It’s still winter in Minnesota, and my skin is rebelling. My hands catch on everything I touch, and my skin itches in places that have no business itching. I slather on lotion and cover up my cracked fingertips in the hope that they will heal overnight.
The good news is that as soon as the humidity ramps up, the heat goes off, and I can open a window, my skin will be happy again. The bad news is that there are some people who deal with perpetually dry skin no matter the weather or time of year.
Is dry skin a big deal? Well, it can be if you consider that your skin is the largest organ in your body. Chronically dry skin can be a signal that something is going on deeper in your body. In Chinese medicine, your skin is related to your lung organ system. While that may not make much sense, remember your lungs are considered to be the most exterior of your internal organs, because with every breath, the inside of your body comes into contact with the outside world. In addition, when you breathe on a mirror, you can see the moisture from your lungs. So, as the keeper of all things external, the health of your lungs can give off clues to the condition of your skin. For the clearest example of this, just look at the skin of heavy smokers. Enough said.
In Chinese medicine, there are a number of reasons your skin can dry out. As mentioned above, your environment can have a huge impact on the condition of your skin. Environment plays a role and living where it is dry, such as a Minnesota winter or the southwestern United States, can be a challenge. In addition, your skin dries out as you age–it’s a fact of life that most of us spend a lot of money trying to reverse.
