Bye bye dry skin & winter itch!

Unless you live in a subtropical environment, when this time of year rolls around you probably battle some degree of dry skin. Air humidity is down during the winter months and most of us are living in artificial indoor heat that's harsh on our skin.

To avoid itchy, cracked or dry skin follow these tips this winter:

1. Get enough good fats in your diet. During the winter months it's crucial to make sure you're consuming a high quality animal-based omega-3 fat. When you take a high quality fish or krill oil, you'll hydrate and nourish your skin from the inside out. According to Health Magazine, "all women need to consume at least 500 milligrams of omega-3 fatty acids daily to protect their heart." Here are 3 brands to check out:

• Best for vegans: Minami Nutrition Vegan DHA ($40 for 60 pills)
• Best-tasting: Chews Better ($12 for 12 packs)
• Best on budget: Nature Made Double Strength Fish Oil ($10 for 100 pills)

2. This one may ruffle some feathers but I recommended you don't OVER wash your hands with harsh soaps. I realize that many people are hypersensitive to germs right now (ahem, H1n1) and therefore feel they must wash their hands constantly. As a teacher, I can relate as I sometimes need to wash my hands 15+ times a day. Of course it goes without saying that you should wash your hands to prevent the transfer of bacteria, viruses and microbes...especially whenever you prepare food, use the restroom, blow your nose, touch animals or handle garbage, to name a just a few. But the danger in OVER washing your hands is that there is an increased tendency to develop cracks and even bleeding. Once these cracks develop, there's a decrease in the barrier of your skin which is your primary protection to the outside environment. When these openings and cracks exist, you basically create an entry point for germs to enter your bloodstream and cause infection.

3. Pay close attention to your personal skin care products. What many people fail to realize is that whatever you apply to your skin has a high likelihood of actually bypassing your skin and going straight into your bloodstream. If you're not willing to eat the ingredients in your skin care product, I'd be really carefully about applying it to your skin at all. A few dangerous chemicals you want to avoid and make sure they're NOT in your current personal skincare products include:

• Sodium laurel sulfate: SLS is commonly used as an engine degreaser and is something people use to clean their garage floors. This is certainly not an ingredient you want to apply to your skin.
• Parabens: parabens are petroleum derivatives that can literally serve as an estrogen mimic. Extra estrogen is a risk factor for increasing cancer, especially breast cancer for women and prostate cancer for men.
• BHT: Butylated hydroxytoluene is an organic fat-soluble food compound. Research has shown that BHT can produce hyperactivity in children. It has also ben linked to increased cancer risk.

Carefully examine your skin care products because there are many other chemicals you want to avoid. Some of these nasty ingredients include:

• Mineral oil
• Paraffin
• Petrolatum
• Phenol carbolic acid
• Propylene glycol
• Acrylamide
• Toluene
• Dioxan

When choosing a skin care product, try to select a brand that is only made up of high quality natural ingredients loaded with antioxidents that will nourish your skin and your whole body. Many people, even those who carefully select raw and organic foods, still choose to use skin care products that can do serious damage to their skin. Be a wise consumer!

4. Hydrate your entire system with lots of water and green tea. During the winter we have a tendency to drink less fluids due to the cooler temperatures. Hydrating the body from the inside plumps lines and wrinkles on the outside according to Elizabeth Hale, M.D., clinical associate professor of dermatology at the NYU School of Medicine.

5. Eat plenty of fresh raw organic fruits and vegetables. Uncooked fruits and veggies are loaded with skin-protective antioxidants in addition to water, which keeps your skin glowing and hydrated from the inside out.

6. Wear gloves when you go outside. This one sounds like a no brainer, but I constantly see people walking around the city with nakey hands. Gloves help protect your hands from the winter's blistery cold winds, so get a good pair of mittens for the season.

7. Moisturize daily with an organic moisturizer, like coconut oil or body butter. This is especially important after you get out of a warm bath or shower as your body will absorb the moisturizer better.

8. Exercise! Our skin detoxifies impurities from our system through perspiration. Get a good sweat going every day, even if it's for 15 minutes.

9. Avoid chlorine and taking hot showers or baths. Hot water and chlorine damage your skin. The hotter the water, the more potential the damage because the rate of chemical reactions increases with temperature. Chlorine can cause oxidative damage, as well. Try to limit your showers to one per day and be in and out in under 5 minutes.