Keep your skin healthy while dieting

When dieting, you may be depriving your skin of the nutrients it needs to replenish itself. As natural oil production decreases, your skin is less able to protect against evaporation. If you're not careful, you might end up with dry, scaly skin as you drop those pounds.

If you are cutting back on what you eat, it's important to remember not to cut out essential fatty acids, also know as EFAs. These help the body in creating new cells, or repairing those that have been damaged. Even in the harshest conditions, EFAs have worked to protect against dry skin.

Once you're giving your skin the nutrients it needs, try a shielding lotion -- usually recommended by your dermatologist -- to add an extra layer of protection against the daily grind.