For years, I have had a problem with patches of dry skin, especially on my face and arms. The degree of severity tends to vary with the weather and my diet. Sometimes these patches tend to itch and of course there is a temptation to scratch but this only makes the problem worse and increases the chances of infection.

I have been battling this problem for many years, so I thought I would offer some advice for those of you who are also battling dry skin patches.

1. Improve your diet. That is, drink more water and make sure you get enough omega 3 fatty acids (from fish, nuts, chia seeds, supplements, etc.).

2. Switch to natural soaps and lotions. This is the easiest way to avoid irritating chemicals (I’ll list them below) that make dry patches of skin worse. Always read the ingredient label before purchasing to make sure it doesn’t contain a skin irritant.

3. Exfoliate. I like chemical scrubs like Alpha Hydroxy Acid Body Lotion, but some people prefer abrasive type scrubs. This is a personal choice, but make sure you exfoliate regularly to remove old, dead skin.

4. Moisturize with a pure vegetable oil. I think the two best vegetable oils for moisturizing are coconut oil Y camellia oil. You only need to use one of these. Other popular options are jojoba oil, olive oil, and almond oil. Whatever you choose, make sure it’s 100% oil and has no additives.

AVOID THESE SKIN IRRITANTS

The following ingredients can make dry skin patches worse. Don’t buy products that have these ingredients, especially if the ingredients are at the top of the list (meaning they have a higher concentration in the product).

• sodium hydroxide
• potassium hydroxide
• Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
• sodium laureth sulfate
• triclosan

With just a few simple changes, you can improve the condition of your skin. I find that these products can be easily purchased at a local health food store and many online merchants. Stick to natural products and stores that carry these types of products, as many people report that they are less irritating than other products.

Eyes swollen from crying

Well, I’ve been going through an emotional rollercoaster lately. Let’s just say there’s a lot of tears being shed, and I hope it continues for a few more weeks, at least, healing process, you know?

What I want to know is, what should I do about my puffy eyes from crying? It seems like all the water coming out of my eyes is swelling the skin in that area. Not a pretty look! It worsens the appearance of dark circles and accentuates the slight bags that I have under the eyes.

Since I still have bills to pay and expenses to meet, I still have to go to work, so I want to look decent.

Please share your tips with me on what works to soothe puffy eyes from crying!