Tips for dry skin in winter

Dry skin in winter? How tips from TCM & Ayurveda can reduce the symptoms of dryness in the cold season

The new year has begun and brings frosty temperatures with it. Cold air, icy winds and dry heated indoor air can be a challenge for our skin. Dry and itchy skin is not unusual at this time of year. With the right tips and a supportive diet, we have a significant influence on our health and wellbeing. In this blog post, we look at the views of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Ayurveda to gather useful tips for healthy skin in winter.

TCM and Ayurveda see the skin as a reflection of health. While TCM sees an imbalance between Yin and Yang, inactivity and activity, Ayurveda describes an imbalance of the Vata dosha. Ayurveda distinguishes three doshas that are responsible for the balance in our body. If one of them becomes unbalanced, symptoms usually develop. An excess of the Vata dosha, for example, often leads to symptoms such as dryness or a weakened immune system.

In winter, though, we don't only feel dryness in our skin: our mucous membranes also suffer from the cold air outside and the dry heated air indoors. So our tips can also help you with a dry throat, dry nasal membranes or dry eyes.

When we suffer from too much dryness, pathogens have an easy time and our immune system suffers as well.

Here are some helpful dietary recommendations & everyday tips to improve dry skin:

Nutrition tips

Do's

• Warm, liquid meals such as soups, stews or porridge with stewed fruit for breakfast
  • Provide moisture from within and strengthen our centre
• Warming and oily foods such as ghee, almond oil or avocado
  • You can also take ghee (clarified butter) warmed every day
• Foods that provide moisture include cucumber, buckwheat, couscous, sweet potato, pear and seaweed
• Spices such as cinnamon and turmeric are warming and anti-inflammatory, so they can support the skin barrier
• Drink enough fluids, such as warm water and unsweetened teas

Don'ts

• Be careful with foods that are drying according to TCM & Ayurveda, such as millet, raw food and bread
• bitter foods can have an astringent and therefore drying effect, such as rocket, rosemary or grapefruit
• Reduce salt, as too much salt draws out water and therefore moisture
• Hot spices such as chilli, pepper and ginger are heating and therefore dry you out further
• Coffee and black tea are drying too.

Another practical tip:

• Self-massage with high-quality oils to stimulate regeneration and counteract dryness (jojoba oil, almond oil or a high-quality olive oil are especially good here
  • To do this, warm a little oil and massage it into the affected areas, such as your face, legs or hands

Nutrition plays a key role in maintaining healthy skin, especially in winter. The views of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda offer valuable insights and practical tips for promoting moisture and balance in the body. By taking these principles to heart and building them into our daily lives, we can not only counteract dry skin in winter but also support a radiant complexion all year round.

If you have any further questions, feel free to contact ourTCM expert Leaor ourAyurveda expert Isabella