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Most of my life I haven't put anything on my skin to keep it from being dry. Now I hear I'm supposed to put stuff on it (when I do it's coconut oil, thanks to some of you all recommending it. But what's the deal, why do it? My skin is pretty dry and I live in a desert climate, but it hasn't bothered me. Do you care if you do it?
Because if you don't have the smooth supple unlined dewy radiant skin of a child, it means you might be OLD, which is apparently an appalling, shameful disgrace, a much worse sin than being a murderer, just ask any cosmetics company. >8)
If your skin isn't itchy, I'm not sure you need to,slather crap on it.Quote:
Originally Posted by larknm
me--wintertime dries up my skin and makes my back itch. I do put on skin lotion, but I also,keep,a backs rather in many rooms.
I don't put anything on my skin, either. Just too lazy and don't care. Nothing itches. Sometimes when I feel like smellin' purdy I use a scented body lotion.
It depends on how dry it is, and where it is. If it's dry skin that is prone to cracking open, like on your feet and you walk around bare foot, then you run the risk of getting an infection in it, so it's good to keep it from getting too dry.
I have seldom put anything on my face, I hate the feel of the lotion-y things and am allergic to most scents, so I just don't bother, either. I do use a Body Shop vitamin e on my feet in the warm weather months.
Maybe moisturizers lessen wrinkles, maybe not, I don't know. Those with naturally oily skin get wrinkles later that those with dry skin but this is pretty much genetics I think (provided one's diet has adequate essential fats etc.).
In winter if the outside air is cold and if I'm running the heat indoors all the time I will use moisturizer as I can feel the dryness, it hurts. Otherwise I don't use moisturizer really. I have some natural shea butter and some other things big ol bottle of lotion I bought. In summer if I'm out in midday a lot the UV rays sometimes activate roscacea, it's not very visible unless you look carefully, but it burns, it burns! Sunburn lotion may make it worse if anything. I may put some moisturizer or aloe lotion for temporary relief.
My skin is dry, drier in some parts than others. I'm constantly using hand lotion, because washing my hands dries them out to the point where it is uncomfortable and my skin cracks. I put lotion on my back most of the year, because the skin there is dry and itchy and it's hard to scratch my back gracefully at work or out and about.
My face is still somewhat oily, even though I'm in my 50s. I don't use moisturizer on it, and I have very few wrinkles. Or as my sister, who is 9 years younger than me constantly points out, a lot fewer wrinkles than she does--and she uses every facial product on the market. I'm not convinced the stuff you put on your face can actually ward off wrinkles. I think a lot of that is genetic. I clearly inherited the aging genes from Mom's side of the family; Sis (and most of my brothers) clearly inherited the aging genes from Dad's side.
Dry skin is a symptom of something that could be unhealthy.
I’m sure I’ve contributed this information before, but since the question was asked…. Dry skin, and conditions like eczema and scaly patches have a number of contributors, as do wrinkles. The type of fat and how much sugar and carbs you eat are major contributors, as well as how much you’ve exposed your skin to UV rays (sun and tanning booths), smoking, and plain old genetics.
Applying coconut oil is great for occasional dryness, such as when you’ve been in dishwater a lot and the Dawn Dishwashing Liquid has stripped out all the natural oils. But for chronic dry skin, you need to address it from inside, not just outside.
-If you happen to have rough, dry elbows, try adding flaxmeal to your diet daily.
-Avoid poly-unsaturated fats. We’ve been sold a load of “stuff” about these modern, man-made fats, but the bottom line is they do a lot of damage inside the body since they are basically a source of free-radicals in the diet because they are rancid oils due to how they are manufactured and stored. Consume “good” fats instead. “There were studies performed by several plastic surgeons during the 1980’s found that women who consumed lots of vegetable oil had far more wrinkles and looked much older than women who consumed saturated fats.” I haven’t used vegetable oil for over 30-years and I avoid fast-food and highly-processed foods (both loaded with this type of damaging oil).
-Low-fat diets can also cause dry skin and wrinkles. I had a group of friends who all went on an extremely low-fat diet for weight loss through a certified dietitian (less than 20% of their calories were from fat). They all experienced dry skin, and they had significant hair loss, not to mention joint problems, from reducing fat, and eliminating all saturated and "good" fat from their diet.
-People with dry skin are often hypoglycemic and crave sugar and are eating a diet that is high in carbohydrates -- but deficient in good-quality fats. The elderly often consume large amounts of simple carbohydrates (cookies, crackers, snack food and candy) and experience dry skin.
Helpful Hint: When I get a sugar craving I’ll slowly nibble on a small piece of “Chocolate-Almond Protein Fudge” (* recipe below) and the coconut oil in the recipe will take away the cravings for sugar. Another way to fix a sugar craving is to make a cup of sugar-free cocoa and add some coconut oil to the cup. You can also spread coconut oil on bread/crackers and consume it that way when you get a sugar craving. Or you can lick a small amount off a spoon and eat it that way. The fudge is a most pleasant delivery system. ;)
-It’s often thought that not drinking enough water is the culprit, but the water we drink mostly goes into the bloodstream, and the part that does reach the cellular level is there via fat. So skip the carbs and include butter, non-hydrogenated lard, coconut oil, nuts, seeds (flax, sesame, sunflower, chia, etc.) so you have consumed enough good fats for properly moist skin.
*CHOCOLATE-ALMOND PROTEIN FUDGE
1 c. coconut oil
½ c. chocolate protein powder
½ c. almonds (ground into meal)
2 t. raw honey (or other sweetener)
1 t. vanilla
Combine room-temperature coconut oil with protein powder until fully combined. Combine almond meal, vanilla. Fold in completely. Place in 9x5” loaf pan covered with parchment paper. Freeze 1-hr. or overnight. Store in freezer.
I probably wouldn't worry about it....except if you're always breathing in dry air and get lots of colds/upper respiratory problems/coughing. Some humidity is important for your lungs and can keep them healthier at fighting off viruses, etc.
My worst dry skin problem is in my fingertips. They crack and are very painful. I always wear dish-washing gloves when doing the dishes. I think some of us just have dry-skin genes.
Maybe you could take your baths with some sort of oil in it?
Thanks, lessisbest. I also remember reading that dry skin may indicate dietary deficiencies, particularly of high-quality fats that are vital for the proper functioning of the immune and central nervous systems. It may be that when supplies are short, they're shunted to the high-demand areas, leaving the skin dry. Dry skin may result from excessive sugar and processed starch intake. Carbohydrates draw a surprising amount of water, something like a pound of water for every ounces of carbohydrate; that's why we experience a sudden sharp drop in weight in the first couple of weeks on a low-carb diet - the body sheds that water. So dry skin could indicate subclinical dehydration.
Interesting information about the nutrition behind dry skin: does the same apply to dry hair? Because I definitely hate my dry, frizzy hair. As a 90% vegetarian, I get my fat from the very little bit of poultry and fish I eat, as well as the occasional nuts, and daily dairy (butter, eggs). I really don't eat that many carbs (I don't think) and I avoid processed food.
When I was making a lot of beef broth from grassfed beef bones I swore my hair was healthier but I have no real evidence to connect the two.
If you look up "foods that are good for skin" - you will notice the inside-out benefits. Here's one such list from livestrong.com:
-Walnuts (and other nuts): Omega-3 fatty acids
-Avocado: vitamin E for skin repair, the fat and liquid content helps keep skin moist & supple
-Salmon: Omega-3
-Blueberries: vitamins and antioxidants (FYI - antioxidants fight those nasty free-radicals)
-Flax seed (ground): Omega-3, lignana (an antioxidant)
-Sweet Potatoes: Beta-carotene (which is closely related to retinol)
-Chocolate: Flavonoids. Women who ate dark chocolate had better skin texture, less redness, and better hydration.
-Spinach: Antioxidants, vitamins, minerals (such as magnesium which helps heal wounds)
-Tomatoes: Vitamin C and lycopene (an anti-oxidant)
-Green Tea (and I'd suggest Matcha Green Tea - 10 times more potent + 137 times more EGCG's than regular green tea)
Catherine - When it comes to your hair, you are correct about the bone broth and it's benefits. Not only to your hair, but also your joints and nerves. If you aren't over-processing your hair with chemical treatments, hot rollers and curling irons, frequent washing with harsh shampoo/soap, etc., the problem probably is the low-fat diet. I would certainly begin adding some unflavored gelatin to your diet, if you need to stop making bone broth (summertime cooking is why I make it less frequently and use what I have in the freezer). Try making some fruit juice "gummies" with gelatin. I posted some recipes not long ago. If you would like them, I'll go back and find them again. You might want to increase your intake of flaxseed meal, chia seeds, and coconut oil.
Check this link for more information: http://www.foodmatters.tv/articles-1...hy-hair-growth
It is said that the skin is our largest organ so any changes or extreme dryness might indicate illness or imbalance of some sort. Obviously, things like smoking, climate and genes take their toll. I know when my hair looks dry and limp that something is off since that is not its usual state.
I meant to add this: if your skin is dry, you won't be able to make vitamin D no matter how much sun you get. The vitamin D process starts when sunlight starts the chain reaction with the oils in your skin. It's best to moisturize your skin from the inside, by drinking enough water, and by eating enough high-quality fats. Eating good fats will also provide you with vitamins A, D, E, and K, all of which are vital for good skin, hair, and nails.
Nice stuff, lessisbest! I'd add, though, that bone broth supplies more than gelatin, despite the value of gelatin as a protein-sparer and adjuvant. Bone marrow is rich in omega-3 fats, which are vital for nerves, epidermis, and immunity. If cooked with some acid (cider vinegar, tomato paste), some of the bone dissolves, so that bone broth can provide more bone-building minerals, in the right proportions, than dairy products. The final thing is the collagen, which helps to heal leaky gut and to ease creaky, painful joints.
Another thing about moisturizer, especially for us in sunny climes, is that these days many brands contain some SPF value. I use Eucerin which has an SPF of 15, which I know is not sufficient for all day in the sun, but I figure it's at least some protection.
I was fascinated by what Suzanne said about dry skin and vitamin D levels and wanted to learn more about it, and what I came across was really odd. I have no idea of the validity of the web source, but someone is theorizing that washing the skin - which can also cause dryness - is also responsible for washing away the precursor to vitamin D contained in our skin oils, or even vitamin D we've already produced. This doesn't address the idea of added non-human lubricants like coconut oil, only the personal oil on one's skin, but I think it might make an interesting piece of the puzzle, that our deficient vitamin D levels as we age, and our tendency toward things like osteoporosis because of that, might have more to do with the personal oiliness of our skin than anything else - and that, blergh, leaving greasy skin greasy might be a good idea.
http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/blog/...way-vitamin-d/
I would be concerned about having cracks on the skin an a infection setting in...Just as another poster mentioned.
I have what is called elephant skin on my elbows that sometimes breaks out in bumps...this has only been there for the last three years. I do take Flaxseed oil so that is not the culprit. If I use Patatouli essential oil it clears it up but it soon comes back.
Lessisbest do you have any recommendations? Also how can you eat healthy fats without, gaining weight?
Thanks...christine
First, I would switch from flaxseed oil (which is a damaged oil due to processing and storage and probably rancid when you purchase it - it doesn't have to smell rancid to BE rancid - to flax meal (made from the whole seed). The rancid flaxseed oil is therefore a free radical, which does more damage than it does good. You may find the oil alone isn't providing other healing components that are found in the whole seed. Mill flaxseed yourself in a coffee/spice mill and store it in the freezer. I mill a 50/50 mixture of flax and chia seeds and use about a pint (or more) every week. I add it to everything I bake and the morning smoothie (which is more-or-less a delivery system, consisting of milk kefir and a small amount of 100% fruit juice, for a number of supplements we take - not just a liquid breakfast - we drink it with breakfast), sprinkle it on cooked/dry cereral, salad, etc.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tussiemussies
Check out the book "Eat Fat Lose Fat" by Dr. Mary Enig and Sally Fallon. Most people gain weight from empty carbohydrates and high-glycemic food, not healthy fats in moderation. That's why many people on a Paleo Diet lose weight - they stop consuming grains, high-carb. foods, and "junk" food. Use avocados (lots of interesting things you can do with avocados - even making pudding with them), make frozen desserts from full fat coconut milk, choose a serving of nuts/seeds instead of chips, add fish to your diet once a week, add a little butter or ghee to your Saturday night popcorn (I add a mixture of Pure Organic Ghee, Kerrygold butter and coconut oil to popcorn).... Avoid "bad" fats (liquid man-made oils), which have an adverse affect.
Thanks! One of the bad things about doing healthcare market research is I have a tendency to project other people's problems onto me--so if I interview depressed people, my normally cheerful nature seems in question. If I'm talking to people with cardiac problems, I tend to pay more attention to my diet. I'm currently interviewing women who have alopecia (hair loss), so I'm now focusing on my hair a little more. ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by lessisbest
Returning to dry skin and vitamin D synthesis, this link offers a rather nice explanation: http://www.cholesterol-and-health.com/Vitamin-D.html. The skin lipid required for vitamin D synthesis is a form of cholesterol. I suspect that applying oils to the skin wouldn't improve ability to make vitamin D3, as these are cholesterol-free.
Just to expand on the omega-3 provided by flax and other plant foods, this is ALA. Many people have almost no ability to convert ALA into EPA and DHA. While the body can, at a pinch, use ALA, it has different physical and chemical properties that may make it less desirable for making cell walls, myelin sheathing for nerves, and structural components of the brain. EPA and DHA are also specifically needed for formation, repair, and functioning of the retina.
Since December I've been eating 2 Tbsp. of ground flax almost daily and my skin was much softer and soooo much smoother than before. It may have even calmed my mild Rosacea, although I started using something from La Roche-Posay that helped as well. And my joints feel better too!
Hi Suzanne,
Just wondering, what can be used to convert the ALA? Or is there something else along with the Flaxseed that can be used? Thanks...
Tussies, it's my understanding that it's a genetic inability to convert ALA to EPA and DHA. Some people simply don't make the enzymes necessary for the conversion, while others don't make enough. The conversion is aided by eating high-quality saturated fat. For you, as a vegan, that would be coconut oil, which provides medium-length but not long-chain fatty acids. If you're doing smoothies, put flax and coconut oil into that. I've pasted in the abstract from a useful paper. Try that for 90 days - you'll know for sure at the end of that time if it's helping and it will do no harm at all! There are vegan supplements, derived from algae, that provide EPA and DHA. DHA is really important for maintaining the eyes in good health. The literature agrees that using vegetable oils high in omega-6 reduces the conversion rate. Avoid oils from corn, sunflower, soy, safflower, sesame, and the blended oils.
Conversion of ALA to EPA also requires vitamin B3, vitamin B6, vitamin C, zinc, and magnesium. As plant foods are poor sources of zinc compared to animal foods, vegans need to pay particular attention to this.
This page has a nice graphic: http://drbenkim.com/articles-omega-3-fatty-acids.htm
Jack Norris's omega-3 page for vegans is quite useful; there are 2 points that need clarification. The first is the meat part, the second is the pregnancy part.
Meat itself is fairly low in EPA and DHA. These are fat-soluble vitamins, so one needs to eat the fat as well as the lean. Grassfed meats are much higher in omega-3s than CAFO produced meats. Bone marrow is a rich source of EPA and DHA. I don't eat fish or seafood, so I get my omega-3s from bone marrow; I make big pots of bone broth and use this for cooking, as well as just for eating on its own.
Regarding pregnancy: women love to hate their hips and thighs. These fatty regions are actually the storage depots for the omega-3s; we accumulate these during adolescence and early maturity. If our diets don't provide enough omega-3s during pregnancy, our bodies draw from these stores, as they also do during lactation - human breast milk is a good source of essential fatty acids; actually, human breast milk contains 214 different fats. However, these stores are not inexhaustible. Repeated pregnancies and lactations can deplete them, and for thin, poorly-nourished women, there may only be enough for one or two pregnancies. It's also not necessarily true that the baby can use other fats to construct its vital tissues and replace them later - what if there is no good source later? The first 1,000 days (from conception to 3 years old) are vital. Cognitive impairment can be permanent.
It's worth noting that vegans who use a lot of ALA-rich foods, like flax or walnuts, are at higher risk of eye problems.
http://www.veganhealth.org/articles/omega3
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9637947
Abstract
A diet including 2-3 portions of fatty fish per week, which corresponds to the intake of 1.25 g EPA (20:5n-3) + DHA (22:6n-3) per day, has been officially recommended on the basis of epidemiological findings showing a beneficial role of these n-3 long-chain PUFA in the prevention of cardiovascular and inflammatory diseases. The parent fatty acid ALA (18:3n-3), found in vegetable oils such as flaxseed or rapeseed oil, is used by the human organism partly as a source of energy, partly as a precursor of the metabolites, but the degree of conversion appears to be unreliable and restricted. More specifically, most studies in humans have shown that whereas a certain, though restricted, conversion of high doses of ALA to EPA occurs, conversion to DHA is severely restricted. The use of ALA labelled with radioisotopes suggested that with a background diet high in saturated fat conversion to long-chain metabolites is approximately 6% for EPA and 3.8% for DHA. With a diet rich in n-6 PUFA, conversion is reduced by 40 to 50%. It is thus reasonable to observe an n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio not exceeding 4-6. Restricted conversion to DHA may be critical since evidence has been increasing that this long-chain metabolite has an autonomous function, e.g. in the brain, retina and spermatozoa where it is the most prominent fatty acid. In neonates deficiency is associated with visual impairment, abnormalities in the electroretinogram and delayed cognitive development. In adults the potential role of DHA in neurological function still needs to be investigated in depth. Regarding cardiovascular risk factors DHA has been shown to reduce triglyceride concentrations. These findings indicate that future attention will have to focus on the adequate provision of DHA which can reliably be achieved only with the supply of the preformed long-chain metabolite.
i haven't chined in yet but i am the mom of a grown kiddo with severe excema. it started when she was 2 months old and she has never outgrown it. she is really allergic to a lot of things and it shows up in her skin. when she was 2 years old we could not keep her skin whole and she got a staff infection covering her body. they actually let us use some steroids which is not recommended at that age but it was so bad. i have pictures of her with her legs wrapped in gauze to keep the lotions in and infection out. we went through some big methods of how to keep her allergies down and her skin whole over the years.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tussiemussies
As an adult it flairs up and sometimes calms down. She often has finger skin cracking from just hand washing and doing some dishes at work. i give her bottles of flax seed oil a couple times a year, that is one of the only natural remedies we have seen work. She is allergic to fuzzy animals which shows up as lanolin in lotions and growing green things which is ingredients like calendula in natural lotions. and of course any fragrance is a bad idea. Now there is one new lotion that is affordable on the market she can use! she always gets lotions or gift cards for them as presents since it can be expensive on a young person salary to buy all these.
" first 1,000 days (from conception to 3 years old) "
Wouldn't that be ~1300 days?
You're right! First 3 years of life, from conception.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tammy
Thank you Suzanne for going very in-depth about the subject. You and resistors are a storehouse of information on topics that I love. I am going to read over the url that you gave me but I am wondering how much
ALA rich foods are safe for consumption since you mentioned eye damage.
So sorry Zoe for what your daughter has lived through. It must have been so hard on her and for you to see her like that. Glad that she is not as affected now...
Zoe Girl - Was your daughter ever tested (blood test) for wheat/gluten intolerance, or has she ever tried a gluten-free diet? Unfortunately, even if she was tested they only test for the ONE most common protein, while there are 17 proteins in wheat. They skip the other 16 proteins and she could be sensitive to any one of the 17 proteins and an intolerance can contribute to her skin issues. Has she ever done an elimination diet?
Tussies, Jack Norris suggests daily amounts for ALA rich foods. There's quite a lot in leafy greens and other plant foods, so only small amounts of concentrated forms may be necessary.
we did most of the elimination diets when i was breastfeeding and she was very young. in the growing up years we didn't really have that kind of information. right now she is not in a place where she would consider trying an elimination diet, and as mom i am not the person she listens to. imagine a goth/punk kid who has grown up enough to style her hair :).Quote:
Originally Posted by lessisbest
Thank you Suzanne..