Eat for better skin: your questions answered

Once the heating goes on indoors I get small patches of dry, itchy, flaky skin on my face. As I have combination skin and the dry patches are on my T-zone, most skincare products can't relieve the problem. Are there any foods or drinks that will give extra nourishment and hydration to my skin in this drier air?

Air-conditioned, heated or windy atmosphere can be very drying for the skin and it is important that you support your skin’s hydration levels when exposed to any of these. I suggest you drink plenty of water (1.5 litres daily) and eat foods rich in essential fatty acids such as oily fish, avocadoes, nuts and seeds that will help to moisturize your skin.

For the smaller patches of dry skin I highly recommend applying a small amount of vitamin E oil to those areas, before you put on your moisturizer. This has worked for me in the past and means that you can tailor your skincare routine to your needs on a daily basis.