Any time of year can be brutal to our skin, but essential oils in combination with certain practices can help. If you're prone to chapped skin, you should protect it as much as possible from extreme temperature changes. Exposure even for a few minutes to subnormal temperatures can cause damage. Help prevent moisture loss by using a good lotion, body butter, or body oil several times a day. You don't necessarily need a lot, but you should try to apply something to help "lock" in the moisture. Also, remember to drink plenty of liquids, especially plain water. Many folks forget to drink plenty of fluids in the cooler winter months. Below are a number of ways essential oils in combination with these practices can help.

Using Moisturizers to Prevent and Treat Chapped Skin

There are a number of essential oils that are known to help with cracked/chapped skin, including: geranium, rose, patchouli, orange, sandalwood, chamomile, lavender, jasmine, rosewood, neroli, rosemary, ylang ylang, and helichrysum. If you're prone to chapped skin, you should use lotions on affected areas regularly. Our Skin Repair Hand & Body Lotion, with geranium and helichrysum, is a good choice, as well as our 100% Pure Lavender Body Lotion, Love Body Lotion (with rose and jasmine). If your skin is particularly parched or is chapped, try one of our deep moisturizing options like our Skin Repair Body Butter, Lavender Body Souffle or any of our intensive hand repair creams. Our Lavender Lip Balm or Love Lip Balm are good choices for chapped lips. Alternatively, you can create your own blends adding your choice of the above essential oils to either our unscented body lotion, unscented body butter, unscented hand repair cream, jojoba oil, or rosa mosqueta oil.

Essential Oil Treatments for Cracked/Chapped Skin

If your skin is cracked, sore or bleeding, limited the use of soap, sanitizers, and detergents. Always apply lotion or cream immediately after washing the affected area. Cracked skin can become infected so you may want to use moisturizers with lavender oil or rose oil to prevent infection. Some people benefit from a moisturizing hand or foot soak. Simply soak the affected area in tepid (barely warm) water for 10-15 minutes. You don't want to make your skin "pruney" but you do want to add moisture to the outer layers of the skin by soaking. Add a few drops of your choice of essential oils listed above. After soaking immediately apply a thick moisturizer (see above) or body oil (jojoba oil with a little rosa mosqueta oil added is a good choice).

*NOTE: This guide is based on published traditional uses of Essential Oils and is for reference purposes only. It is not intended to treat, prescribe or diagnose. The information contained herein is in no way considered a substitute for consultation with a duly licensed health care professional.

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