The foods that can help combat dry skin after winter

The days are getting longer and the temperatures are starting to climb. You’re stripping off the jeans, jumpers, boots and gloves and preparing for singlets, shorts and sandals. Hold up! Is that some dry skin? While you might be leaping head first into the spring and swimming your way to summer, it looks as though your skin still has a case of the winter blues.

If you have dry or scaly spots on your face, elbows, hands, knees and heels, it’s a sign that your body is feeling a bit neglected from all those months hidden from the cold. Now is the time to moisturise — from head to toe — so that you can again love the skin you’re in, and what’s better is that you don’t need a bunch of expensive beauty products to do the job.

Aloe vera

The gel from an aloe vera plant is another way to treat your dry skin during the warmer months. You need only rub the gel over your skin to have it feeling smooth and more flexible.

Butter and milk

While these might be the ingredients for cakes and pastries, you won’t be doing any cooking today. If you make a combination of butter and milk and then apply it to your legs and feet, you’ll notice your dry skin start to vanish and become supple again.

Honey and milk

If lathering yourself in butter and milk sounds a little too much like something out of Silence of the Lambs, maybe honey and milk might be the way to go. All you need to do is mix these two together and apply it as a mask. Honey contains properties that benefit dry and flaking skin, and when combined with milk the pair are highly antibacterial and that helps to cleanse your skin. Let’s not forget how rich in antioxidants honey is too!

Olive oil

No surprises here. Olive oil is just as good for your skin as it is for your insides. It will make your skin feel soft and smooth. You only need to dab a small amount of olive oil over the dry itchy area and you’ll notice instant relief.

Pumpkin paste

You know how pumpkin is a good source of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants? Well, it turns out that not only is pumpkin good for you but it’s good for your skin too. It’s a wonderful skin exfoliator and has been found to be somewhat successful when it comes to eliminating dead and dry skin cells. Pulp your pumpkin and apply the paste evenly to your skin (avoid your eyes though) and allow it to set for around 10-15 minutes.

Have you used any of these home remedies to treat dry skin? Do you have any natural remedies of your own? Share them with us.