DRY DAYS

Skin feeling stretched, itchy, irritable, fatigued and thirsty? Here are ways to tide of the dry spell.

Well, poetically, it’s supposed to be the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness but our reality is a period of smog and pollution. Result: numerous health hazards. Sensitive, dry skin is among the many perils of the season. It seems like a fairly lesser evil, but it can impact the quality of daily life depending on the seriousness of your condition.

I can confidently say that there are few women who pay as much attention to their skin as I do. And by skin I don’t mean just facial skin, I am talking of the body as well. Twice a day I do a quick, five-minute body massage with my own blend of oil. I do it after a shower in the morning and again at night before hitting the bed. Plus I get a body massage done by a therapist once a week. This is not simply to keep my skin “soft, glowing, supple” and the rest but it is for overall well-being and health. Yes, a thorough massage of your skin can keep your metabolism humming and can address numerous health issues.

So to cut a long story short – I take very good care of my skin. And I do have good skin – quite naturally – through most of the year. However, despite such care, last month I experienced a spell of very dry skin. The weather at this time, generally dehydrates the skin making it itchy and sensitive but the condition this year was exceptionally bad, and that despite such care. To rule out any medical condition I consulted a couple of dermats and was given a clean chit. The cause was narrowed down to pollution and stress. The two triggers were taking a toll on the skin, breaking down its barrier function and thereby making the body susceptible to even other health problems.

My learning: If you want to stay healthy, take immediate action to protect and heal your skin. Here are a few things that I started doing and have experienced great results.

1)    Apply oil before bathing. There was a reason why in olden times people would massage their body with natural oils before taking a bath. Oil helps in removing dirt and grime, while conditioning and lubricating the skin. After that when you take a warm shower, the skin pores dilate and the oil spreads better through the skin.

2)    Avoid harsh soaps. I don’t need to tell you why. Opt for natural cleansers. Try milk, salt scrub, and oats to clean and exfoliate your body gently.

3)    Drink plenty of water through the day. I can’t stress enough on the goodness of this habit. To ensure that you are getting in the optimum amount of water, drink a glass of water every hour from the time you wake up till 7pm.

4)    Don’t give up on oils in your diet. That ghee, olive oil, coconut oil or butter – in balanced measures – will go a long way in keeping your skin supple.

5)    Cut down on stress. Really? Who has ever been able to do that by just hearing this warning? Can one do it? Yes, you can with help. With the help of Bach Flower Remedies like White Chestnut and Cherry Plum, I have been able to control my worrying thoughts to a large extent. That has helped me in taking control of my situation and thereby has reduced stress. Result: I feel relaxed physically and mentally, and this shows on my skin – it is not as irritable as it had become.

6)    Try using essential oils. My study of Chakra Therapy has taught me that a disbalance in the root chakra can cause skin disorders, therefore essential oils that resonate with the chakra can be the cure. I have created my blend with root oils like vertiver, patchouli and jatamansi and after regular application for 10 days I find a remarkable improvement not only on my skin but in my temperament. I feel much more grounded and confident.

If you are facing a similar situation, I hope implementing these tips will help. And if you are in Delhi and would like a consultation for a personalised blend, write to me at [email protected].