Whether you deal with it on a daily basis, or are confronted with it every winter, dry skin is an itch you just can’t scratch. For many of us, the cooler, dryer winter air brings us all sorts of issues, from chapped lips to cracked skin on hands, elbows and knees.

The discomfort is magnified when dry skin is already a chronic problem. Removing dry skin cells through exfoliation is important, but the key to reversing the effects of dry skin is HYDRATION.

To properly meet your body’s need for H2O, you need to follow a two-fold approach. First, you need to increase your intake of water. Drinking water moisturizes your body from the inside out. When you drink enough water to keep you hydrated:
• Your skin will become tighter because you’re rehydrating skin tissue
• Your skin’s elasticity will naturally increase
• Your body will have extra water for your skin, keeping it moisturized and radiant

Second, it is very important to properly moisturize your skin from the outside.
• Moisturize right after you exfoliate to ensure that new cells are hydrated
• Moisturize right after a shower, when pores are open wide, to help your skin retain water

Tip from Dr. Beckman: Caution: don’t shower too often or with very hot water. You’ll risk washing away your skin’s natural oils and even drying it out.

When choosing a moisturizer, it is best to look for an oil-based moisturizer that uses premium-grade lanolin to restore your skin’s natural lipid barrier, which is what keeps moisture in. Your best option for this is Theraderm Enriched Facial Moisturizer.

So go ahead and quench your thirst. Your skin will be happy you did.