may or may not be itchy ( pruritis ). If left unchecked , severe dry skin can crack and bleed .
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that ’ s critical for many aspects of health , including the health of your skin . Keratinocytes are skin cells that make up most of the outer layer of your skin , known as the epidermis . Keratinocytes are the only cells in your body that can form Vitamin D from its precursor 7-Dehydrocholesterol ( 7-DHC ) and turn it into a form that your body can use .
Vitamin D plays an integral role in many vital functions of skin , including the integrity of the skin barrier , stimulating skin cell growth , and maintaining the efficacy of the skin immune system , which acts as a first line of defence against harmful pathogens .
We naturally have a drop in Vitamin D levels in the winter as we often have less exposure to the sun . Small doses of UV are indeed beneficial in the natural production of Vitamin C in the body .
Other vitamins and supplements to help with dry skin include collagen , Vitamin C and fish oils .
Collagen is the most abundant protein in your body and accounts for 75 % of your skin ’ s dry weight . Taking collagen-based supplements may have a range of benefits for your skin , including decreasing wrinkle depth and increasing skin hydration .
Vitamin C acts as a powerful , skin-protective antioxidant and is essential for collagen production , making it an important nutrient for skin health .
Finally , fish oil is well known for its skin-health-promoting properties .
You can do a lot on your own to improve the health of your skin , including using moisturizers and avoiding harsh , drying soaps .
It contains docosahexaenoic acid ( DHA ) and eicosapentaenoic acid ( EPA ), two essential fatty acids that have powerful anti-inflammatory and healing properties that have been shown to revitalize skin in many ways . Dietary supplements with fish oil may help boost skin hydration and improve the fatty acid barrier of the skin , which helps maintain hydration .
Now that we have covered how to tackle the underlying issues , I ’ d like to share my winter skin rescue this season . Last year ,