmful elements, such as bacteria and other “bad” stuff, out. But when this layer is damaged, moisture escapes, which can result in irritated, dry or flaky skin. This is when a good moisturizer can be exceptionally helpful.
Natural moisturizers containing light oils and moisture-binding humectants, create a protective barrier for your skin, keeping moisture in the outermost layer without blocking pores. For this reason it’s always good to apply moisturizers to slightly damp skin after bathing to lock in surface moisture. This helps trap more moisture in the skin, keeping it better lubricated.
Moisturizing is especially vital for those who suffer from dermatitis, eczema or psoriasis, since the loss of water in psoriatic skin tends to be eight to ten times greater than normal. It is therefore very important to moisturize the skin in order to compensate for the abnormal degree of water loss.
In addition, good quality moisturizers can make the skin much more comfortable by decreasing dryness, scaling, cracking, soreness, and itching of dry skin.
Moisturizing is particularly important during the winter months when the skin tends to dry out due to the dry, cold air.
Tip: Use a dehumidifier in the winter to keep your skin from drying out.
Dry Skin Care Moisturizer Choices
With so many moisturizers, creams and lotions to choose from, ranging from the various natural options that have recently hit the market to the older and more familiar choices that have been around for years, making the right choice can be dizzying. How can you make the right choice? Here is some information that will, hopefully, serve to guide you through the maze of seemingly endless choices and options and confusing ingredients, and guide to you to make the right choice for you and your skin type.
When choosing a moisturizer, it is important to choose one that is free of synthetic preservatives, fragrances and dyes. Many companies, even those that tout themselves as providing an all-natural line, use ingredients that have been linked to skin irritation and dryness, as well as various skin diseases such as cancer.
Avoid dry skin creams and lotions that contain petroleum products such as Vaseline, etc. Petroleum does not penetrate your skin, but sits on the surface blocking natural respiration, excretion, and absorption of other nutrients. Petroleum jelly has no nutrient value and can actually interfere with the body’s own natural moisturizing abilities. Use of petroleum jelly, ironically, often leads to chapping and drying.
As a replacement for standard Vaseline use Un Petroleum Jelly. This product contains Castor oil, coconut oil, beeswax, castor wax, soybean oil, tocopheryl acetate, and vitamin E.
The following products are well-known as superior, all-natural moisturizers for dry skin.
1. Raw Unfiltered Honey - Raw honey which has not been pasteurized or filtered, and ideally taken directly from the hive is a treasure chest of nutritional value and medicinal remedies. It contains an abundance of vitamins and minerals and is a natural and powerful medicine, both internally and externally
Raw honey is great medicine for the skin. Rich in antioxidant, antibiotic, and antiviral capabilities, raw honey is now showing great promise as a skin moisturizer. Not only does it help retain moisture, it resembles the skin’s natural moisturizing factor, as well.
Current research has found raw honey to actually possess antiseptic, antibacterial, and ant fungal properties. In some studies, raw honey has been used to suppress bacterial growth, particularly in open wounds..
Tip: Smooth a small amount of Raw Honey lightly over the skin; easily remove later with splashes of cold water or comfortable warm water. Leaves skin baby soft.
2. Aloe Vera Gel - Aloe Vera has traditionally been used to treat various skin conditions, including dry skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema, inflammations, burns and wounds. Aloe Vera is also a great skin moisturizer that helps to keep skin supple by bringing oxygen to the cells, and therefore increasing the synthesis and strength of skin tissue.
Topically, aloe Vera benefits dry and cracked skin, burns, blisters, frostbite, insect bites, and allergic reactions.
Studies show that aloe Vera improves the skin’s ability to hydrate itself, aids in the removal of dead skin cells, and has an effective penetrating ability that helps transport healthy substances through the skin.
Aloe Vera products in the form of gel and lotion are used as a mild anesthetic, relieving itching, swelling and pain. Aloe is also used as an antibacterial and anti-fungal, increases blood flow to wounded areas and stimulates fibroblasts–the skin cells responsible for healing. Use aloe Vera gel on your skin, face and body, and apply liberally and as often as needed.
The aloe Vera leaf contains over 75 nutrients and 200 active compounds, which includes 20 minerals, 18 amino acids, and 12 vitamins.
3. Shea butter, which comes from the fruit kernels of the Shea nut tree: 
Natural shea butter skin lotion is a fabulous dry skin softening emollient due to its unique fatty acid profile and excellent natural moisturizing qualities.
Shea butter benefits the skin leaving it soft and supple after topical application. Shea butter has a wide range of amazing healing properties stemming from its physical make up of vitamins A, E, and cinnamic acid, just to name a few.
Shea butter has been shown to have anti-inflammatory capabilities and has been utilized for these benefits for hundreds of years. It has been shown to increase the healing of wounds and improve scars. It is used to heal eczema, burns, rashes, severely dry skin, and to lessen the irritation of psoriasis.
Click on www.sheainstitute.com to learn more about the benefits of Shea Butter.
Natural Oils For Dry Skin Care
Natural oils such as almond, olive, safflower, sunflower, beeswax and jojoba work primarily as emollients (agents that help to hydrate, soften, and loosen dry skin), because they are soluble in the sebum and are capable of being absorbed and used by skin cells.
The following natural oils are the perfect solution for dry skin problems.
Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil, and Olive Oil Lotion – Olive oil has been used for thousands of years as a skin moisturizer. It was, and still is one of the best oils to put on your skin..
Olive oil has regenerating power on the skin tissue and has the ability to regulate the natural moisturizing system of the skin. Olive oil smoothes and softens the skin, and is great for stimulating and healing the skin by toning up and firming it.
5. Avocado Oil - Avocado Oil is renowned for its healing and anti-bacterial properties. The high content of lecithin and phytosterols, facilitates its spreadability. It stimulates the collagen metabolism, increasing the proportion of soluble collagen in the dermis.
Avocado Oil is easily absorbed into deep tissue and penetrates the skin more deeply than other plant oils such as almond or Soya-bean oils. It is therefore an ideal base for transdermal treatments, and due to its wonderful emollient properties is ideal for helping to relieve the dryness and itching of psoriasis and eczema.
6. Almond Oil, and Almond Oil Lotion. Almond oil has high amounts of vitamin A, and is a natural moisturizer that is very beneficial to dry, chapped hands and feet. It is also an excellent skin softener.
Sweet Almond oil is the first choice of many aroma-therapists as it is good for all skin types, and it is easily absorbed into the skin leaving it soft and smooth.
Almond oil is an excellent emollient and helps the skin to balance its loss and absorption of moisture. It is especially beneficial for eczema and psoriasis as it helps relieve itching, soreness, dryness and inflammation. .
A highly recommended almond oil product is:
Almond Glow Skin Lotion Produced by Home Health Inc.
This superior product contains:
• Peanut Oil – an excellent emollient and lubricant. • Olive Oil – to nourish the skin. • Almond Oil – to moisturize and soften. • Vitamin E – to maintain skin’s vitality for a healthy complexion all over.
• Vitamin E Oil – a natural antioxidant and skin moisturizer that helps to replenish lost skin oils and maintain a continuing moisture balance.
Topical vitamin E has been shown to have a wide variety of skin benefits. Many studies have shown that vitamin E can help decrease the effects of psoriasis, and may help in reducing the risk of skin cancer. It is healing to skin. It acts as an effective membrane stabilizer that protects the skin from sun damage, reduces fine facial lines and wrinkles, and generally improve skin smoothness. Vitamin E oil is a common additive to massage oils and face creams.
A highly recommended vitamin E product is Hi Vitamin E Gel Produced by Jason Naturals. 
7. Jojoba Oil: liquid wax rather than oil, Jojoba oil is rich in vitamin E, mimics sebum, and penetrates skin very rapidly. Native American peoples for all kinds of skin disorders use it extensively as it is nourishing for the skin, and promotes healing for inflamed skin, psoriasis, eczema, or any sort of dermatitis.
8. Coconut Oil: Traditional healers to soothe and cool the body and the mind have for centuries used this premium oil. Because of its antioxidant properties, it actually feeds the skin. Its small molecular structure allows for easy absorption, giving the skin a soft, smooth texture. It therefore makes an ideal ointment for the relief of dry, rough and wrinkled skin, and it prevents free radical damage to the skin unlike vegetable oils. Psoriasis and eczema sufferers often see great improvements from these distressing conditions when applying pure coconut oil to the affected areas. It is ideal when used as a body moisturizer, massage oil and for after sun relief.
Read the very informative book titled: The Healing Miracles Of Coconut Oil by Bruce Fife, to learn more about the supreme health benefits of coconut oil.
9. Castor Oil - Castor oil also known as Castor Bean and Palma Christi, Castor Oil has been used therapeutically in ancient India, China, Persia, Egypt, Africa, Greece, Rome, the Americas, and in 17th century Europe. Today it is used as an emollient and skin softener, treatment of gastrointestinal problems, lacerations, and other skin disorders such as psoriasis. It is also found in many skin care products. One way it is used is to treat skin problems is to make a hot oil pad by pouring the castor oil on an absorbent material placed over the treatment area and then heating the pad to heat the castor oil.
10. Borage Oil - Borage oil, extracted from the seeds of the borage plant, is a natural source of gamma-Linolenic Acid (GLA), an important OMEGA-6 fatty acid which is required for healthy skin cell membranes. Without sufficient GLA, cells can’t retain enough moisture. This can result in dry skin and other chronic skin problems.
Clinical research shows that Borage Oil helps maintain healthy moisturized skin and joint flexibility. GLA supplementation is important since GLA is rarely found in foods and many factors block the body’s ability to make it on its own. Borage Oil with its unusually high GLA content has been the subject of numerous clinical research studies worldwide.
Borage oil penetrates deep, delivering GLA and its benefits directly to the cells. As a result, skin retains more moisture and is healthier.
A Highly recommended Borage Oil moisturizer product is Shikai – Borage Dry Skin Therapy.
Many people have dry skin that just won’t go away and isn’t relieved with traditional moisturizers. This is why SHIKAI Borage Dry Skin Therapy was created. This product has an ingredient so effective, it’s been proven in medical journals again and again. In other words, it really works.
Most moisturizers work on the skin’s surface and provide temporary relief. SHIKAI Borage Dry Skin Therapy delivers its benefits directly to your skin cells. Newly formed skin cells retain more moisture and prevent future dryness.
Essential Oils For Dry Skin Care
Essential oils are the volatile, aromatic portion of a plant, and once extracted, usually through steam distillation, they are 75 to 100 times more potent then their original source. Essential oils contain the odor, taste, and medicinal properties of the plant itself, but in very concentrated form, with no base oil, alcohol, water or dilutants added.
Essential oils are especially effective for the skin. They act as transporters to carry therapeutic benefits through the seven layers of the epidermis. As they penetrate they find their way through the intercellular fluid. These oils are highly concentrated, and hence very potent and should always be used sparingly and in conjunction with a reliable reference.
Essential oils should never be used solely against the skin, as this may cause skin irritation, they must be added to water or diluted in carrier (pressed) oil. The blend can then be used for massage. Mix one part pure essential oil with ten parts of quality cold-pressed oil, such as almond, sesame seed, apricot kernel, carrot, avocado etc. Apply oil to affected area using a cotton swab.
In addition, the carrier oils act as a barrier to the skin, sealing and locking in the essential oils and preventing them from evaporating into the air. For this reason the thicker the oil the better sealant it will be.
Tip: Combine a few drops of essential oil with a carrier oil and massage into the skin, or add 10 drops of essential oil to the bath and soak for fifteen minutes.
Note: Some essential oils can cause sensitization or allergic reactions in some individuals. Therefore, it is worth doing a skin patch test. Rub a little oil in the correct dilution on the inside of your wrist, cover with a Band-Aid and leave on overnight. If you have a reaction avoid using that oil, otherwise it is likely it is safe to use that essential oil.
To learn more on the safe use of essential oils click on www.aromaweb.com/articles/default.asp.
Or read Essential Oil Safety: A Guide for Health Care Professionals: by Robert Tisserand.
Learn more about the supreme health benefits of essential oils by reading The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy by Valerie Ann Worwood.
Essential oils are one of the world’s great-untapped resources. This complete volume explains how to incorporate these ancient medicines of the earth into everyday life for personal care, physical and mental health, and a safe home environment. It gives more than 500 recipes using essential oils as alternatives to often-toxic human-made health, beauty, and cleaning products.
