Dry Vs. Dehydrated Skin – What’s The Difference and Treatments

 

Click HERE to Discover these 80 Keto-Friendly and Healthy Slow Cooker Recipes

Looking in the mirror can sometimes feel less like looking at your reflection and more like gazing out across the dunes of the Sahara Desert.

If this is true for you, your skin might be dry, dehydrated, or even both. But what’s the difference between dry vs. dehydrated skin? While you might be thinking they’re one and the same, think again.

Dry skin and dehydrated skin are two separate conditions, and determining which it is can make a huge difference in treating the root of the problem. So how can you tell the difference?

To put it simply: Dry skin lacks oil, while dehydrated skin lacks water. Dry skin is also considered a skin type, meaning that due to genetics, you naturally produce less oil or sebum. This manifests as skin that is scaly, sensitive, and flaky.

Dehydrated skin, on the other hand, is a skin condition, meaning it is a temporary result from diet and environmental factors. Dehydrated skin may feel taut, itchy, and appear dull.

Interestingly, dehydrated skin can cause dry skin that is both flaky and oily, due to the body attempting to overcompensate with sebum (oil) production to moisturize the skin. This is why we really want to focus on hydrating from the inside out before attempting to treat dry skin.

Treating Dehydrated Skin

Hydration is all about increasing the amount of water in your skin cells (and helping to keep it there!). Aside from keeping skin plump and dewy, cellular hydration has been shown to improve and help maintain efficient cellular function, which allows for better absorption of nutrients. There are several ways to hydrate the skin, as well as a few things to avoid.

Water, Water, and More Water

This one’s a no-brainer. Staying hydrated helps to keep the skin soft and supple, with studies showing that drinking just two cups of water increases blood flow to the skin. This results in more nutrients being delivered to the outer layer, which aids in maintaining supple skin in the long term.

How much water is enough? While it may be tempting to start guzzling gallons of water to hydrate your cells, it’s best to aim for roughly eight 10-ounce glasses spread throughout the day, as the body can only absorb so much water at once.

Also, be sure to supplement your intake by eating a variety of fresh, high water content foods such as cucumbers, watermelon, radishes, celery, and grapefruit.

Aloe

Aloe is a powerhouse hydrator for the skin when used both topically and internally. Its gel is 99 percent water and contains over 200 active compounds (vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and amino acids) to help nourish parched skin.

It’s best to use fresh aloe in your hydration routine by simply scooping out the clear gel from a leaf and adding it to juices and smoothies, while also rubbing it into your skin.

Hyaluronic Acid

Hyaluronic acid is a natural substance found in the body whose levels decrease as we age. As a humectant, it is responsible for holding water in the cells and maintaining elasticity of collagen.

In fact, research shows that hyaluronic acid supplementation has a direct correlation with skin moisture and smoothness, and may even be one of the best supplements to increase suppleness in the skin.

Hyaluronic acid supplements can help add moisture and smoothness to dehydrated skin.

It is possible to naturally increase hyaluronic acid production through diet by consuming lots of leafy greens, root vegetables, and homemade bone broths. It can also be applied topically as a serum, where it is able to penetrate and repair the skin’s outermost layers.

Invest in a Humidifier

This is especially important during the winter months and for those living in dry climates. The lack of moisture in the air can cause skin to easily become dehydrated and tight, no matter how much water you drink.

Investing in a humidifier adds water vapor to the air, so water isn’t pulled from your skin. At the very least, aim to leave it on overnight to avoid drying out.

Avoid Caffeine and Alcohol

There’s no gentle way to tell anyone to avoid their daily java or glass of vino, but cutting back could drastically improve dehydrated skin: both caffeine and alcohol are diuretics, meaning they flush water out of the body. This is counterproductive to hydrating the skin, so try to limit your intake and drink more water to offset your consumption.

Treating Dry Skin

Treating dry skin involves dealing with the lack of protective oils on the topmost layer of the skin. This involves a more topical approach that locks in moisture, while aiding the skin in balancing its natural oil production.

Moisturizing with Natural Oils

Synthetic lotions and creams contain a host of unappealing and toxic chemicals that can penetrate skin and make conditions worse. Moisturizing with natural oils, however, helps to provide deep, penetrating moisture to the skin, and can also help to regulate natural sebum production.

You may have to experiment with an oil that’s right for you. Coconut oil is great for sensitive skin types, while jojoba is perfect for deep moisture (plus, it’s the closest in composition to skins’ natural oils). Other options include olive, avocado, argan, and sesame oils.

Topical Honey

Honey, like hyaluronic acid, is a natural humectant, meaning it pulls in and retains water. Plus, it is also antibacterial and contains a rich array of minerals that support glowing skin. Raw honey is recommended for this (as it has all of its enzymes intact), and apply it as a face mask a few times a week along with adding it to your diet.

Eliminate Harsh Cleansers

Commercial cleansers are huge contributors to dry skin, as most contain chemicals that strip skin of its natural sebum layer. This results in further drying of the skin, which then overproduces oil to compensate. The result is a not-so-great combination of flakey and oily.

Instead, try a natural cleanser of diluted apple cider vinegar (one-part vinegar to three parts water) before bedtime.

As mentioned, it might be difficult to tell if you’re suffering from dry or dehydrated skin due to the similarities in symptoms.

However, if you begin to properly hydrate your skin and start a moisturizing program with natural oils, you’ll likely address both simultaneously (a win-win in our book).

With these tips and a little wandering, you’ll soon say farewell to parched desert skin and hello to a lush epidermal oasis.

Watch this video – Dry Vs. Dehydrated Skin – What’s The Difference and Treatments

Written by Megan Patiry

Author Bio:

Megan is an inquisitive nutrition and wellness writer harboring an editorial love affair with the decadent and the nutritious. She is a dedicated researcher in all areas of ancestral health, a certified specialist in fitness nutrition, personal trainer, and professional almond milk latte addict.

A lot of people have gotten results from the Keto diet, and enjoyed the foods that it has to offer. However, many of the people who are following this diet have a hard time finding the recipes that they need, especially ones that are quick and easy to complete.

Fortunately, Kelsey Ale, noticed this problem, and decided to do something about it. She’s found that making recipes in a slow cooker gives you meals which are not only delicious, but also take very little time to make. Mostly you just put a few simple ingredients in the slow cooker, and let it do the rest.

To find out more, click on – Keto Slow Cooker Cookbook

7 Toxins in Deodorant and Which Are the Safest Alternatives

 

Click HERE to Discover these 80 Keto-Friendly and Healthy Slow Cooker Recipes

7 Toxins Lurking in Your Deodorant (and How to Find a Safe, Natural Solution)

While many deodorants may work for sweat patrol, they can be a sneaky source of toxins that are dangerous to your health.

Your skin is an absorbent sponge. Whatever touches it has the potential to be absorbed through your skin’s layers and enter your bloodstream. This includes toxins and chemicals that can be found in lotions, makeup, shampoo, and even the deodorant you swipe on every day.

Many of the conventional body care products we use on a daily basis are made with a long list of chemicals, many of which haven’t been tested for safety. When these chemicals are absorbed into our bodies, it’s our liver’s job to detoxify them.

While this creates extra work for your liver, many of the chemicals found in body care products have been shown to disrupt hormone and cognitive function, and in some cases, promote the growth of cancer cells.

Today, there’s a growing concern regarding underarm deodorant and breast health. Since deodorant is applied directly beside the breasts, it’s suggested there’s potential for harmful chemicals to damage breast cells.

Clinical observations have shown “a disproportionately high incidence of breast cancer in the upper outer quadrant of the breast, just the local area to which these cosmetics are applied”.

However, you don’t have to give up deodorant altogether. When it comes to 100% natural, chemical-free body care products, such as coconut oil or shea butter, dermal absorption isn’t a problem. But knowing which chemicals to stay away from when choosing your deodorant can make all the difference to your health and well-being.

Here are 7 of the worst ingredients found in deodorants and how to find a safe, natural replacement that actually works.

The 7 Worst Ingredients Found in Your Deodorant

1. Aluminum

If you have an antiperspirant stick somewhere in your bathroom, I’m willing to bet that if you look at the ingredients list you’ll find some kind of aluminum component on the label, such as aluminum chloride, aluminum zirconium or aluminum chlorohydrate.

You see, aluminum, or aluminum-based compounds and salts, are the main ingredients in most antiperspirants. The aluminum helps “plug up” sweat ducts so less sweat is produced.

Now, this may be helpful in the short-term for controlling perspiration. However, chemicals such as aluminum found in antiperspirants may alter the balance of odor-causing bacteria in your armpits, which can make the smell of your B.O. worse.

Even more concerning is research showing that aluminum can cause changes in DNA when absorbed – preventing certain cells in your body from working properly. Aluminum deodorant can cause changes in DNA and hormones.

Based on where deodorant is applied – right next to breast tissue – research suggests that aluminum may interfere with estrogen receptors and alter estrogen gene expressions. This is troubling data, as estrogen is the hormone that can promote the growth of cancer breast cells.

And let’s not forget: while breast cancer is thought of as a female cancer, it also affects approximately 2,600 American men each year.

As a heavy metal, aluminum is also recognized as a neurotoxin that can promote serious cognitive disorders, such as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. And while it’s argued that the amounts of aluminum we absorb from our environment and body care products are miniscule, it’s suggested that only a very small amount of excess aluminum in our bodies is needed to alter the structure of cells.

The first step to finding a safe deodorant is looking for “aluminum-free” on the label.

2. Parabens

Parabens, a preservative and antimicrobial found in commercial deodorants, are linked to hormonal imbalances within the female and male reproductive tracts.

Studies on breast cancer tumors have shown concentrations of methylparabens in breast tissue, which suggests there’s a link between parabens and breast cancer cell development.

In addition to deodorant, parabens are also found in other cosmetics, body lotions, perfumes and moisturizers.

3. Propylene Glycol (1,2-propanediol, methyl glycol, 1,2 dihydroxypropane and trimethyl glycol)

Propylene glycol helps absorb water, making it an ideal ingredient for antiperspirants.

Unfortunately, research suggests that propylene glycol has a negative impact on the central nervous system, and may be linked to seizures and depression.

Although more research is needed on how the propylene glycol in deodorant impacts health, studies show that as a main component in burn creams, propylene glycol is most dangerous when it’s applied to and absorbed through injured skin (which includes a nick or cut from underarm shaving).

4. Talc

Talc, which also goes by the name hydrous magnesium silicate, is one of the ingredients that provides the chalk-white color to deodorant.

There’s a lack of evidence to show the long-term effects talc can have when it’s absorbed into the bloodstream, but some sources suggest it contains asbestos, a known irritant and carcinogen.

5. Triclosan

As an antibacterial and antifungal agent, triclosan is a chemical that’s used to help keep the odor-causing bacteria out of your pits. However, the FDA has issued warnings against triclosan for its ability to disrupt the functioning of thyroid hormones.

While the long-term impact of triclosan on human health is still being studied, it’s worth noting that coconut oil is a natural ingredient that has the same antibacterial and antifungal properties. When it’s an option, why not go chemical-free and natural?

6. Silica

If you’ve ever felt irritated or itchy from your deodorant, silica could be to blame. Silica is added to deodorant to help absorb moisture from sweat, but it’s also known for being a skin irritant.

The silica found in deodorant may also be contaminated with a compound called crystalline quartz, which has been linked to respiratory diseases and the development of cancer cells.

7. Steareth (Steareth-2, Steareth-15, Steareth-20, Cetereath-20)

Steareth are waxy chemicals that help keep the deodorant’s ingredients from separating. In other words, steareths prevent you from ending up with an oil and vinegar, salad dressing-style deodorant.

The toxicity of steareths are said to be low according to the EWG. Nonetheless, you’re rolling the dice when it comes to applying any untested chemical to your skin.

The Problem with ‘Natural’ Deodorants

While there are many natural deodorants on the market, there are a few problems when it comes to trying to beat B.O. and excess perspiration naturally.

First of all, many natural deodorants aren’t strong enough. Luckily, this can easily be resolved with natural ingredients such as apple cider vinegar and baking soda, which help control and eliminate odor-causing bacteria.

Witch hazel has also been said to lower the pH of the skin in your armpits, preventing bacteria from being able to survive there. Apple cider vinegar and baking soda can help make homemade deodorants stronger.

The second problem with natural deodorants is that the world of marketing uses “natural” as a buzzword without much authenticity. By this, I mean that you’ll see many deodorants with the word “natural” on the label, based on a few natural ingredients such as tea tree oil, while the rest of the ingredients list is still loaded with the chemicals listed above.

This is also true with deodorants that are advertised as being aluminum-free. While choosing an aluminum-free deodorant is the first and most important step to finding a safer deodorant, it’s important to be aware of the other chemicals that may be present.

It should also be noted that many natural deodorants are made with baking soda as the base, but aluminum is almost always present in baking soda unless it’s labeled as aluminum-free baking soda on the ingredients list.

How to Find a Safe Deodorant That Works?

The easiest way to find a safe, natural deodorant is to read the ingredients list and scan for chemicals. It’s best to find a natural deodorant that uses organic ingredients such as:

• Aluminum-free baking soda
• Essential oils
• Beeswax
• Apple cider vinegar
• Unrefined coconut oil
• Witch hazel

Our recommendation: Primal Pit Paste Lavender Deodorant. No strange chemical ingredients you can’t pronounce. No questionable pesticides or additives. Just 100% organic and Paleo ingredients.

These guys hit all the marks, which is why our team swears by them. Coconut oil, beeswax and aluminum-free baking soda keep odor-causing bacteria under control, while arrowroot powder naturally soaks up perspiration.

If you’re a newbie to natural deodorant, start with the Primal Pit Primer, which helps soothe pits and prevent skin irritation when making the switch to baking soda-based deodorants.

Watch these 2 videos below –

Deodorant Q&A: natural vs aluminum, cancer risk, botox, odor

How to Make Natural Deodorant (3 ingredients!)

The Bottom Line

Give what goes on your body the same amount of attention you give to what goes into it. Choose your body care products like you choose your food.

When it comes to finding a safe deodorant with no harmful side effects, it’s important to choose products that contain no aluminum, no parabens, no GMO, no additives, and no chemical toxins.

Make sure what you’re using uses trusted, organic ingredients and gets the job done naturally.

Written by Brandi Black

Author Bio:

Brandi Black is a Registered Holistic Nutritionist and the creator of Feel Best Naked, a health blog for women who want to clear up their skin, lose the muffin top and make the bloat disappear. After years of experiencing (and then healing) her own unbalanced hormones, she’s now obsessed with helping other women feel spectacular in their own skin with natural remedies for hormone balance.

A lot of people have gotten results from the Keto diet, and enjoyed the foods that it has to offer. However, many of the people who are following this diet have a hard time finding the recipes that they need, especially ones that are quick and easy to complete.

Fortunately, Kelsey Ale, noticed this problem, and decided to do something about it. She’s found that making recipes in a slow cooker gives you meals which are not only delicious, but also take very little time to make. Mostly you just put a few simple ingredients in the slow cooker, and let it do the rest.

To find out more, click on – Keto Slow Cooker Cookbook

5 Ways to Eliminate 10 Hidden Toxins in Furniture

 

Click HERE to Discover these 80 Keto-Friendly and Healthy Slow Cooker Recipes

10 Toxins Hiding in Your Furniture & 5 Ways to Get Rid of Them

Toxins can be lurking in your favorite couch, mattress and even bookcase. Here’s how to get rid of hidden toxins in furniture.

Buying new furniture is an exciting time. Perhaps you’re decorating a new home, or finally treating yourself to a new (amazingly comfortable!) mattress. Unfortunately, there’s a side to furniture shopping not many consumers know about.

When you purchase furniture, you also purchase a host of dangerous chemicals hidden in their glues, glosses, and fabrics. These include, but aren’t limited to, flame retardants, polishes, laminates, and other seemingly “harmless” furniture features. When you buy furniture, you also purchase a host of dangerous chemicals hidden in their glues, glosses, and fabrics.

In reality, the compounds that make furniture soft, sleek, or “new” smelling, actually belong to a class of chemicals called volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These compounds behave as toxic gases that pollute the air in your home and vehicle, causing all kinds of nasty side effects when inhaled, like: eye, nose, and throat irritation; headaches, loss of coordination, and nausea, along with liver, kidney, and central nervous system damage. Some are even known to cause cancer.

Before you panic, know that there are several ways to limit your exposure to these chemicals from your furniture. But first, let’s take a look at some of the hidden toxins in furniture, so you know what you’re dealing with.

Keep in mind that the list below is by no means 100 percent inclusive. To give you an idea of how many chemicals are actually found in furniture, consider that Environmental Science and Technology has found over 30 in mattresses alone. This doesn’t even include sofas, vehicle furniture, and so on.

To see additional chemicals, visit the EPA’s factsheet.

10 Toxins in Furniture

1. Formaldehyde

Formaldehyde is a colorless chemical with a strong odor that is commonly found in pressed-wood products, glues, adhesives, plywood, fabrics, and product coatings.

The National Cancer Institute states that side effects from short-term exposure include: watery eyes; burning sensations in the eyes, nose, and throat; coughing; wheezing; nausea; and skin irritation.

 Long-term exposure could mean cancer, since formaldehyde is also classified as a human carcinogen by several agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

2. Acetaldehyde

Acetaldehyde is a chemical used in the production of perfumes (think “new-car” or “new-furniture” smell), polyester resins, dyes, rubber production, and in tanning agent production.

It is classified as a “… probable human carcinogen based on inadequate human cancer studies and animal studies that have shown nasal tumors in rats and laryngeal tumors in hamsters.” Short-term side effects listed by the EPA include irritation of the eyes, skin, and respiratory tract.

3. Benzene

While the chemical benzene is commonly associated with vehicle exhaust and coal emissions, it is also found in detergents and dyes, which could be used on your furniture. It is also used as a solvent for waxes, resins, and plastics, which are used in furniture manufacture.

Side effects include: drowsiness, dizziness, headaches, irritation of eyes, skin, and respiratory tracts, blood disorders including reduced numbers of red blood cells and aplastic anemia, adverse reproductive effects on developing fetuses, and increased leukemia incidence. In fact, the EPA has classified benzene as a “known human carcinogen for all routes of exposure.”

4. Vinyl Acetate

Vinyl Acetate is a chemical used in the production of polyvinyl, adhesives, paints, films, and lacquers. Most of its effects involve the respiratory system, and include coughing and inflammation.

While the EPA hasn’t classified it as a carcinogen, it states that studies have found, “an increased incidence of nasal cavity tumors … observed in rats exposed by inhalation.”

5. Hexabromocyclododecane

Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD), is a category of toxic flame retardants, used to minimize the chance of fire spreading should your couch or mattress catch on fire.

The EPA states that it accumulates in the environment, in breast milk, and “biomagnifies” in the food chain. It can also be transported long distances and remains persistent in its environment. This is bad news, considering it has been known to have adverse reproductive, developmental, and neurological effects. 

6. Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)

Perfluorooctanoic acid is a chemical historically used in carpets, leathers, and upholstering to make them waterproof and stain-resistant. Since 2015, the EPA has attempted to regulate PFOA due to its accumulation in the environment, but it’s still used nationwide.

The shelf- life for PFOA in the human body is 3.8 years (meaning it takes double this time for it to leave your body) where it causes: liver toxicity (hypertrophy, necrosis, and effects on the metabolism and deposition of dietary lipids), kidney toxicity, and developmental effects (survival, body weight changes, reduced ossification, altered puberty, and retarded mammary gland development), and cancer.

7. Trichloroethylene

Trichloroethylene is a VOC used as a solvent in dry cleaning and metal degreasing. Apparently, the fact that it is classified as a known human carcinogen still doesn’t stop the U.S. from using around 250 million pounds per year in manufacturing.

Other side effects include: adverse effects on developing fetuses, light-headedness, drowsiness, headaches, and effects in the liver, kidneys, immune system and central nervous system.

8. Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers are additional flame retardants classified in a cluster, since they contain more than a few chemical combinations. They leach out of foams, plastics, and fabrics and pollute the air, while also accumulating in the environment.

The main safety concern with these involves adverse neurobehavioral effects (an interesting thing to consider if you’ve been experiencing behavior problems with anyone, including children).

9. Phthalates

Phthalates are a class of chemicals used in nearly every consumer product, from plastics to tablecloths. As for furniture, they can be found in floor tiles, furniture upholstery, carpet backings, and packaging.

They are considered major endocrine disruptors that interfere with natural hormone regulation and production. They can affect development in children, resulting in changes in male hormone production, altered sexual differentiation, and changes to reproductive organs. In addition, prenatal exposure to some phthalates has resulted in deformities of the genitals and anus.

10. Perchloroethylene

Perchloroethylene is commonly used for dry cleaning fabrics and metal degreasing. Side effects include: kidney dysfunction, neurological effects and behavioral changes, impairment of coordination, dizziness, headaches, sleepiness, and unconsciousness.

Long-term exposure has been associated with several types of cancer including bladder cancer, non-Hodgkin lymphoma,
and multiple myeloma.

How to Get Rid of Toxins in Furniture

As promised, below are several ways you can naturally get rid of, or at least minimize, the levels of these toxins in furniture.

1. Air Purifiers and PCO Cleaners

Investing in a great air filter, like this one or this one, can go a long way in removing dangerous chemicals hanging around in the air from your furniture. PCO cleaners in particular use UV light to change gas-based pollutants into harmless products. However, they do not remove particles like an air purifier.

2. Baking Soda

Many VOCs are acidic in nature. Because of this, using alkaline baking soda as a deodorizer and to trap harmful gases, may provide some relief.

To do this, simply sprinkle baking soda over furniture or carpets and use the brush attachment on your vacuum to work it into the fabric. Let the baking soda sit for as long as possible, then vacuum it up. Take this a step further and air out your home afterwards.

3. House Plants

Studies show that some varieties of house plants help absorb chemicals lingering in the air.

Researchers involved in one study, recommended purple waffle plant (Hemigraphis alternata), English ivy, purple heart, foxtail fern and wax plant for their superior air-filtering abilities. In addition, they also recommend, “… adding a cross-section of plants, one per 100 square feet of living space.”

4. Charcoal Filters

Charcoal has been used in the past to help remove dangerous gases during warfare due to its highly absorbent nature. Purchasing a charcoal filter for your home may help remove some of the VOCs lingering in the air in your home environment. Just be sure to change the filters frequently.

5. Ventilation and “Off-Gassing”

After purchasing new furniture, it would be wise to let it “off-gas” or “air out” outside or in a garage with lots of ventilation. By doing this, you allow the chemicals that evaporate from the furniture the quickest to be released outside your home.

While this will be no means get rid of all of the VOCs (some can take up to 6 months to off-gas, while others stick around for years), it can help with the initial off-gassing of other VOCs.

Be sure to keep your home well-ventilated as well, with periodic airing out to reduce the accumulation of chemicals in the air.

While it’s nearly impossible to fully remove all of the chemicals in your environment and on your new furniture, these techniques will go a long way in minimizing you and your family’s exposure.

Watch these 3 videos below –

Eliminating HIDDEN Toxins in Your Home! – How to Check for and Get Rid of Toxins in Your Household

How Long Does it Take for Furniture to Off Gas

10 Toxic Household Products (You Should Banish from Your Home)

Written Megan Patiry

Author Bio:

Megan is an inquisitive nutrition and wellness writer harboring an editorial love affair with the decadent and the nutritious. She is a dedicated researcher in all areas of ancestral health, a certified specialist in fitness nutrition, personal trainer, and professional almond milk latte addict.

A lot of people have gotten results from the Keto diet, and enjoyed the foods that it has to offer. However, many of the people who are following this diet have a hard time finding the recipes that they need, especially ones that are quick and easy to complete.

Fortunately, Kelsey Ale, noticed this problem, and decided to do something about it. She’s found that making recipes in a slow cooker gives you meals which are not only delicious, but also take very little time to make. Mostly you just put a few simple ingredients in the slow cooker, and let it do the rest.

To find out more, click on – Keto Slow Cooker Cookbook