Dermatology-Online

Diet for dry skin

introduction

If moisturizing skin creams do not help against dry skin, there may be a nutritional deficiency.

Dry skin is a common problem that can appear on a wide variety of parts of the body. Older people whose skin has reduced sebum production are particularly often affected, but people of all ages can generally suffer from dry skin.

Many of those affected are otherwise completely healthy, so dry skin is not in itself a disease value. It is often perceived as annoying by those affected, especially visually.

Dry skin occurs less often as part of other diseases.

Furthermore, it can result from a poorly varied, unhealthy diet, which is explained in the following article.

Proper nutrition for dry skin

A varied diet is essential for healthy skin.

What sounds banal at first can already follow a few days and weeks to a visible improvement with dry skin: we're talking about one sufficient amount of water to drink. Adults should at least every day 2 liters of liquid to take in. The hydration should be in the form of pure water and not in the form of lemonades or additionally sweetened fruit juices and teas. Also considered particularly suitable Nettle tea and rosemary tea.

If the body lacks fluid, it removes it from the skin, among other things. By drinking enough, it can be observed after a short time that the Skin plumper, healthier and so too younger looks like. Especially elderly have a little feeling of thirst and as a result often drink far too little. This is one of the reasons why older people in particular tend to have dry skin.

Furthermore, care should be taken to ensure that the diet is as varied as possible. Especially vitamins and Mineralswhich are mainly found in fresh foods such as fruits and vegetables should be consumed sufficiently.

With some few principles a varied diet can be achieved:

It is important that the Meals regularly take place and so avoid food cravings with unhealthy food.
Furthermore should not always the same side dish be chosen and approx. Fruit 5 times a day and vegetables to be consumed. After Traffic light rule you should always choose a red, a yellow and a green fruit or vegetable.
flesh should moderately should be consumed for it Fish 1 to 2 times a week are on the menu. This contains just like vegetable oils essential fatty acidsthat the body can use well.
Vitamins A and E and vitamin B12 in particular should be sufficiently present in the diet.
Also biotin, which is found in larger amounts in Carrots and tomatoes plays an important role in the skin's moisture balance.

Food for dry skin

Here are some Examples of food listed that yourself especially positive for the moisture balance of dry skin impact. As mentioned, however, it is mainly that variety the diet that achieves the desired effect.

Sunflower seeds contain vitamin E, which has a strong moisturizing effect.
Silica, Pantoths, Magnesium and zinc are in barley contain and have a moisture-binding effect and also strengthen the connective tissue.
Sardines and Wild salmon contain valuable Omega-3 fatty acidsthat are anti-inflammatory and prevent skin irritation.
Peas contain i.a. Vitamin A, E and nucleic acids and stimulate the production of skin oils.
Lean meat such as poultry or beef provides amino acids that are essential for both Collagen build-up as well as are important for the moisture retention of the skin.
paprika increases the Skin elasticity and has a healing effect on redness and cracks thanks to ingredients such as vitamin C and Carotenoids.

Food supplements

In Germany there is one wide range of foodso that we can prepare balanced meals. Through such a diet, the body usually becomes sufficient with vitamins and nutrients supplied so that the intake of Nutritional supplements is not necessary.

Basically should especially in stressful times on a varied diet care should be taken, should this temporarily not succeed, food supplements can be used. Especially long term replace dietary supplements, however under no circumstance a healthy, varied diet.

In Combination preparations from the pharmacy or drug store are often Biotin and zinc, such as other vitamins contain.

Other treatment options for dry skin

The Treatment of dry skin depends on the underlying cause. Is there a other disease based on (often e.g. Thyroid dysfunction) so this should be treatedso that the dry skin disappears as a result.

If dry skin occurs only temporarily due to colder temperatures or dry heating air on, so can moisturizing creams and Lotions To remedy the situation.

However, the dry skin has been lying since longer time in every season and cannot be really brought under control even with creams, there is a lot to suggest that the body cannot cope with the right nutrients is supplied and so the The skin's moisture balance is messed up has come. In this case the own nutrition once critically questioned and adjusted if necessary.

Food intolerance

In addition to the deficiency situations described, certain Intolerances and allergies, i.e. too much instead of too little can be the cause of dry skin.

Allergy sufferers react to certain substances in food like lactose, gluten or Fructose not only through the gastrointestinal tract, but also through the skin. This can be the Triggering a Neurodermatitis Nudge result in other affected persons reacting with the Formation of impurities or get dry skin with a certain diet. Many sufferers can digest the food, so that after consumption there is seldom severe discomfort in the gastrointestinal tract. Nevertheless, the fabrics can Irritate intestines and so permanent absorption of important vitamins and Prevent trace elements. This is then noticeable on the skin.

So if you have dry skin and also occasionally under Bowel problems can observe whether these problems are related and especially arise from the consumption of certain foods.

zinc

zinc is a Trace elementthat at many vital metabolic processes is involved. It is of particular importance for the skin as it is the Collagen synthesis supported. It is estimated that around 2 billion people worldwide suffer from a more or less pronounced one Zinc deficiency. Especially baby, Teenagers, elderly and Women of childbearing age often suffer from zinc deficiency. In western countries are mostly wrong eating patterns responsible for a zinc deficiency.

In addition to a decreased immune function Low zinc levels cause brittle nails, hair loss and also dry skin.

Zinc is found mainly in animal products such as red meat, offal, fish, or marine animals, where Oysters are the absolute frontrunners. But also in certain Cheeses like Emmentaler or vegan products like oatmeal or soy flour, there is a lot of zinc. As drink mainly contains Green tea a lot of zinc.

Zinc is as Food supplements available in pharmacies and drugstores, however, such self-medication to be very careful. zinc prevents recording other vital elements such as iron, copper and Calcium and should not be taken in high doses over a long period of time.

It is therefore more advisable to rely on a varied diet Pay attention, which also contains products with a high zinc content. If this does not improve the symptoms in the long term, a doctor be sought out who the Zinc mirror determine and a appropriate dosage can choose.

Symptoms

The typical Signs of dry skin are a uncomfortable feeling of tension and itching, the skin flakes off. The pores of dry skin are fine; the skin is often effective cracked and brittle.

In principle, the skin can all over the body dry, but areas with few sebum glands are particularly affected. These include, for example, the elbows or shins. Dry skin is also common reddened, very dry skin can cause it to Inflammation or get eczema.

causes

Dry skin has many various causessome of which can be directly influenced by those affected, while others (like a genetic predisposition) by a appropriate care can be treated.

In general, the cause of dry skin is that the sebum glands in the skin do not release enough sebum and so the Moisture balance the skin is not balanced.

External factors how dry heating air or one unsuitable hygiene and care play a role here as well as internal factors. These include the hormonal balance (teenagers, on the other hand, get pimples due to their changing hormone situation through a excessive sebum production), the Age and certain underlying diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease, Thyroid dysfunction or psoriasis.

The are also of great importance individual dietary habits of those affected. The skin as a mirror of the inside of the body can suffer from nutritional imbalances. A distinction must be made between one Shortage situationwhere important to the body nutrient and vitamins for that No formation of the skin and one too much of potentially allergenic products how lactose, gluten or Fructose.