If you have extremely dry skin on your hands and would like to get rid of it, let me show you how to moisturise it.

There are several causes of dry skin on hands – 

• Dry Weather
• Frequent Washing using soap
• Central Heating
• Junk Food Diet
• Dehydration
• Use of Chemicals
• Heavy Craft or Mechanical Work
• Ageing

Depending on where you live, especially if you are in a hot climate, the weather can adversely affect the state of your hands. You will need to moisturise your skin after each wash. The best thing to use is a thick cream like Aloe Propolis Creme or simply olive oil with a drop of lavender essential oil.

Aloe Propolis Creme contains Aloe Vera gel and chamomile which is soothing for skin. Olive oil – the Extra Virgin kind, mind, will also be very moisturising for you.

Central Heating turned on during winter, can dry out your skin on your hands as well as your whole body. It is important to stay hydrated when you have this on. Also a humidifier is useful to put back moisture into the air in your home.

A Junk Food diet lacking in omega 3 fatty acids can also contribute to dry skin on your hands and elsewhere on your body. So the best thing you can do is wean yourself off food like potato chips, crisps, sweet desserts with cream, sodas, alchohol, etc.

Replace junk food with healthy alternatives that are home made. For example, roasted sweet potato cooked with coconut oil. Chicken breast and avocado salads.

You can also drink tasty green smoothies containing avocado, carrot juice, apple, parsley and bananas.

Supplement with Fish Oil, Evening Primrose Oil, Flaxseed Oil.  The only con about this is that you need to take at least 3 capsules of each three times a day to see a difference in 30 days. It can also prove slightly expensive in the long run.

However supplementing with fish and seed oils really does work. As I suggested this to a friend who complained of dry hands. I told him to take a high dose of evening primrose oil as mentioned above. 3 weeks later he came back with glowing reviews of how his hands were now smooth and soft.

Smoking definitely is a no-no for your skin as nicotine is known to wick away internal moisture of your body. Leading to dry hands! If you are guilty of this, then be warned of the effects of smoking turning your skin askew as you age.

 Dehydration is another key to the cause of your dry hands. If you are a speaker who rarely drinks water, especially when on flights to conferences, you will also suffer from extremely dry hands.

Remember to drink water or green juices to the total of 8 glasses daily. As it takes 28 days for the skin to repair itself, you will need to take this long to see a lasting change in the condition of your hands. As a side benefit, your voice will also be more clear and sharp to the ear.

Our hands have a different skin structure to other parts of our body, which helps them perform their key function in movement and motion control:

The skin on the palms and balls of the fingers and thumbs:

• is rich in fatty and connective tissue (such as elastin and collagen)
• has a high density of sweat glands but very few sebaceous glands 

The skin on the backs of the hands:

• has hardly any fatty tissue
• is especially thin and sensitive
• has few sebaceous glands

Drinking Marine Collagen is another fantastic way of getting the right nutrients to our hands. It supports the firmness and elasticity of our skin on not just our hands, but also the strength of our hair and other connective tissue we have in our bodies. For example our feet.

Marine Collagen is great but as the brand I recommend is in liquid form, it can get rather pricey if you’re are buying this month after month.

If you are on a budget, I suggest apple, cucumber, avocado and carrots to make a smoothies.  To see a difference in your skin, you will need to make a litre of smoothie a day.  As you can include up to 3  apples in your smoothie, the taste will be quite nice.  Due to the apples you included!

Use of Chemicals

If you are an artist who uses paints or resin, you will have to wash your hands quite thoroughly to get any stains out.  The best thing to do would be to use gloves, but then you would not get a good feel for the brush in hand…

I suggest a heavy cream moisturizer and supplement your diet with avocado smoothies and also evening primrose oil capsules after each meal.

If you also work in a hospital as a nurse, you will be frequently washing your hands with anti-bacterial soap which washes off the microbiome on your hands.  Leading to very dry skin and even worse, cracked hands.

A sanitizer containing aloe vera can help as well as supplementing your diet with smoothies and evening primrose oil capsules.  To see a difference in 30 days, you will need to take 3 capsules three times a day with liquid.

Ageing is something we all have to look forward to.  The good thing is that by then, you should have a good skin care routine in place that will get you ready for when you reach your 60s and beyond.

To keep your hands looking pretty, it’s important not to be too thin.  I have noticed that being between 70-56kg is beneficial to give a slightly plump look to my hands.  After all, there’s no point having beautiful skin if you are all skin and bone, is there??

Get Fish Oils from my store here.

Conclusion

So there you have it – All you need to do for moisturized hands, is to do the following:

1.  Drink 1 litre of Green Smoothie every day

2.   Supplement with Evening Primrose Oil or Fish Oils – 3 capsules three times a day.

3.   And drink Marine Liquid Collagen every day.

4.    Use Aloe Liquid Hand Soap to wash your hands instead of anti-bacterial soap.

5.   Moisturize your hands with a thick cream like Aloe Propolis Creme which you can get by clicking here.

Once you have reached saturation point and your hands are glowing, all you need to do to maintain this is continue drinking the green smoothie every day. Plus use Aloe Propolis Creme after each hand washing.

Remember, your hands are an important part of your body and you use them in various situations all day.  

So Take Care Of Them!!

Or maybe you could simply be dehydrated and lacking sufficient protein in your diet. 

Personally, I developed fine wrinkles on my forehead and around my nose by my mid-50s. Though I made sure to get 7 hours sleep a night, the wrinkles still stubbornly remained.

So I checked up Dr Perricone’s Facelift Diet and bought 3 packets of salmon. Each weighing 240g (8 ounces). Intending to rack up my juicing efforts, I also bought cucumbers, carrots, apples, avocados and celery.

Tone-wise, my facial skin has a glow to it. However, I know that if I continue juicing and having 2 helpings of salmon a day, the fine wrinkles have no choice but to disappear.

Because I have no intention of looking decrepit as I grow older. Fortunately, most of my diet is fresh plant produce which has plenty of nutrients to keep my skin wrinkle-free.

So you have looked in the mirror and noticed a paleness to your skin tone, fine wrinkles and crow’s feet at the corner of your eyes!

Don’t worry and do not panic, simply increase your protein intake. Find the time to go through this article on Dr Perricone’s Face Lift Diet. That is accomplished in 3 days.  

Dr Perricone even has a 28-Day plan for your skin to do a complete turnaround in that time frame.   

Though salmon can get expensive, you can always trick your skin into thinking it has plenty of salmon to use, by eating that every other day.  

For example, 2 fillets of salmon in the evening on Monday, miss Tuesday. Then another 2 fillets of salmon at the same time on Wednesday.

Miss Thursday and have another 2 fillets of salmon on Friday evening. Have chicken breasts with a salad on Saturday and Sunday.

Keep hydrated and remember, to cut out smoking if you are guilty of that habit.

You’re not? Great! Moving on swiftly…

Talking about hydration, depending on your weight and height, you can adjust the number of cups of water you drink daily. The standard is 8 glasses of water.

This could be homemade vegetable juice or water infused with lemon or lime. Simply drink 2 glasses on waking, have 2 glasses 30 minutes after breakfast, 2 glasses after lunch and 2 after dinner.

Give yourself a 30 minute break between meals and drinking liquid so as not to dilute the nutrients in the food you eat.

Do Not Wash Your Face

You read the above correctly. Cleansing is very different from taking a bar of soap and slathering your face with it before rinsing off.

To keep your skin’s natural oil in balance, all you need do is apply a little carrier oil of your choice to your skin. This could be olive oil, jojoba oil or rosehip oil.

Then take a warm damp flannel and gently wipe of the excess oil. The reason I am against most creams and things you see on the market is not because of the goodness inside of them.

Far from it. It is mainly because of all the preservatives that most of us cannot even pronounce! You may be allergic to any one of these preservatives. And you will pay for it with blotchy red skin as well as more fine wrinkles if you are constantly washing your face with a bar of soap.

Soap is very drying to the skin and the microbiome on your face will have to try and regrow in between washes.

Remember it takes 28 days for your skin cells to turnover and lay a new set of skincells on the surface of your body.

This means you really need a routine that you will stick by for 28 days that will end up with you achieving your goal of fresh baby-faced, peachy skin.

It is achievable, but you have to give yourself at least this amount of time to see a major difference.

Introducing Forever Living Marine Collagen

 Collagen has got a lot of press lately with the Japanese leading the way when it comes to the porcelain glass look. For skin, that is.

Collagen is the most abundant form of protein in our bodies. Protein is important for cell repair and skin cell formation. The more protein we consume on a daily basis, the better we look.

Ageing is caused by a lack of protein over a long period of time. We all need at least 100g of protein daily if we are adults.

Past the age of 50, if we are sedentary, we lose muscle mass at a faster rate. And slowly become more fat as the years go by.

This is why I now have a love affair with my gym as I have seen how slowing down and being less active has a toll on my health. Not to mention my facial skin and also the skin on my neck.

If you are a serial yo-yo dieter, which means you gain a few pounds, then lose a few pounds, only to gain the pounds you lost with a few added, then this also could be the cause of the fine wrinkles you have.

Forever Marine Liquid Collagen

As your skin loses elasticity as you get older.

Forever Living Collagen is sourced from the marine – the sea. And is formulated in a way that our bodies can easily digest. It is pricey, but is way cheaper than having a surgical face lift!

Forever Marine Liquid Collagen contains the following amino acids;

• Glycine
• Proline
• Hydroxyproline
• Arginine

To cut a long story short, this helps;

• Improve skin hydration
• Improve skin texture
• Supports the appearance of firmer skin
• Maintain healthy skin

And this is something we can all do with!

• You can order your Forever Marine Liquid Collagen here

The Importance of Fruit and Green Leafy Vegetables in Your Meals

A salad is not just a few wilted lettuce leaves with a tomato on your plate. You can make an interesting salad with all the colours of the rainbow.

For example, carrots, beetroot, parsley, bell peppers, tomatoes, cucumber

 and avocados.

When you combine this salad with either chicken breast fillets or fish fillets (not breaded), you will find that this is not only nourishing, but very filling.

Steer Clear of Sugary Food and Junk Food

Sugar causes inflammation and bloating. So this is the main reason I suggest you cut this type of ‘food’ out. It may taste nice at first, but long term use of this kind of food or filler, will leave a sorry tale across the surface of your skin.

Causing everything from blemishes, acne, breakouts, patchy skin, etc.

You have been warned!!

Conclusion

As you can see, wrinkles can be gotten rid of. And with ease. It just needs a little patience and some lifestyle changes for you to see a difference.

Makeup and cosmetics can make your skin break out as well as junk food. But if you replace these with natural unprocessed food and also natural oils, your skin will be really chuffed and your wrinkles will rapidly disappear.

is what I have been using since August 2020.  It is an oil from the Nigella Sativa seed and is also called kalonji.  It originates from Egypt, South Asia and the Middle East

Introduction

I first heard what this oil could do while researching online how to alleviate a stubborn patch of eczema on the back of my neck.  Udo’s oil is great by is composed of several types of oils including coconut oil and evening primrose oil.  I was looking for a single ingredient oil and discovered that Black Seed oil is good for skin rashes such as eczema and psoriasis.

 The Blessed Seed Company:

sells different strengths of this oil ranging from Mild, Original, Strong to Extra Strong.

To be on the careful side, I bought one bottle of the Strong version of Black Seed oil.  Just to see if the reviews I had read were true.  After one month of using this oil, my skin became smoother and the rashes cleared up.  

Benefits of Black Seed Oil

1.  As it contains Omega 3, 6 and 9 fatty acids in perfect ratio, my skin became smoother within  one month of using it.

2.  I also had clearer dreams each night.  I normally eat a healthy diet full of vegetable juices, avocado smoothies and bean soups, so have dreams anyway.  However, on this oil, I would get 3 to 4 dreams each night and also remember the last 2 dreams when I woke up the next morning.  Some of them were even in technicolour!

3.  My hair grew faster and thicker.  I did a Big Chop at the end of April 2021.  Fast forward to September 2021 and my hair has grown 2 inches in the front and middle of my head. 1 inch at the sides and 1/2 inch at the back. 

4.  I discovered a lump in my breast in April 2021 and it was quite painful to touch.  I increased my dose of black seed oil to 2 tablespoons a day and the pain disappeared.  I went to see a nurse in my GP surgery and she booked a referral appointment to see a doctor in the nearest hospital.  I managed to get the appointment 2 months later.

When the doctor checked for the lump, all he found was breast tissue.  It was probably breast tissue in the first place, but it was lumpy and really painful before I took the oil. I’m not saying that the lump disappeared because of black seed oil…Rather that the pain definitely went.

I also took wheatgrass juice – 2 1ml sachets a day for 60 days. And at least 4 glasses of vegetable juice every day.  I also prayed every day saying these words “Lump shrink, Shrink lump”  This regime worked.  And I have no need to worry any more.

Dosage:

Black seed oil is very potent and should only be taken in small doses of between 1-3 teaspoons.  That equals half a tablespoon to one and a half tablespoons.

For mild eczema, I only took one teaspoon twice a day. I took one more teaspoon when I discovered the lump. You are meant to take this oil with a little honey or yoghurt.  I took mine neat with no problems.

The oil has a bitter taste, but it does not linger on your tastebuds. You can add a drop of lemon juice to it, for the flavour to be less bitter.

Important:  If you are breastfeeding or pregnant, it is wise not to take this oil, but use the seeds in cooking soups and stews instead.  As the seeds are milder in potency and also used in cooking.

Strengthens Immunity

Black seed oil strengthens the immune system and can aid in a variety of ailments and diseases. It is helpful in treating headaches, nasal congestion, toothache and intestinal worms.

It is used greatly among Middle Eastern and South Asian cultures. 

Despite it’s wide use in these cultures, it is only recently that the seed has been studied by those in the Western parts of the world.  Scientific research is still beginning to catch up, hence benefits have not yet been directly linked and supported by the use of this oil.

It is best combined with the body’s natural defense systems.  When it’s nutritional properties are used together with the body’s, black seed oil helps in maintaining health and overcoming illness.

Precautions

1.  Black seed oil should not be taken on a full stomach.

2.  It is toxic at high doses so should only be taken at a dose of up to 3 teaspoons daily. Which I mentioned earlier.

I currently take one tablespoon (2 teaspoons) a day. I started on the smallest dose of  one teaspoon daily and started taking 2 teaspoons, (1 tablespoon) this year.

As I am of average height, I figured that 2 teaspoons was alright for me.

3.  I tried using a little oil on my arm, but my skin is sensitive and I found the oil left a small mark.  As a result, I only take this oil internally as it works slower and yet is still effective.

How Much Does Black Seed Oil Cost?

Black Seed oil varies in price according to how strong the volatile component of the oil is.  It also varies according to the size of bottle ordered. I bought the Strong version of the oil for £12.99.

Why I Recommend Blessed Seed Black Seed Oil

The Blessed Seed Company found that the strength of black seed oil can vary considerably depending on various factors.

1.  They discovered that the strength is measured from the amount of volatile oil present.

2.  The volatile oil differs depending on the hybrid and where the seed is grown.  For countries with extreme heat, the content of volatile oil is increased.

Blessed Seed brand is 100% pure virgin quality cold-pressed black seed oil.

However, they do have a disclaimer saying that their products are not intended to diagnose, treat, prevent or cure any disease.  

I would like to add that you should remember that all supplements natural or otherwise must be taken alongside a varied, balanced diet that is rich in vegetables, beans, lentil and natural, whole foods.

Conclusion:

Having used Black Seed oil for almost a year, I can say that I have found the oil very useful for keeping my skin clear of rashes.  It also was useful in getting rid of my breast lump pain.

Though I am normally skeptical of reviews I see online, unless I had not tried using this oil for myself, I would not have believed how useful this oil could be.

If you are skeptical like me, go on and get a good brand of oil like Blessed Seed.  Try the Mild version of their oil and try it for yourself.

I have told you the right, safe dose to take, so you are in safe hands. 

I was given bad advice to not touch my hair or even moisturise it. For at least 6 months. It is now dead hair. I will try to do a one week raw food challenge to ban the itchy skin. This will include vegetable juice and avocado smoothies. Plus bean sprout salads with plenty of sunflower seed dressing.

A Little Background

In February and March rubbish also started being eaten a lot by me. For example crisps, apple pie, lasagne (even though it was home-made), cheese, single cream. Tiramisu, etc.

First off, a small eczema patch developed on my shoulder, then crept up to my neck. As of today April 9, I’ve really got an extremely itchy chin as well. So I made some almond milk using a nutmilk bag, 250g of almonds and pure water.

Method: blend almonds with 4 cups of water. Til it looks like milk. Smooth and creamy.

Strain out milk with a nutmilk bag. They come in at 30p from Sainsburys Supermarket and are very useful.

For soothing lotion, I have been using Forever Living Aloe Vera Gelly, Olive oil and Aloe Propolis Creme

Back to the Raw Food Challenge

You will need a cold-press juicer and sturdy blender to get started. I recommend Vitamix brand of blenders and also Omega Juicers to begin with.

The Vitamix blender can crush flaxseeds when blended with liquids. Such as almonds, brazil nuts, etc. You can make nut butters, nut milks, and also avocado smoothies from them. Get really creative!

With the Omega juicer line, you can juice even leafy green vegetables like parsley, cilantro and coriander. Besides carrots, beetroots and celery vegetables.

Are you going to come along with me and get going? If you are willing to spend some time on yourself and get better with natural methods, then you are in for a surprise and lots of help. You can email me, if you have questions, although this is very easy. Remember to use alternative vegetables of your choice if you do not want to use the particular ones I recommend.

However, just remember that you should always have 5-10 medium carrots to juice, along with celery and 2 apples to make your juice taste nice. Add more vegetables of your choice to the mix. Go easy on the lemon slices and the ginger root, so that the taste is not too tart.

Update; It’s now May 2021 and the eczema has spread to my back and upper chest. I really don’t know how to get the itching to slow down. So I got some Moor Mud and even bought Dream Cream by Lush. Still no joy. I have been taking Moor Mud baths, olive oil baths with plenty of soaking at least every 2 days. This soothes my skin and keeps the eczema controlled. Good thing the Moor Mud moisturises skin up to 7% more than clay does.

I am moisturising with olive oil and shea butter. As for my face, as it is more delicate, I’m just using olive oil. I’m avoiding cleansers and toners, even natural ones, as anything could irritate my face as it is papery at the moment.

I Week Raw Food Challenge to Ban Itchy Skin

My shopping list includes the following:

10 cucumbers

5 celery heads

4 packets of carrots 1kg each

1 bunch of beetroot

3 bunches of parsley

3 bags of kale

10 tomatoes

3 onions

5 lemons

1 large fresh ginger root

5 bulbs of garlic

6 plantain, yellow with no black marks

1 packet of walnuts (1kg)

6 medium avocados

1 packet of sunflower seeds (1kg)

1 broccoli

1 packet of black-eye beans (peas) (500g)

1 packet of aduki beans (500g)

1 packet of green lentils (500g)

Update: September 4

My skin is much better but rather dry due to running out of Black Seed oil. It contains Omega-3 fatty acids that are good for skin and eczema. Meanwhile, I’m not itching anymore due to cutting out sweet food. Great! I’ve also been drinking more green juice at least three times a day.

A typical juice recipe;

Green Bonanza

1 cucumber

1 whole celery

1 avocado

1/4 cup sunflower seed sprouts (simply soak sunflower seeds overnight)

Lemon slice

Method:

Juice celery sticks and lemon, then blend with sliced cucumber, avocado and sunflower seed sprouts.

Share the grace and enjoy! Makes 2 8oz (250ml) cups of smoothie

Recipe 2;

2 Cucumbers

1 tablespoon of flaxseeds

1 celery

1 broccoli

1 slice of lemon

Method;:

1. Juice the celery and chopped broccoli, and lemon and pour into a blender.
2. Add the flaxseeds and sliced cucumber to the juice and blend on high speed til the seeds are finely ground in the juice.

Makes about 3 cups of smoothie.

Recipe 3;

Simply Salad

1 Plantain, yellow with no black spots

1 avocado

2 carrots

1/4 handful of parsley, chopped

1/4 onion

2 tomatoes

1 slice of lemon

1 8oz cup of mung bean sprouts

Method;

To grow you sprouts within 3 days;

1. Soak beans in enough water overnight
2. Next morning drain and rinse
3. Put beans in a glass jar or sprout jar and leave on the kitchen window sill or where they can get some sunlight.
4. In the evening drain beans and rinse
5. Next morning drain beans and rinse
6. In the evening drain and rinse beans. They should have started growing a little white tail by now.
7. On day 3 they are ready to eat. The sprouted tails should be about 1 inch long.

Salad;

1. In a blender, put the chopped avocado and blend with lemon juice and half a cup of the bean sprouts.
2. Chop the cucumber, celery, tomato, onion, carrots into bit-sized pieces. And put on a plate.
3. Top the salad with the avocado and sprouts and chopped parsley.

Job Done! Share grace, and enjoy….