Every year as the weather changes from warm to cold and cold to warm my skin reacts. It never fails. symptoms that develop include excessive itching, super dry skin, and sometimes more inflammation. My skin has gone through this cycle for a few years now and I've discovered a few ways to cope.
- LISTEN TO YOUR BODY!!! This is always going to be my number 1 tip. If you find that your skin is super dry you want to increase your water intake as well as your intake of fruits and veggies with a higher water content. It also helps if you add some salty foods to your diet to help retain that water in your tissues.
- Exfoliate at least once per week. I don't use scrubs as often as I'd like, let alone have weekly self care days, BUT one thing I do to buff away some of the dead skin is bathe with a brush. I usually bathe with peppermint Castile soap (it always leaves me feeling and smelling extra fresh) and use my brush in circular motions.
- Get plenty of rest! Your body can't fully recover if you're not doing your part by taking some time to relax and sleep.
As Spring continues rolling in, you may want to consider using herbs to manage your allergy symptoms. For some people, allergens found in nature can be more irritating than the types of soaps or laundry detergent we use. Check out my last blog post, Herbs for Allergy Season, for a list of herbs that can help reduce the amount of histamine produced (which results in an inflammatory response and lots of sneezing and runny noses)! Simple ways to incorporate these herbs into your daily and weekly routines can include the following:
- Herbal infusions - a nourishing tea that aims to completely extract the constituents of your chosen herbs into the water for easy absorption. One of my newfound favorite forms of plant medicine! Simply add your herbs to a tea bag or tea strainer, pour boiling water over the herbs, and let sit anywhere from 20 minutes to overnight. For overnight sitting I recommend a large mason jar, or double insulated cup if you like your tea/infusions warm.
- Herbal bath soaks - adding herbs to your bath provides the same treatment as an herbal infusion, except externally. You can add herbs like peppermint, eucalyptus, and other ingredients like oats and salt blends to detoxify, soften, and treat the skin.
Last but not least, you may want to change up the types of products you're using depending on the condition of your skin and the time of the year. If your skin has been very irritated or itchy, and you now have broken skin, consider using salves. If your skin is dry you're going to want moisturizing products like butters because they tend to be thicker and hold moisture longer. If everything you use on your skin seems to be too heavy, exfoliate and then apply an oil. From there you will know for sure if your product needs to be thicker to maintain moisture.
Check out this list for some of my favorite product recommendations:
Herbal Infusions
Dry Skin
- Bunches of Oats Bundle
- Bunches of Oats Whipped Butter
- These can be customized with essential oils for added benefits, or with fragrance oils to add a little razzle dazzle
Irritated, Cracked Skin
Bath Items
- Herbal Bath Soaks
- Herbal Milk Bath