Media

Previously, we have finished visiting the 1^st iceberg – Cold Hands, this week we will continue our journey to the next stop – Dry Skin. Dry skin has long been one of the top concerns for people either in winter or summer, not only does dry skin bother, it could also develop into serious health problem, e.g. dermatitis, if not properly handled.

Causes

Slow metabolism and circulation	Vitamins/ Zinc Deficiency	Contact with strong soaps & detergents
Low humidity	Hot baths/ Heat	Heavy metal – Nickel overload
Gastro-intestinal problems	Excessive urination	Autoimmune: Eczema, psoriasis

The “YES & NO”

1. Dry skin is due to the lack of water! YES, BUT…
It is true that the body is made up of more than 60% of water. Therefore, when there is a lack of water, the largest organ of the body – skin – will definitely show. While replenishing water is important, what is equally, if not more, important is the sebum level on skin, which determines skin’s ability to retain water.

2. Shall I eat more oil/fat to increase sebum secretion?
NO, BUT…
Sebum secretion involves a complex mechanism, which involves a wide range of hormones (e.g. sex and stress hormone). In addition, sebum contains more than just oil/fat, but also wax esters, squalene and also cholesterol. Eat more fat alone may not be the wisest choice as it could possibly lead to unwanted weight gain. However, it is good to eat a balanced diet including key vitamins and minerals to skin health (see the “Do” list below!). 

✔ DO ✔	✘ DON’T ✘
Water-rich foods: Fruits: Watermelon, snow pear, cantaloupe, orange Vegetables: Cucumber, zucchini, celery, tomato Others: Broth, noodle soups, congee	Possibly dehydrating foods: Bakery products Fries Chips Alcohol Processed meat
Vitamin-rich foods: Vit A&B: Liver (Beef/Pork/Chicken) Vit C: Orange, Guava, Lemon Vit D: Mushroom, egg, milk Vit E: Extra Virgin Olive oil, abalone, octopus	Extremely low-carbohydrate/-fat diet, which deplete the body’s water storage and sebum level.
Taurine-rich foods: Oyster, Octopus, scallop, squid, sole	Excessive tea/coffee, which is diuretic and dehydrating
Zinc-rich foods: Oyster, beef, chicken	Oil-removing skin-care/ baths products
Fat-soluble antioxidant intake: Squalene, Vitamin E, Co-Q10	Body scrub/alcohol sanitizer, which rubs off the natural sebum on the skin.
Topical use of Vitamin E oil, cocoa butter, Aloe Vera, coconut oil, niacinamide	Long-term/overnight use of room heater

Reference

American College of Rheumatology, University of Utah, Mayo Clinic, Johns Hopkins Medicine, National Health Service, National Institute of Health, PMID: 9464451, 2921306, 26894086, 16676119, 17898493, 30666166, 31343948, 27069497, 23204610, 29430626, 20224686, 28274349, 33898702