Dr. G’s 7 Top CURES for Dry Skin

It’s not just the cold, windy conditions outdoors that can leave your skin feeling raw and chapped.

Indoors, your furnace—and even that roaring fire—can dry out both the air and your skin, too.

And that hot shower or cozy bath? They can strip your skin of its natural oils.

But instead of slathering on chemical-laden lotions and moisturizers, I have a better solution.

Seven of them, actually.

They’re my top seven cures for dry skin—and all of them work from the inside out.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D is just as crucial for the outside of your body as it is for the inside.

Vitamin D has numerous functions in your skin, including maintaining its barrier function, contributing to skin cell growth, and maintaining your skin’s immune system.

One study shows that people with low levels of vitamin D had lower skin moisture and that as they increased their vitamin D levels, their skin moisture increased as well.

Not surprisingly, then, multiple studies find that vitamin D supplementation improves dry skin and improves skin hydration.

Collagen

It shouldn’t be surprising that supplementing with collagen is fantastic for your skin since 75 percent of your skin’s dry weight is made up of it.

One study shows that supplementing with collagen decreases wrinkle depth and increases skin hydration.

Another reports that consuming 2.5-5 grams a day led to improvements in skin elasticity and skin hydration.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is vital for your skin because it’s necessary for the production of collagen. Your skin also has a large amount of direct vitamin C.

Studies show that supplementing with vitamin C improves skin hydration and skin barrier function, and reduces water loss.

Fish Oil

Fish oil—rich in omega-3s—is one of my favorite nutrients because of its seemingly endless benefits for your body.

And that includes plenty of properties that benefit skin health as well.

In a study of rats, fish oil supplements increased skin hydration by 30 percent, reduced water loss, and helped to relieve itching caused by dry skin.

Daily fish oil supplements can also  improve the dry, cracked skin associated with psoriasis.

Three additional skin moisturizers include hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and aloe vera—all of which have been shown to promote healthy, hydrated skin.