Natural Remedies for Dry Skin

These natural remedies for dry skin will help soothe the itchy dry skin many of us experience in winter. Using home remedies for dry skin will hold the moisture into rough skin and help it feel softer.

In the Bath

I have really itchy painful dry skin in the winter, especially on the legs. When I'm having this problem I put 1 cup of baking soda in my bath water. It's very soothing and relieves the itchiness of dry skin.

Try putting oatmeal in your bath. Cook a cup of oatmeal. Put the oatmeal in a pillow case or a thin cloth that you tie closed. Secure the cloth or pillow case closed with a rubber band or just tie it closed so all the oatmeal stays in. Then put the bag of oatmeal into the bath.

Add 1/2 cup of sea salt to your bath. Salt water is very soothing to dry skin.

Take a milk bath. Add 250 grams of powdered milk and 1/2 tablespoon almond oil to your bath.

You can also put a few drops of a soothing essential oil in the bath. These essential oils are great for dry skin:

• lavender
• sandalwood
• rose
• chamomile
• ylang ylang
• hyssop
• geranium
• patchouli

Essential oils can be used in natural remedies for many skin conditions.

Never use harsh soaps or cleansers on your skin. Soap pulls the natural oils out of your skin and dries it out.

Don't use water that is too hot to bathe in. Hot water pulls moisture out of the skin.

Minerals and chlorine in tap water can pull the moisture out of the skin. Using a filter on your bath tap or on your shower will help prevent dry skin.

After the Bath

Once you get out of the bath or shower you need to make sure you moisturize as soon as possible to trap the moisture in your skin.

Mix one cup sea salt with enough glycerine to hold the salt together. Use a natural bath sponge to rub the salt and glycerine mixture all over your body before you towel off. Rinse the mixture off and pat dry.

You can use natural oils to moisturize your skin. It's best to moisturize before you dry off and then pat dry with a soft towel. Here are some oils you can use in natural remedies for dry skin:

• olive oil
• sweet almond oil
• apricot kernel oil
• jojoba oil
• avocado oil
• coconut oil

Don't use baby oil or any petroleum containing products as natural remedies for dry skin.

Herbs

Drinking a tea with one or a few of these herbs is a good natural remedy for dry skin.

• dandelion
• fennel
• chamomile
• coltsfoot
• peppermint
• borage
• calendula

Diet

Staying hydrated will help will help natural remedies for dry skin work better. Make sure you drink plenty of water a day. Roughly 8 glasses a day is a good amount.

Avoid dehydrating beverages like alcohol, caffeine, and sugary drinks.

Eat healthy foods. Fruits and vegetables have plenty of nutrients that are good for the skin. Foods rich in vitamin A, B, and C are especially good for the skin. This includes foods like carrots, strawberries, blueberries, apricots, oranges and squash. Dark green leafy vegetable like kale and spinach are also very good. Omega-3 fatty acids are also very good for the skin. They can be found in oily fish like salmon, sardines, and mackerel. Avoid white flour and sugar.

If you liked these natural remedies for dry skin check out my other free home remedies. If you know a natural remedy that works well share it with us here.