Question
I have excessively dry skin all over my body, as well as dandruff. Can you recommend anything?
Joan, East Ringwood, Vic.
Answer
Naturopath and herbalist Penelope Sach says excessively dry skin needs to be treated both internally and externally. For a topical application, she suggests twice-daily treatment with an at-home “miracle worker” cream that combines one tablespoon each of chamomile cream, calendula cream and sorbolene.
Zinc and essential fatty acids, such as omega-3 and omega-6, are great for general internal skin health. Naturopath Di Strang says essential fatty acids reduce inflammation and keep the cell membrane stable, while zinc controls inflammation and assists in tissue regeneration and repair.
She suggests that, as an alternative to taking zinc and essential fatty acids as supplements, you should include in your diet foods high in omega-3 and omega-6, such as cold-water fish (tuna, salmon and mackerel, for example), nuts, avocado and good oils such as olive and sunflower seed. Foods high in zinc include shellfish, hard cheese, eggs, nuts and poultry.
The AWW Beauty Team
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