The winter is known for cold and dry air, which can wreak havoc on your skin and lips. Fighting dry skin and lips isn’t as easy as throwing on the humidifier and lathering on lotion and lip balm either. Sometimes, you need to treat the issue using your diet. Here are some of the best vitamins and minerals to help rehydrate dry skin.
Before adding any supplement to your diet, talk with your doctor first! Some vitamins and minerals are stored in your body, while others get naturally flushed out when there is an excessive amount. Your doctor will know what is safe and what is not safe for you to take on a daily basis.
Get Your Dose of Vitamin D
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that’s critical for many aspects of health, including the health of your skin. In fact, your skin has the ability to take in vitamin D and turn it into a protective and rehydrating machine.
The outer layer of your skin has cells known as Keratinocytes. These keratinocytes use the vitamin D to improve skin barrier function and skin cell growth, as well as maintaining the skin immune system. This means that vitamin D, in the right doses, helps maintain your skin’s appearance and soft feel.
Low levels of vitamin D in keratinocytes is often associated with skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis — both of which can cause dry skin as well.
What’s more, research has indicated a correlation between vitamin D and skin moisture.
A study in 83 women found that those who had low vitamin D levels had lower average skin moisture. Participants who had normal vitamin D levels had more moisturized skin as well.
While adding more vitamin D to your diet can help rehydrate and protect your skin, it is a fat soluble vitamin. This means that Vitamin D is stored in your body and used when needed. Before taking more of it, be sure to discuss the use of vitamin D supplements with your healthcare provider to avoid any potential health risks.
Vitamin C Is a Vitamin Powerhouse
Vitamin C is extremely versatile. From boosting your immune system to playing a key role in hydration, it does everything! It’s a powerful, skin-protective antioxidant and is essential for collagen production. What is collagen? It’s the protein that keeps your skin young!
In fact, skin contains very high levels of vitamin C naturally! So unsurprisingly, studies have shown that increasing dietary vitamin C through vitamin C supplements may improve many factors of skin health, including skin hydration.
Some studies have also found that vitamin C may enhance skin barrier function and help reduce water loss, which may help prevent dry skin.
Unlike vitamin D, vitamin C is water soluble, meaning your body will flush it out of your system when it has too much. This makes it safer to consume for most individuals. We offer vitamin C in our IV treatments too!
Put a Zing in Your Skin With Zinc
It’s no secret that zinc oxide is amazing at protecting your skin from damage — that’s why it’s in most high-performing sunscreen! If applied topically, zinc has been shown to protect the skin from the sun, and aid in regeneration and healing.
Lesser known is that zinc also helps your skin if ingested or taken through an IV. Taking zinc can help heal wounds, lessen inflammation, and improve inflammatory conditions such as acne.
Additionally, it helps produce collagen and repair DNA to keep your skin looking young, healthy, and moisturized.
Different types of zinc can help with different skin conditions too!
Zinc pyrithione can be used to treat psoriasis, eczema, and reduce dandruff too! Even if you don’t have dandruff, this form of zinc will still relieve a dry, itchy scalp.
Zinc oxide can soothe and treat skin quickly too! It may shorten the duration and reduce the severity of a cold sore. Scan the ingredient list for zinc oxide when looking for topical treatments to help a rash or sore.
We also offer zinc in our IV treatments! So if you’re wanting to rehydrate and give your skin a youthful summer glow in the middle of winter, book an appointment with us at IV Revival. Our nurses will come right to your door to administer the IV while you enjoy the comfort of your home. Treatments are quick (most take less than an hour), and easy. Give us a call today!