Home Remedies for Curing Dry Skin

All of this extra hand-washing is important to help contain germs, but it can sure be hard on the hands! My hands were getting really dry. At home I switched over to glycerin soaps. I have a bar of glycerin soap in the shower and a pump soap at the sink with glycerin for handwashing.

I do also use a lotion bar, especially on my heels. It contains cocoa butter, beeswax and coconut oil.

If you are inclined to make such a thing it is simply the following:

• 4 ounces beeswax
• 4 ounces coconut oil
• 6 ounces cocoa butter

You can add a teaspoon of peppermint essential oil and it will smell like a peppermint patty. :)

I melt the beeswax and coconut oil in a double boiler. Then gently melt in the cocoa butter. Add the peppermint oil once you remove it from the heat. You can pour it into soap molds.

You hold lotion bar in your hand and it melts a little off. It can also be placed in lip balm tubes to make a lip balm instead.

Enjoy!

~Mama to Many~

I was using coconut oil on my skin. I loved the smell but my skin just does not absorb this oil. It would sit on the surface of my skin and be rubbed onto my clothes. Didn't help chaffed skin much at all. I recently bought a bottle of wheatgerm oil and boy that is another thing altogether. I can apply it directly to my face and it is absorbed rapidly, rubbed it on my chaffed elbows and next day they were better. It's full of vitamin E.

Eat the coconut oil or put it on your hair but wheatgerm oil is more readily absorbed in my experience.

Every winter I get really dry skin. Normally coconut oil helps but for the past couple of years, my hands have been very dry. Especially my right hand. Which is weird because I do the same things with both hands pretty much. The skin on the back of my right hand was so dry until it began to look scaly and like it had tiny scabs like it had been scratched all over.

A friend and I heard about black seed oil last summer (also know as black cumin seed oil or being billed as "curing everything except death". We decided to try it. Now I can't remember why except that what ever it was for, after I'd used or taken it several times, I felt like it wasn't doing anything for me. So I stuck it in the fridge.

When coconut oil stopped working for my skin, it popped into my head a couple of weeks ago that the black seed oil might help. I began rubbing a little on my hands every day, twice a day. Just enough to rub in without leaving any excess to look or feel greasy. Since then, my right hand looks remarkably better. There are still a few tiny spots where the skin still looks dry but I have to strain to see it and I think that's because I haven't used the oil in about a week.

I also began using it on my face because I noticed the coconut oil wasn't doing anything for my face other than softening my skin. It actually seemed to be leading to breakouts more and more. The black seed oil seems to be helping minimize breakouts and moisturizes well without leaving a greasy feeling.

For my face, I use it like a moisturizing cleanser. Meaning as soon as I come in for the evening, I put some on a cotton ball (not cotton pad) and use the oil to clean the day's dirt off. (Being careful to avoid the areas around and near my eyes.) I take a second cotton ball and go lightly over the same areas, to remove a little oil and any residual dirt. (Usually not much of either.) By the time I go to bed, any oil left has soaked into my skin. It looks nice and calm, feels like silk when I wake up.

If you try it, be careful NOT to get it near your eyes. The smell is slight but it causes my eyes to tear up if rubbed anywhere near them.

In reply to Michelle (New Zealand),

Food Grade Vegetable Glycerin / Glycerine / Glycerol may be helpful for the dry skin issues of your infant. It is mild and commonly found in many creams and lotions. Glycerine is a humectant and can draw moisture to the dry skin areas. You can apply it full strength or dilute it down with filtered water to any percentage that feels comfortable on the skin. If you dilute it enough, you can also make a spray. You can add it to many different moisturizers, lotions and creams to improve the moisturizing effects of these. Be sure it is food grade in case your infant manages to lick the affected area.

When I have used it, the moisturizing effect seems to last all day. I have mixed it with different things like witch hazel and it seems to blend well with many others.

I just tried mixing it with castor oil and it does mix, which might be another possibility, but for adult use, adding a little lavender essential oil might add a soothing quality to the mix since I'm not a fan of the smell of castor oil. The glycerine does not seem to have a scent that I can detect.

Good luck!

Art

I've always had dry skin all my life, but now that I'm going through menopause in my 50's it's worse. I stumbled upon something that helped. I have yeast issues so I avoid fruit because the sugars in them make it worse. So when I got the flu about 2 years ago I searched the internet for info on foods that have alot of vitamin C. Hibiscus Tea popped up in that search as being high in vitamin C and my local store had it in stock! I only drank 1 cup of it a day, and after some time, I noticed that my skin both face and body wasn't as dry anymore. In fact, I could skip a day putting body and face lotion on after my daily shower and I could never do that before!

After my flu was gone I stopped drinking the Hibiscus tea and my skin went back to being dry again sometime after that. So I went back to drinking 1 cup a day and my skin became less dry again. No doubt about it now, it really does help my dry skin.

Word of CAUTION: Hibiscus in general can cause low blood pressure and diuretic effects. It can also cause an imbalance of hormonal levels in the body. This is because of the presence of phytoestrogen which is a plant based estrogen naturally present in Hibiscus.

Dear Michelle,

One of my toddlers (many years ago) had very dry cheeks, and none of his siblings did. He is an adult and still has a bit of trouble with that. Anyway, back then the pediatrician told me to use Eucerin. I did but don't it helped a ton.

My current favorite dry skin solution is 1/2 castor oil and 1/2 lanolin. I melt the lanolin and stir in castor oil. The resulting oil is very nourishing to the skin and usually makes skin very soft overnight. Castor oil alone works quite well but I find the addition of lanolin to be amazing.

~Mama to Many~

My hands were cracked and had small cuts in them. The doctor called it psoraisis, but I think it was eczema. It has much improved in the last couple of days. I bought some S_____ coconut hand soap at the $ store. I think Family Dollar. Then I bought some aloe Vera cream in a flat jar at CVS, made in Mexico. I also bought bag balm. I apply the bag balm once a day and let it soak in wearing white gloves. Later, I apply the aloe Vera and wear white gloves. I wash my hands when needed with the coconut oil soap. In a couple of days, my hands are almost back to normal! Try it! Don't forget to wear rubber gloves while washing dishes. The white cotton gloves are available at Amazon.

Wonderful to have this website! Am reporting cure from Ichthyotis ( spelling?) that scaly looking crocodile skin. Am 77 yrs. For several years, any dark coloured slacks I wore had white powder inside the legs from the skin rubbing and flaking. I was ashamed of how my lower legs looked and kept them covered. I often rubbed good quality lotions and also oils on them but no cure, just looked better for a day. I finally remembered how Papaya Ointment helped my mothers hands after she damaged them with bleach. She tried many things but only the papaya helped ( straight away.)

Well, it worked for my legs too. After the first application! Because it is sticky, I patted talcum powder over it. I applied it again two days later just in case, but that one application did it. My mother used the one mixed with petroleum jelly, I used a very natural one. I waited two weeks before reporting. Both types of ointment worked straight away. It's the Papaya.

I have had problems with skin that is either very oily in the day, or very dry at night after washing my face. I seem to be sensitive to many face creams so I went searching for natural ways to help this problem. I saw an egg white or egg yolk facial online and just went for it. I have had very good results using this daily.

Here is my method:

Beat one whole egg and place in a small covered bowl or jar. Apply to clean face. I usually apply 2-3 layers of the egg. I leave it for around 10-15 minutes then wash it off when I take my shower. I do this daily.

While my goal was to moisturize, I have noticed other benefits. I see a reduction in fine lines, as well as less blackheads and my pores seem to be tightening up. I had very large pores to start. I am very surprised by these results after using tis mask daily for a week. I am going to continue using this as it has been the best thing I have ever used. Also at night I pat my face down with rice water and leave it to dry. I do not rinse this off. It makes my skin feel very smooth and I do not need to moisturize when I use this. Maybe this will help someone else who is also at their wits end.

My husband, 36, has had chronic dry (but never itchy), scaly skin his whole life. He started taking pycnogenol as an antioxidant for other concerns, and after a few weeks, began to itch all over. As he scratched, the flaky skin became supple skin and he began to actually produce skin oil for the first time. It's been quite a revelation and relief!

Dry skin: I used all posible lotions, creams, oils even lard nothing helped much. Someone said to buy glycerin soap wich helped, then I started to read ingredients of all these lotions and creams and all of them contain glycerin. So I went to wall mart and bought pure glycerin (first aid section) diluted with equal parts of water. Rub it in than rinse it because its sticky. Its also great for lips. If you can stand sticky part apply it and sleep with it (use pajamas, it won't stain) that would be great, at least once a week. I am off lotions and creams for a year now and I feel great. Good luck!

Hey Dana,
Thanks for posting this remedy. I too, have tried every cream, lotion etc. I have had super dry skin since I was a teen. Other kids battled with zits and envied me - my skin was clear and beautiful. But I told them that while it looked great, it was not so great to be wearing this tight mask of skin over my face. Since menopause, it is even drier and tighter and skin creams that I have used before no longer work for more than about 1/2 an hour. I tried the glycerin last night, full strength. This a.m. my skin feels a LOT better than usual. What a relief! Thanks again. :)

For dry skin, I have found that 1 teaspoon of Virgin Coconut Oil (vco) taken internally will hydrate the skin from within. Start with one teaspoon per day, and you may have to experiment with the dosage. Most people can simply eat a spoonful, but it can also be spread on something like a whole wheat tortilla or vegetables to make it more paltable. I was taking vco for another health benefit but had to stop because my previous "normal" skin became moist and "greasy" feeling all day long. Hope it helps someone.

To concoct this recipe, I suggest the following.

For a cream consistency you'll want to take the previous commenters advice and make a ratio of 1 part beeswax to 2 parts oil. Oils have different healing properties, so choose accordingly.

If you are experiencing simply dry skin, I suggest using olive oil (does not have to be Extra Virgin ). If you are also experiencing a rash or skin peeling, I suggest using a cold pressed coconut oil. (Very effective for fungal infections). For a lighter cream, perhaps for spring and summer, I reccomend using sunflower oil.

Now for the recipe... Take 1 part beeswax and put it in a small pan. Heat on the very lowest setting, stirring with a wooden spoon regularly.

When the wax reaches a smooth consistancy, add in your oil of choice. Mix thouroughly. At this point you can also add a few drops of an essential oil of your choice. Add only a FEW drops, as essential oils can be very potent. If you do decide to add essential oils, I suggest testing a small amount of the cream on the inside of your elbow and allow to sit for a few hours to ensure you do not have a sensitivity to the mixture.

While the cream is hot, pour into a small air tight container. Your cream is now ready to use. Do not place the mixture in the refrigerator because it will harden and become difficult to use.

Rice Bran Oil. I've personally never come across any oil that my skin drinks up entirely without leaving a greasy after feel - no matter how dry my hands might be.

But it's my elbows that I had problems with - the skin on my elbows would become so dry, that it would crack and become painful, so I instinctively grabbed a jar of aloe vera gel, drop a blob of it in the palm of my hand, then dribbled a tiny bit of Rice Bran Oil in it and blended it together with my finger before massaging it over my elbows.

If one doesn't have any aloe vera gel, then sprinkle water on your elbow first, then apply Rice Bran Oil while the skin is wet and massage in.

I don't know that it's a 'cure', exactly, but it sure does feel lovely and the relief (for me) is instantaneous.

Dry skin - the past week I have been experiencing dry skin on my palms, which feel very rough to the touch. I typically take 1 fish oil pill a day, but yesterday I took 2. Within 20 minutes, the rough, dry skin on my palms had disappeared. I also have dry flaky skin around my nose which gets triggered when I eat certain things like dairy or milk chocolate and that too healed at the same time and looked a thousand times better. I am going to up my daily dosage to 2 capsules, twice a day for a while. I highly suggest this! My capsules are EPA 400, DHA 200 if that helps anyone.

I love Virgin Coconut Oil for lots of things, most especially taken internally for soft, shiny hair, and moisturized skin from within! My daughter turned me onto it about 4-5 years ago when a colleague of hers lost weight dramatically. Asked what was her secret, she said on Oprah Winfrey's show she learned about eating a tsp-tblsp of coconut oil morning and night. It promoted inner cleansing for weight loss, and the side benefits were awesome! This is one health regime I don't forget! My hair at 66 is the best it has ever been in my life, my skin is moisturized from within, no more scaley elbows, and it helps with the feet, and some weight came off too. After reading other earthclinic. Coms comments, I now also use it externally on face, hands and feet after toning or soaking with Apple Cider Vinegar or in the case of the feet, plain cheap white vinegar. I also try and drink more water every day too. Sorry avon lady, I like the natural remedies!

Oh and I put about a tsp into my dogs food every day for moisturized skin and shiny hair/fur. No more expensive dog shampoos and conditioners. They are healed from the inside.

Sue, the only way you'll know how it affects YOU is by trying it. As far as I know, it can do no long term harm. Make sure you aren't allergic to it. A little goes a long way, no need to slather it on.

Hi All, I find that the coconut oil would wash away so I put some beeswax in it. Just melt some coconut oil, (any edible oil will do), minimally hot, and shave some real beeswax onto it. Test it while it is in the melted state to see if it is the right consistancy. When to desired thickness put into containers for convenient use. The beeswax keeps the moisture in. I recommend putting on the oil and bee's wax combo on right after getting the area you want to treat wet. Dry off and immediately moisturize. Where I live this is survival in the wintertime.