FitSugar

Home Spa Treatment: Heal Dry Hands With Heated Socks

FitSugar — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 09:00:16 -0800

Colder weather means dry skin, and for me, my hands and cuticles are the worst since I'm constantly washing my hands. Here's a soothing and inexpensive remedy you can treat yourself to at home. If you suffer from dry skin on your feet, you can use this treatment on your tootsies too.

To learn how to heal your dry skin keep reading

Minutes to a Healthier You: Shorter Showers

FitSugar — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 03:48:08 -0700

Itchy, flaky, dry skin is a common issue among fit women because they often shower twice a day - once in the morning, and once after a workout. The water washes away the natural oils in your skin that protect it from drying out. On top of that, now that cooler temps are moving in for many of us, we're indulging in longer, hotter showers to warm us up, which dries our skin out even more.

If you want to do your largest organ a favor, aim to be under the water for less than 10 minutes, and opt for warm water instead of a steaming hot stream. When you get out of the shower, pat yourself dry (don't rub), and then immediately moisturize your skin to seal in the moisture.

How-To: Heal Cracked Heels

FitSugar — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 08:00:00 -0700

Warm Summer weather inspires many of us to wear flip-flops and walk barefoot. When your feet are exposed to air, it can cause dry skin on your feet, which will create calluses. The pressure of pounding your feet on the ground when you run can then lead to heel fissures, or cracks in the skin. They most often occur on your heels, but you can get them anywhere you have extremely dry skin. If you continue to run, the fissures can split open further and become deeper. When that happens, the fissures can bleed and expose the underlying tissue to infection. Plus they're really painful, which makes running downright impossible.

Want to know how you can prevent fissures? Then read more.

Before you go to sleep, soak your feet in water or take a bath or shower. Then lather your feet up with intense moisturizing lotion, salve, or body butter, and wear socks over them.
Wear socks and shoes that cover your feet to help keep the skin moist. I know this can be a pain during the Summer, but it will really help heal your cracked heels.

Drink lots of water throughout your day to help moisturize your body from the inside out.

To get rid of dry skin on your heels, try using a pumice stone in the shower. It gently sloughs off dead skin cells, eventually revealing softer, smoother skin. If you already have small cracks, just be careful not to irritate those areas.
If you live in a dry area, try using a humidifier in your home to help keep moisture in the air.
I know it's tempting to continue running, but if you have a deep fissure, pounding your feet will only make it worse. Switch to walking until your cracked heel is under control.
If you already have a big crack, make an appointment with a podiatrist. They can help get rid of the hard, dry skin on your feet, so that your fissure can heal.

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6 Ways to Combat Winter Dry Skin

FitSugar — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 10:00:00 -0800

Many people suffer from dry skin, and when Winter hits, their skin can become scaly, itchy, and irritated. If this sounds familiar, here are some ways to combat your dry skin.

Source

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5 Things: Foods That Improve Dry Skin

FitSugar — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 07:30:00 -0800

When Winter comes, dry skin comes along with it. Since there's less humidity is the air, my skin gets so uncomfortable and itchy. Besides using a rich moisturizer, turning down the heat, and using a humidifier, eating these foods can also help improve dry skin.

Foods that contain omega-3 fatty acids: salmon, flaxseed, tuna, avocado, nuts
Foods that contain zinc: oysters, crab, beef, and beans. Zinc helps heal wounds.
Foods rich in sulfur: garlic, onions, and eggs. They help to keep your skin smooth.
Water. Not sure how much you need? Then check out Fit's Calculator.
Avoid caffeine and alcohol. These diuretics will suck your skin dry.

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All Moisturizers Help With Dry Skin

FitSugar — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 02:00:00 -0800

Here's some good news this winter: despite the long lists of obscure ingredients, all moisturizers help with dry skin because they supply a little bit of water to the skin and contain a greasy substance that holds it in. Almost every moisturizer on the market, pricey or not, will help with dry skin, and in most cases, the choice comes down to whether you like the feel and smell. Good to know when you're standing there looking at the shelf full of lotions at the drugstore, right?

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Feeling Flaky? Tips For Dealing With Dry Skin

FitSugar — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 14:45:00 -0800

Dry skin can be a real bummer in the Winter, especially when it gets all itchy and flaky. The good news is that you don't have to live with it.

Here are a few tips for people with dry skin:

Turn down the thermostat: Hot air is drier than cool air.
Use a humidifier: It can help put moisture back in the air.
Take warm, not hot, baths or showers: Hot water whisks away the fatty substances in the skin that help it retain water.
Stay protected: Windy outdoor air is very drying, so bundle up.

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Health Tip: How to Moisturize

FitSugar — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 02:00:00 -0800

Dry skin and Winter seem to go hand in hand, and speaking of hands mine surely are dry. I just learned that to properly moisturize skin you need to apply lotion when the skin is damp. The lotion helps to trap the moisture of your damp skin keeping it hydrated. You should gently pat yourself dry post bath or shower and then apply your lotion.

However, when you are dealing with really dry skin and the "winter itch," you need a really thick lotion. To test it, squeeze a dollop of the moisturizer in question onto the palm of your hand. Flip your hand over and if any lotion drips off or runs, it is not thick enough to treat your itchy, dry skin effectively.

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Humidifier - That's Wee NOT Wii

FitSugar — Thu, 08 Feb 2007 03:00:00 -0800

I love using a humidifier in the winter to combat dry, itchy skin. It also helps with my allergies and asthma.

But I absolutely hate cleaning it out. Have you looked inside yours lately? There is some nasty brown gunky stuff that collects in it, and there's no way to clean the container that the water goes in because the opening is so darn small.

I found a solution. The Wee Humidifier. It uses a fresh new bottle of spring water every time, so no need to worry about cleaning it out - just replace it when you're done.

Plus it's compact, so you don't need to take up a ton of space in your bedroom. And it's cheap too - less than $20, well at least if you live in Japan.

Want to see more pictures of the Wee? Then read more

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Weather Through the Winter Itch

FitSugar — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 02:00:00 -0800

As the cold wind blows outside, we combat it by cranking up our heaters. It feels so nice to be toasty warm when you look outside and see bare trees naked in the bitter cold air.

Unfortunately, that heat makes the air super dry, and it takes a toll on our skin, drying it out. We're left with itchy, incredibly scaly dry skin. You can't help but scratch, which leaves it even more irritated.

See if these tips will help you keep the moisture in your skin:

Purchase a humidifier if you don't already have one and use it in your bedroom at night. It'll help with a dry throat as well.

I know there's nothing like a hot shower to warm you up in the winter, but the hotter the water the drier it makes your skin. Try a 15 minute soak in a warm bath instead, using a moisturizing soap like Pre de Provence Shea Butter Soap. Try some essential oils in the water to up the moisturizing potential of your bath.
If you can't stay away from showering, use warm water, and only wash your face, hands, feet, and between folds of skin. Take short showers, every other day - too much cleansing removes the skin's natural moisturizers.
Dry yourself off slightly and while your skin is still damp, apply moisturizer all over. Like this Body Time Shea Butter Moisturizer.
Try turning the thermostat down a little. Keeping your home on the cool side might help.

Hope these tips keep you warm and not too dry.