Healthy winter skin

The thinner skin of the fairer sex is a little more dainty and delicate than men’s. It is less oily and sweaty, making us more prone to damage from the elements like sun, wind and drying air. Cold winds, drying indoor heat and drinking less because we’re less hot and thirsty in the winter all combine to cause dry skin. Sometimes the condition goes beyond mild discomfort to very unpleasant itching, eczema or cracks and fissures in the skin.

I stopped in at Mother Earth’s Storehouse in Kingston to find out what natural supplements might help protect skin from winter’s ravages. A helpful employee in that department of the store, who requested not to be named, told me about several items recommended by authorities and trusted sources. Several oils can be taken internally in capsule form. Some are even tasty enough to be eaten as food, mixed into salad dressing and such.

Those oils beneficial to winter skin include evening primrose, black currant, borage, flax seed, hemp seed and calendula. Sufficient fluid intake helps the skin hydrate. Keeping the balance of water and oil in our bodies is what it’s all about. Coconut oil applied topically is a great way to keep your skin moist in winter, too.

The Omegas 3, 6 and 9, a.k.a. fish oil, are touted as being good for the skin, among other things. These trendy fatty acid supplements are said to keep skin from drying by bringing blood and oxygen to the skin. Omega-3, which helps create new skin cells to replace those that dry up and slough off, may also help protect the skin against damages from the sun. Vitamin A and Vitamin E are said to be beneficial to the skin as well.

Although each glass of water you drink doesn’t make a beeline to plump and soften your skin, as some people might imagine, the skin is a reflection of overall health. Overall health is improved when you are sufficiently hydrated. But if your skin is dry, drinking buckets of water isn’t going to fix it.