Hot chocolate, sweaters, weekends spent by the fire, cozy blankets, and stylish outerwear: if you play your cards right, winter’s actually got quite a lot to offer. That is, until you wake up one morning and realize you're skin is dry, itchy, and chapped-to-near cracking.

When the weather's at its worst, you need to put in extra effort to keep your skin looking, and feeling, its best. So we’ve rounded up a few of our best tips on how to eradicate dry, itchy winter skin so that you can stop scratching and enjoy the season.

1. Choose Your Cleanser Wisely

There are a lot of things that go into choosing the right cleanser for irritated skin. First, steer clear of harsh chemicals that can dry you out, like those found in most drugstore brands. Look for cleansers that are soap-free to keep skin from drying out. We like Theraderm Cleansing Wash in the 16 oz pump. Just leave it in the shower and wash away.

2. Cool Down Your Showers

Speaking of showers, who doesn’t love waking up to—or heading to bed after—a steamy, hot shower? That might be something to rethink, though, if you're suffering a particularly itchy spell. That's because hot water can actually accelerate skin dehydration. So instead of turning the knob all the way to hot, settle somewhere a little less scalding—at least until the snow starts to melt.

3. Modify Your Diet

Winter might seem like more of a meat and potatoes kind of season, but supplementing your diet with more fish, particularly salmon and tuna, has been proven to help skin better maintain its moisture due to their high content of omega-3 fat. And don’t forget to up your water intake. This is difficult when it’s cold outside so a little creativity will do you some good. Add a few slices of lemon to warm water in your travel coffee mug and sip your way to more water.

4. Double Up On The Moisturizer

If you’ve got dry skin, a solid moisturizer is your first step. Pro tip: lanolin is one of the best ingredients to look for. Not only does it hydrate, but it also locks in much-needed moisture to help prevent water loss. Our favorites are Enriched Facial Moisturizer for the face and Body Restoration Creme for the body. (Works for eczema too!)  For those with severely dry skin on hands, feet, knees or elbows, Extreme Dry Skin Therapy with 20% superfine lanolin, will be your best friend.

5. Take Extra Care of Your Hands

Your hands are prone to developing dryness simply because they’re often exposed to the elements. So it’s not such a bad idea to give them a little special attention of their own. Carry a hand cream and apply a dab after any time you find your hands out in the cold winter air. Gloves will help too.