by Joilene Rasmussen

Created on: September 11, 2008   Last Updated: September 17, 2008

Weather cracks. Chapped and roughened skin. Itching, unsightly white patches.

Cold weather has come.

Take control of your skin now, before winter makes a crocodile of you.

To begin, take a long, hard look at your favorite lotion. Do you know what all those ingredients do? If you don't, get one with ingredients you can pronounce and explain. Many commercial lotions contain alcohols that can actually make your skin dryer. Consider trying extra-virgin, expeller-expressed coconut oil, which can be gotten at many supermarkets, or in the vitamin sections of some stores. Not only does coconut oil soothe and hydrate your skin, it makes it supple, and stronger. You can try eating a spoonful a day, too, which not only might help you reach or maintain a good weight, but can also erase the effects of cellulose, and will contribute strength to all the cells in your body.

Another alternative is lanolin, which is a natural oil in sheep's wool. Olive oil also has its place, especially if massaged into the skin skillfully, but it retains its "greasiness" longer than many other products.

Unprocessed honey can be used as a sort of mask on dry skin, to introduce and retain moisture. Just rub it on, then rinse off after several minutes. Spread over your legs in a thin layer, you can even use it in place of shaving cream, which might be particularly helpful if you experience razor burn or other rough (and possibly bacteria-laden) skin problems.

Moisture IN the skin is good; moisture ON the skin can be bad, as cool air on wet skin promotes chapping. So after washing your hands, dry them carefully, and moisturize at the first signs of skin distress.

Avoid cotton gloves. Some people find cotton fibers prompt weather cracks.

Toxins can also cause weather cracks to form, especially around the fingernails and knuckles. The hands and face or two of the first places toxins try to escape through the skin. Many things can cause toxins to form and get out of hand, including stress, medications and antibiotics, poor eating habits, or foods with preservatives. There may not be much you can do to get cracks to close until the toxins are eliminated, so address the ports of entry. The ancient Chinese believed that the skin is similar to the liver in its ability to filter substances, both good and bad. You know that what goes into your body must eventually come out, and depending on the health of your digestive and other systems, you may not get to choose how your body deals with toxins. So if dry and split skin is a consistent problem for you, get yourself screened for allergies, and look into detoxifying and cleansing your systems through a juice fast or through special herbal supplements.

These sites are good places to begin your journey:
www.renewlife.com
www.lifeforceplan.com
http:/ /www.righthealth.com/Health/how%20to%20do%20a%20juic e%20fast-s?lid=yhoo-ads-sb-9456923278

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