I always moisturize once the weather turns colder, but this year lotion isn’t helping. The only difference compared with years past is that I recently lost 26 pounds on a low-fat diet. Could that be the cause of my dry skin?
It sounds like you may have scaled back on dietary fat a little too much. Insufficient levels of healthy fats trigger deficiencies in the essential fatty acids that lubricate and strengthen skin-cell membranes. To prevent such shortfalls, aim to get at least 1 Tbs. of liquid oil like olive oil, fish oil or flaxseed oil for every 100 pounds of body weight per day. And don’t worry about stalling your slimdown, the monosaturated and omega-3 fats in these oils are proven to promote fat burn.
Your skin’s luster should be restored within two weeks of increasing your fat intake. If not (particularly if you’re experiencing fatigue, chills and brittle nails), see a doctor. Very dry skin can also be a sign of hypothyroid disease.
