Even though spring is just around the corner - we are currently in the throes of winter. We aren’t falling for Punxatawney Phil’s follies this year - we know there is still plenty of cold weather left!

For most of us - that means our skin is parched, thirsty and dry. And besides being itchy and sometimes unsightly, not treating dry skin leaves room for a more serious condition, dermatitis, to form. The good news is, that since dry is caused by external conditions, it can be treated externally. Of course, if you want to see faster results, there are some things you can internally to speed the healing process.

Do’s and Dont’s of Combatting Dry, Winter Skin

DO: Lower the temperature of your bath or shower water. Hot water literally sucks the moisture out of your skin leaving it dry and parched.

DON’T: forget to use a humidifier in your home to raise the humidity level. To maximize your effort, keep it in the room you spend the most time in which most often is your bedroom.

DO: Turn the heat down to avoid extra dryness in the air.

DON’T: Use harsh soaps or cleansers. Instead, choose a cleanser that doesn’t contain soap or fragrance which can strip the skin of essential oils.

DO: Choose a richer moisturizer during drier weather to help replace the natural moisture barrier.

DON’T: Forget you can increase hydration internally by adding Omega Fatty Acids to your diet.

DO: Avoid caffeine and alcohol as they are natural diuretics that will cause dehydration.

DON’T: Forget to add hyaluronic acid to both your skincare routine as well as your daily supplements.

DO: Gently exfoliate the skin with a gentle alpha hydroxy acid like lactic acid or just use a wet washcloth to remove dry, flaky skin.

DO: Wear sunscreen daily to prevent UV damage to already compromised skin.