There’s nothing worse than dry, itchy skin—other than having a condition that means you suffer from it on a regular basis. In the winter, many of us have dry skin. But clinically diagnosed skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis are more common than we think.
Consider this:
- approximately 15-20% percent of Canadians suffer from eczema
- about 17% of Canadians are diagnosed with the most common type of eczema, known as atopic dermatitis
- psoriasis affects 1 million Canadians
- If you’ve been diagnosed with one of these, or suspect your dry skin needs more than some lotion, then read on to find out what you can do for your skin.
Managing Skin Conditions Naturally
There are several different conditions that can cause dry, itchy skin, two of the most common being eczema and psoriasis:
- Eczema has two different varieties: atopic dermatitis, a hereditary condition often linked to asthma or hay fever; and contact dermatitis. Irritant contact dermatitis or eczema is often caused by repeated exposure to substances that damage the skin, like strong soaps and other substances.
- Psoriasis is a common chronic inflammatory condition, which is believed to be caused by a combination of genetic, environmental and immune factors.
Many skin conditions flare up when the skin comes into contact with soaps, lotions, cleaning products and laundry detergents formulated with harsh ingredients, artificial fragrances, and stripping surfactants. It is common for certain irritating ingredients to be hidden under the term “fragrance” on an ingredients label, so that they do not have to be disclosed.
Nature to the Rescue
Opting for skincare, home care, and body care products that are plant-based and made with gentle ingredients can make a big difference in your skin. Natural products are formulated without harsh ingredients or artificial fragrances, making them a safer option for your skin and for the environment.
Essential oils are a common ingredient used for scenting and healing purposes. Not only do they offer aromatherapeutic benefits, but essential oils also can have antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties that aid in healing and prevent different skin conditions and irritations.
Here are some of our best products for soothing eczema, dermatitis, psoriasis and other skin problems:
- Skin Repair Soap Bar and Skin Repair Oil can be used alone or together. They’re both formulated with dermatitis, eczema and psoriasis in mind, but good for any kind of skin irritation. The soap features ingredients like neem extract and tea tree essential oil to deliver anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and skin-repairing properties. The plant-based, therapeutic oil blend is anti-inflammatory, soothing and moisturizing.
- Psorganic Ointment offers deep repair with the healing powers of tamanu, borage, rosehip, chamomile and lavender essential oils, all of which work wonders on dermatitis, psoriasis and eczema. We recommend applying it to the affected area at least twice daily.
- All-over healing is offered by Neem Ointment. It has natural anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, and anti-viral properties, making it ideal for skin conditions like dermatitis, or for fungal infections like athletes' foot or nail fungus. The Neem tree is known as India’s “sacred tree.”
- Soaking in some Epsom & Dead Sea Bath Salts can help soothe and revitalize your skin and reduce inflammation like that caused by psoriasis.
- Kids are not immune to skin conditions—most cases of atopic dermatitis or eczema occur before the age of 5, so we have something for the little ones too. Our Whipped Lavender Shea Butter features lavender to soothe the skin and calm the mind and nervous system, and shea butter to heal dry, cracked skin.
Chronic skin conditions are common and flare ups can be triggered by environmental factors, periods of stress, and harsh or irritating ingredients in home and skincare products. Using natural, plant-based products can help reduce the frequency and intensity of flare ups, and they can help heal and soothe your skin. For more information on our products and their healing properties, head over to our website.
