Autumn Dryness: Dietary Solutions
With the arrival of dry, cool autumn and winter seasons, even normally healthy skin may develop minor issues—peeling, itching, or dry lips—making you uncomfortable or uneasy!
Dr. Zhou Yinong, Deputy Chief TCM Dermatologist at Guangdong Provincial Second Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, reminds us that autumn’s hallmark is dry air, which easily depletes skin moisture, leading to problems like dryness, itchiness, chapped lips, and even cracked hands and feet.
Internal and External Hydration Are Equally Important
Dr. Zhou explains that the only way to prevent or relieve dry skin issues is hydration.
Lin Lin takes excellent care of her skin. Even before autumn arrives, she starts hydrating early: using premium facial cleanser, followed by matching moisturizing toner, then layering on moisturizer and serum—her routine is meticulous. Yet strangely, this effective regimen in Guangzhou fails in Beijing after just three days of travel, as her skin begins flaking. Why does such diligent skincare fail against dry climate?
We all work hard externally to hydrate skin—using various skincare products carefully—but have we noticed internal hydration is equally important? Dr. Zhou points out that external hydration is often emphasized, but internal hydration is frequently overlooked. Internal hydration ensures inner freshness and enhances the effectiveness of external moisturization—thus deserves attention and care.
Internal Hydration via Porridge and Soups
Common internal hydration methods include drinking more water, eating more vegetables and fruits. Additionally, consuming seasonal porridges and soups can hydrate internally and provide whole-body nourishment—something most skin care routines cannot achieve. Dr. Zhou recommends drinking 6–8 cups of water daily. Pears are ideal fruit for this season—high in water content and nourish yin and lungs. Honey, sesame, and tremella (silver ear fungus) also promote smoothness.
Dr. Zhou recommends two excellent seasonal hydrating porridges—both are autumn staples, warm to drink, helping ward off chill and generate body fluids to prevent autumn dryness:
· Lily Porridge (30g lily, one serving)
· Tremella Porridge (30g tremella, one serving)
Meanwhile, autumn is ideal for drinking soups to hydrate internally. Soups are long regarded as excellent for moistening in Cantonese culture. Selecting appropriate ingredients can nourish yin and lungs, deeply moisturizing the body and preventing dry skin. Dr. Zhou suggests:
· Papaya Honey Date Pork Bone Soup (half papaya, 2 honey dates, 250g pork bone, 2–3 servings)
· Lo Han Guo Lean Meat Soup (2 Lo Han Guo, 250g lean meat, 2–3 servings)
· Tremella with Rock Sugar (30g tremella, rock sugar to taste, one serving)
External Hydration: “Three Frequent Washes” + Immediate Moisturizing
Using skincare products doesn’t mean external hydration is complete—many details need attention. Dr. Zhou advocates the “Three Frequent Washes”: frequent hair washing, face washing, and bathing.
Wash hair frequently, but don’t neglect conditioning—use conditioner. Wash face frequently—about four times daily. Bathe frequently—once or twice daily is optimal. The key is: avoid strongly alkaline cleansers. Those with cracked hands and feet must not touch detergents directly—including laundry detergent and shampoo—wear gloves instead.
Besides diligent “Three Frequent Washes,” remember to protect your results: immediately apply nourishing serums, moisturizers, hand creams, or Vaseline while skin still has moisture. Dr. Zhou believes inexpensive glycerin works very well—just one drop provides strong moisturizing effect. Everyone should give it a try.