While Westerners run to the stores looking for the latest dry skin care or anti-aging products, many of which contain harsh chemicals that actually exacerbate the situation, the Chinese generally use the same medicine they've been using for hundreds or thousands of years -- medicines that address the internal problems so the skin can heal itself. Shielding lotion, a breakthrough in topical dry skin care treatment now recommended by thousands of doctors, follows along the same line in that it also allows the skin to heal itself, but knowing some of the Chinese remedies will also provide the internal boost you need.

A doctor who specializes in Chinese medicine heals skin problems by observing the skin's specific characteristics, relating them to the health of the fluids -- known as the "yin" - and functions -- known as the "yang" - within the body. If the skin is dry and has fine lines, the yin is treated, if the skin is sallow, sagging and pale, the yang is treated.

One of the staples of Chinese medicine for dry skin care is the wolfberry -- the fruit of two species of boxthorn. Wolfberries nourish and tone the fluids of the liver, kidneys and blood and although the name might not be familiar to us, the ingredients are: anti-oxidants, Vitamin C, linoleic acid, thiamine, beta-carotene, riboflavin and trace minerals. Wolfberry comes under several names: Chinese Wolfberry, Duke of Argyll's Tea Tree, Matrimony Vine and Goji Berry. The latter is the most common and is available in many health food stores in both liquid and dried forms.

Interestingly enough, other recommendations would include some of the same products considered beneficial by natural skin care aficionados in the West: plain yogurt, walnuts, cherries and aloe juice.

However, no matter how healthy you are on the inside, you also need a topical dry skin care treatment to protect you from the harsh, irritating chemicals and environmental conditions that cause most dry skin -- which is where a shielding lotion comes in. A good shielding lotion bonds with the outer layer of the skin to form a protective layer that keeps moisture in and chemicals out. As with Chinese medicine, the skin can then heal itself.