Dry skin needs care and nourishment to regain a soft, smooth texture. While using a quality natural moisturizer is the easiest way to get moisture, you can also try some At-Home dry skin remedies such as:

#1 - Olive oil or Hydrophyllic Oil from CA BOTANA is a great at-home skin care ingredient. You can add it to your bathwater or apply it after a bath or shower and the oil will naturally and effectively hydrate dry skin.

Find skincare products for your skin

#2 - Ambrosia Aromatic Wellness Soak can also soothe your skin during bath time. Add a cup of it to your bathwater as a home remedy to alleviate itchy, irritated, dry skin in a natural way.

#3 - Use regularly Doctor Schwab Ginkgo Mask. Apply it to your face and leave it on for 15 to 20 minutes. Rinse off the mixture first with warm water; then splash your face with cold water to close up pores.

Hydrate dry skin

#4 - Almond Oil softens skin and acts as a free radical exchanger due to its high levels of essential fatty acids like in Doctor Schwab Ginkgo Mask.

Remember, when choosing home remedy ingredients, you want to treat your dry skin with rich, creamy, and greasy emollients, or just make it easy on yourself and get one of Doctor Schwab all-natural line of moisturizers.

 

Summer time is vacation time for your mind, body and soul, but not your skin.  It’s the time of year you have to be even more vigilant of your skincare for you and your family.  As discussed in our June blog series, Ultraviolet sunrays can wreak havoc on your skin.  Unprotected sun exposure and sunburns increase your risk of skin cancers such as melanoma.  So follow these simple tips and have a great summer.

Cleansers to keep your skin moisturized

Tip 1: Limit your time in direct sunlight to 15 minutes a day.  This might be hard while outdoors, so bring your umbrellas, hats and sunscreen.

Tip 2: Hats are very fashionable and these days the bigger the better.  So dawn a big hat and your favorite sarong on the beach or a fun colorful fedora on the way to the mall.  I always wear a hat while driving my convertible.

Tip 3: Wear sunscreen everywhere, including your face, hands, ears, lips and feet.  You want to select sunscreen with SPF 30 or greater with UVA and UVB protection.  Although water-resistant sounds good, there really is no such thing so don’t waste your time or money. Consider Doctor D. Schwab Umbrella Moisturizers with Environmental Protection.

Tip 4: Use skincare with peptides in them, such as Dr.Schwab’s Alphasome line of skincare. Peptides improve skin’s appearance by stimulating collagen and elastin production.

Tip 5: Eat red and orange foods like tomatoes and orange peppers—which contain antioxidants and offer natural protection from the sun.  They may also help cells repair after sun damage, so keep them around all year long.

Products to help keep your skin looking healthy this summer

Hope those tips help you and your family enjoy the summer with beautiful smiles and skin!

Check out these great moisturizers to help against dry summer skin here.

Being a Southern California girl, it’s hard to not want the sun-kissed color all year round.  But when you leave the beach you may be getting more than just a tan, you may have damage from the sun camouflage by your tan.

According to the Mayo Clinic, to protect itself from the damaging effects of the sun, your skin increases its production of melanocytes. These cells produce the dark brown pigment called melanin. The extra melanin makes your skin look darker or suntanned. In some cases, the sun causes an uneven increase in melanin production or in the number of melanocytes, which produces irregular coloring or pigmentation of the skin. The sun can also cause a permanent stretching (dilation) of small blood vessels, giving your skin a mottled, reddish appearance.

The majority of the time damage from the sun causes cosmetic damage, such as uneven skin tone and “age spots.” There is however always a chance it can be more serious, such as skin cancer.

The good thing is you can prevent damage from the sun with Doctor D. Schwab Umbrella Environmental Protection.  You can even have fun with it, as in many protective lotions today come in different shades, scents and bling!

Get ready for the beach with this month with great products to protect your skin here.

 

Can what you eat help you age gracefully?

By Kathleen M. Zelman, MPH, RD, LD
WebMD Weight Loss Clinic-Feature

It seems we're all trying to find the "magic bullet" that delays the natural aging process. Put an antiaging label on most any product, and it flies off the shelves.

Yet if you're trying to look your best without going under the knife, a secret ingredient might be right under your nose. Some experts say one answer to aging gracefully can be found in the grocery store -- in fruits, vegetables, green tea, and a host of other healthful foods that are rich in antioxidants and other potentially age-deterring compounds.

See Foods to Boost Your Metabolism

What Is Aging?

Of course, the signs of aging include not only wrinkles, but also memory loss, decreased brain function, and an increasing risk for chronic diseases such as heart disease, osteoporosis, and cancer. Healthy aging is also defined as living a longer, healthier life. And many studies have documented the link between a healthy dietand prevention of age-related or chronic diseases.

Adopting a healthy lifestyle that includes regular physical activity, adequate rest, avoiding tobacco, and a diet full of healthy foods and beverages can be the best defense against aging.

"Dietary choices are critical to delay the onset of aging and age-related diseases, and the sooner you start, the greater the benefit," says Susan Moores, RD, a spokesman for the American Dietetic Association.

Antioxidants and Inflammation

Some foods and beverages contain powerful substances called phytonutrients that some believe are capable of unlocking the key to longevity. Phytonutrients, which are members of the antioxidant family, gobble up "free radicals" -- oxygen molecules that play a role in the onset of illnesses such as heart disease, cancer, osteoporosis, and Alzheimer's disease.

As we age, we become more susceptible to the long-term effects of oxidative stress (a condition where the body basically has too many free radicals) and inflammation on the cellular level. The theory is that antioxidants and other age-defying compounds help cells ward off damage from free radicals and minimize the impact of aging.

Beyond antioxidants, some other compounds in foods can affect aging. They can be classified according to their impact on inflammation at the cellular level, experts say.

"All foods fit into three categories: pro-inflammatory, neutral, or anti-inflammatory," says dermatologist and best-selling author, Nicholas Perricone, MD.

Perricone says you can help to slow aging at the cellular level by choosing foods that are anti-inflammatory and rich in antioxidants.

"Age-related changes may be reversed by consuming foods and beverages that are rich in a variety of compounds, including antioxidants, and are anti-inflammatory, such as cold-water fish and richly colored fruits and vegetables," he says.

On the other hand, foods classified as pro-inflammatory can accelerate aging, Perricone says.

If "we eat large amounts of saturated or trans fatty acids, sugars, and starches, insulin levels surge and trigger an anti-inflammatory response and accelerate the aging process," says Perricone.

While the benefits to eating healthy are many, Perricone notes that diet is certainly not the only factor that affects the aging process.

"Stress, hormones, ultraviolet light, and a weakened immune system also contribute to aging," he says.

Still, making smart lifestyle choices are within your control, and are among the best things you can do to help prevent disease and retard aging.

Food for Healthy Aging  

For maximum benefits, experts say, you should load up on a variety of healthy foods.

"We know about antioxidants and anti-inflammatory activities of foods, but we suspect there could be so much more going on beyond attacking free radicals that promote health and ward off disease," says Moores.

Moores suggests adding these foods and beverages into your eating plan for good health and to reduce the signs of aging:

• Fish. Follow the guidelines of the American Heart Association and eat twice weekly, especially the fatty kind that is rich in omega-3 fatty acids. This is a powerful anti-inflammatory food that offers a multitude of health benefits.
• Fruits and vegetables are powerhouses of antioxidants. Aim for a variety of colorful produce. Enjoy at least 5 servings per day for the maximum benefits.
• Whole grains provide soluble fiber to help lower blood cholesterol levels, and also have phytonutrient content equal to any fruit or vegetable. Strive for at least 3 daily servings.
• Legumes are unsung heroes, packed with nutrients similar to fruits and vegetables and with very few calories. Add them to your diet 3 to 4 times a week.
• Yogurt has all the benefits of dairy foods, plus probiotics that help add healthy bacteria to the intestines. Moores recommends eating a yogurt with active cultures as one of your 3 dairy servings each day.
• Nuts are a great source of B vitamins that are good for your heart and your brain. The healthy fats in nuts benefit the elastin and collagen in skin, helping to maintaining skin's structure and keep it resilient. Small portions are advised, as nuts are high in calories.
• Water is essential for hydration of the skin, muscles, circulation, and all organs in the body. Enjoy 3-4 glasses of pure water in addition to other liquids and watery foods.

In addition, Perricone suggests these 10 "super-foods," chosen because of their anti- inflammatory activity:

1. Acai fruit (found in health stores)
2. Allium vegetables: garlic, onions, leeks, scallions, chives, and shallots
3. Barley
4. Green foods, such as wheatgrass
5. Buckwheat, both seeds and grains
6. Beans and lentils
7. Hot peppers
8. Nuts and seeds
9. Sprouts

10.  Yogurt and kefir

What Else Can You Do?

Micronutrients from food and beverages offer a wealth of health benefits. But when it comes to preserving the skin, some work better as topical applications such as creams.

"Drinking 6-10 small cups of green tea daily adds health-promoting catechins … but no matter how much green tea you drink, your blood level will never be high enough to retard or reverse skin changes," says researcher Stephen Hsu, PhD. His research found antiaging benefits when green tea polyphenols were applied directly to skin, and "protected the skin by absorbing ultraviolet light and eliminating free radicals." To read more click here

Doctor D. Schwab’s high quality botanical skin care products contain herbal extracts, natural vitamins, and other extracts from foods that help improve skin health, enhance skin moisture and encourage the proliferation of new, healthy cells.

 

Winter dry skin or xeroderma is a skin problem that is most prevalent in winter because of low humidity, low temperature and strong, harsh winds in colder months.

This skin condition is characterized by the development of fine flakes and dry patches on the skin. Itching is another common symptom of xeroderma that tends to worsen in the colder winter months. Repeat scratching may lead to thickening, wrinkling and darkening of skin. Some people might also experience red, raised bumps that can be opened and infected if scratched. Most common dry skin areas include scalp, face, lips, hands, elbows, and feet.

Winter dry skin is most common in elderly and in people with a history of dermatitis, eczema or hypothyroidism. Numerous researches have revealed that dry skin may also be caused by a genetic condition called ichthyosis.

There are numerous preventive measures and treatment options that you can use to protect your skin against winter dryness. As far as preventive measures are concerned, avoid washing your face with soap in winter months. Remember that harsh chemicals in the soaps can worsen the winter dry skin problem. Avoid frequent showers in hot water in colder months as doing this can remove the natural oils from your skin, leading to dryness and itching. Drinking lots of fluids in winter helps hydrate your skin, and keeps it supple and flake-free.

Treatment options include using an emollient to inhibit the evaporation of moisture from your skin. You can also control the skin dryness by applying lotions and creams. Topical steroid creams can also be used on the affected areas to reduce redness and darkening of skin.  Numerous anti-itch oral medications are available on the market that help relieve generalized itching and inflammation.

However, the best treatment is to daily lubricate your skin with a moisturizer to restore skin hydration. Doctor D. Schwab AM/PM Moisturizer is a popular brand on the market that helps hydrate your skin and maintains the skin’s moisture barrier to prevent water loss. It also contains natural anti-oxidants, amino acids and organic herbs that boost firmness and elasticity of your skin, giving it a youthful look.

Check out our customers' favorite natural skin products here!