Dry skin, cold shower therapy...

[Raw Rob]

I've had dry skin my whole life. I also had very bad Keritosis Pilaris, which has improved significantly since going low/zero carb. I still had very itchy dry skin though, which I figured had to be Candida. I've always had to put lotion or oil on after getting out of the shower, and thought to myself, "I shouldn't have to be doing this." Now I think I've figured it out. I've always taken very hot showers and I think that's been washing away my naturally protective oils. I've recently been reading about people who started taking cold showers and how they've dramatically helped their skin and hair. I took my first one yesterday and it was invigorating. My hair felt so clean and I didn't use any shampoo or VCO. My skin was still dry, but tolerable. I think I'm going to stick with this, and take a cold shower every day with absolutely no hot water. I'm hoping it will get rid of the last traces of Keritosis Pilaris as well. I will keep you all posted on my progress. Anybody else here take cold showers? 

[Raw Kyle]

I used to do a thing where I'd put the water on cold at the end of a shower and my heart would start racing at the drastic change in temperatures. Interestingly I don't have dry skin except on my head where sometimes I have dandruff or even on my face where my facial hair grows in might flake off dry skin if I rub it really hard. But generally the rest of my body doesn't.

[TylerDurden]

I've never had an issue with dry skin. However, I have noticed that a cold shower does boost my energy-levels, whereas hot baths/showers make me sleepy.

[Raw Rob]

I have thought maybe that I'm genetically predisposed to it because I'm of Irish descent. I've heard or read that the air is very moist in Ireland. (Somebody correct me if I'm wrong, as I have never been there.) It seems that other Irish people have dry skin on our side of the pond.

Also, it just makes sense in general, because none of our ancestors would have gone in hot water. (Unless they found some hot springs, which are few and far between.)

[Roselene]

Good point.  I have very fair skin and it wasn't dry for the first time when I was using only unheated water.  I need to go back to that.

I have thought maybe that I'm genetically predisposed to it because I'm of Irish descent. I've heard or read that the air is very moist in Ireland. (Somebody correct me if I'm wrong, as I have never been there.) It seems that other Irish people have dry skin on our side of the pond.

Also, it just makes sense in general, because none of our ancestors would have gone in hot water. (Unless they found some hot springs, which are few and far between.)

[Michael]

Have you considered filtering your shower water Rob?  I remove 99.9% of chlorine and other damaging chemicals by use of a shower filter and both myself and my partner have noticed significant improvements in our skin and hair since - to the degree that many people initially commented on it!  Like Kyle, I too have experimented with finishing my showers with an invigorating cold burst - paying particular attention to the adrenal area - but I'm not sure that I'm brave enough to have a completely cold shower!!   

However, I do also still suffer with dry skin on my hands, scalp and a little on my face.  I, too, have candida problems and have noticed an improvement since going zero/low-carb raw paleo.  I think getting sufficient good fats is also incredibly important (grass-fed marrow, suet, VCO etc) and have noticed further improvements since improving matters in this area.

An interesting point with regard to ancestry!  If it adds further to your theory - I am also of Irish decent!  My family surname is Fitzgerald and we originate from Southern Ireland.

[wodgina]

Im half irish, the rest mainly gypsy i think and i have a dutch last name.

I've had dry skin, keratosis and dandruff. These are all caused by candida.

I have cold showers and always feel great afterwoods. Hot showers strip my skin of oil and make me feel like crap and my definition of hot is nothing compared to the scalding showers most girls have.

Try warmed suet for face cream, superior to crappy plant stuff.

[Nicola]

Im half irish, the rest mainly gypsy i think and i have a dutch last name.

I've had dry skin, keratosis and dandruff. These are all caused by candida.

I have cold showers and always feel great afterwoods. Hot showers strip my skin of oil and make me feel like crap and my definition of hot is nothing compared to the scalding showers most girls have.

Try warmed suet for face cream, superior to crappy plant stuff.

You are in Australia; spend some time in Ireland (or any other colder country) - you might like a warm shower / warm water...

I do that with the suet too; when I have finished eating I will use any left over suet (I have it in small vacuum bags) for my skin.

Nicola

[Roselene]

I have to try suet for this now.  How warm?  About 103 Fahrenheit?

[TylerDurden]

An interesting point with regard to ancestry!  If it adds further to your theory - I am also of Irish decent!  My family surname is Fitzgerald and we originate from Southern Ireland.

Well, I'm more than half Irish and don't have a problem with dry skin(I did have a problem with very greasy hair/skin before doing this diet), so I doubt genetics is a factor. Besides, there've been so many different populations mixing in Ireland over the centuries(English/Norman Irish/Irish and Scottish Celts/Vikings) that the theory seems unlikely.

By the way, are you any relation to the poet Edward FitzGerald?

Re cold showers:- I hate showers and go for baths. I usually have a hot bath followed by a cold one.

[Raw Rob]

Yes, I got a shower filter. It definitely helps a lot. Plus, I just don't trust Chicago water. I also distill and remineralize my drinking water.

My whole diet right now is pemmican, and grass-fed, high-fat ground beef. Also, some lamb liver once a week.

I'm definitely going to try the suet. What do you guys think of using tallow? I was thinking of buying some from U.S. Wellness Meats. (That's where I get my pemmican.) It seems like the tallow would be good for rubbing into your skin, but if you guys really recommend suet I'll try that. Heck, I'll try both.

p.s. Sorry, my quote thing wasn't working right, I think it's my browser. I'll try to figure that out.

[Raw Kyle]

You probably know this but tallow is heated and filtered suet. So from a raw paleo perspective, anything tallow can do suet can do better, except keep.

[wodgina]

Marrow is best as it melts in your hands.

Animal fat on the skin feels much better than say coconut oil or cocoa butter and was applied to the skin by American Indians, Africans and Australian aborigines. It helps protect the skin against harsh sunlight, wind and to ward off insects. Raw animal fat has almost no smell whereas tallow might leave you smelling a bit like roast beef.

Grass fed animal fat is also good for candida infected skin as omega 3's are the food of choice for good bacteria and fungi whereas omega 6's are the preferred fuel for the dandruff producing fungus Malassezzia Globosa.

[wodgina]

Another thing I just read mentioned that high insulin levels from eating carbs turns on Insulin Growth Factor 1 (IGF-1)  then testosterone to produce Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) which turns on the oil glands so more food for the fungus.

The fungus uses triglycerides for food and the fungus produces enzymes (lipases) to break down the triglycerides to oleic acid which is an omega 6. The oleic acid penetrates the skin and triggers skin cell production to increase.

hmm make sense?

[ANDREAS]

Another thing I just read mentioned that high insulin levels from eating carbs turns on Insulin Growth Factor 1 (IGF-1)  then testosterone to produce Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) which turns on the oil glands so more food for the fungus.

The fungus uses triglycerides for food and the fungus produces enzymes (lipases) to break down the triglycerides to oleic acid which is an omega 6. The oleic acid penetrates the skin and triggers skin cell production to increase.

hmm make sense?

[Raw Kyle]

Another thing I just read mentioned that high insulin levels from eating carbs turns on Insulin Growth Factor 1 (IGF-1)  then testosterone to produce Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) which turns on the oil glands so more food for the fungus.

The fungus uses triglycerides for food and the fungus produces enzymes (lipases) to break down the triglycerides to oleic acid which is an omega 6. The oleic acid penetrates the skin and triggers skin cell production to increase.

hmm make sense?

Hmm...I say hmm. I think you just gave me hope for a dandruff cure. I don't have it horrible, but I'd like it to be completely gone. I just cut my hair relatively short (not as short as yours) and am thinking of grabbing some suet or marrow, warming it up real well in my hands, and rubbing it into my scalp some day and leaving it there for a few hours.

[wodgina]

Zero carb got rid of mine. 15 years of dandruff, RP wasnt enough.

Pets put on all meat diets also heal their dandruff.

[kravmagamen]

I have a dry skin also. At the moment i take more olive oil (4 spoons a day). My dry skin is better.

[dizzybee6]

yes,  but cleaning some of the oil off your skin wil be helpful if you shower daily try every 3 or 4th day using hot water you have to wash the free-radicals and toxins off your skin and they do get caught in your body's natural oils. i have never shampoed every time i shower the oils in your scalp protect your head. Also try eating avocado more frequently the natural oils of it are extremely good for your skin and stay in your body longer then animal fats as they are used up faster (they disapear) at a higher temperature so maybe that will help. I have spent a long time in the skincare industry and still use the same products (i think we have diferent things causing us to age, dry out and wrinkle prematurely now days that were not always considerations to living life times ago) But if you are strict about not using anything think about avocado.

[PaleoPhil]

I have pale Irish skin that was also very dry and flaky in areas. Cooling down my showers only helped a very tiny bit. The dry skin didn't clear until I eliminated the last of the carbs from my diet.

[sherrylouz]

 If you have dry skin, apply Vaseline on skin and massage for a few minutes before going to bed. You will see an amazing difference in the morning when you wake up.

[RawZi]

You mean lard.

[Michael]

Zero carb got rid of mine. 15 years of dandruff, RP wasnt enough.
Pets put on all meat diets also heal their dandruff.

Another thing I just read mentioned that high insulin levels from eating carbs turns on Insulin Growth Factor 1 (IGF-1)  then testosterone to produce Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) which turns on the oil glands so more food for the fungus.
The fungus uses triglycerides for food and the fungus produces enzymes (lipases) to break down the triglycerides to oleic acid which is an omega 6. The oleic acid penetrates the skin and triggers skin cell production to increase.
hmm make sense?

Marrow is best as it melts in your hands.
Animal fat on the skin feels much better than say coconut oil or cocoa butter and was applied to the skin by American Indians, Africans and Australian aborigines. It helps protect the skin against harsh sunlight, wind and to ward off insects. Raw animal fat has almost no smell whereas tallow might leave you smelling a bit like roast beef.
Grass fed animal fat is also good for candida infected skin as omega 3's are the food of choice for good bacteria and fungi whereas omega 6's are the preferred fuel for the dandruff producing fungus Malassezzia Globosa.

I must've missed these great replies Andrew!  Some great info there.  I'm having similarly postive experiences resolving life-long dandruff with being VLC/ZC these last 2-3mths.  It hasn't completely gone yet though so I will try your suggestions using suet/marrow.  Thanks.

By the way, are you any relation to the poet Edward FitzGerald?

Sorry Tyler.  I didn't see your post.  As far as I'm aware he's no relation but nobody in my family has made extensive strides in family genealogy. All I know is that the Fitzgerald's were apparently knights that came over with William the Conqueror.

[TylerDurden]

Sorry Tyler.  I didn't see your post.  As far as I'm aware he's no relation but nobody in my family has made extensive strides in family genealogy. All I know is that the Fitzgerald's were apparently knights that came over with William the Conqueror.

Hmm, I was told by my father that I was distantly related to the poet Edward Fitzgerald, among other historical figures.I forgot  one minor detail  that wasn't actually his original surname, he changed his surname from my family's name to his wife's name, which was Fitzgerald. Whatever the case, we both seem to be descended from Norman knights.

[Michael]

Hmm, I was told by my father that I was distantly related to the poet Edward Fitzgerald, among other historical figures.I forgot  one minor detail  that wasn't actually his original surname, he changed his surname from my family's name to his wife's name, which was Fitzgerald. Whatever the case, we both seem to be descended from Norman knights.

That's interesting.  I wonder if his wife sits among my family tree somewhere?!  Do you know any details about her?  Wouldn't that be incredible if we could both trace our family tree back to her?!  I find it bizarre that Edward would decide to change his name for that of his wife.  Do you know why he did that?  Have you ever made a visit to Ireland Tyler?  I went to stay with an Irish ex-girlfriend's mother 5 years or so ago who happened to live in the same region that the Fitzgerald's castle ruins stand.  Of course, I went to see the ruins but there was little left.  I don't know if there are other Fitzgerald castle's remaining elsewhere in Ireland.  I'd be interested in studying the family history a little more in-depth when I have the time.