Winter weather can take a toll on our skin. Colder air makes us dry and itchy, but there are ways to cope without spending a fortune.
It's no secret. The winter can wreak havoc on your skin.
"And the reason we're so dry is because when the air is cold, it doesn't hold moisture," said Dr. Eric Bernstein, dermatologist.
Bernstein says the cold air just sucks the moisture right out of our skin. And to make matters worse, the things we do to stay warm can do more damage.
"What's the first thing you want to do in the cold? Hot shower, steambath - can't really do it. You want a warm shower," said Bernstein.
Use a mild cleanser that doesn't strip the body of its natural oils like Dove or Olay or Cetaphil. And after you get out of the shower, Bernstein says moisturize before you even dry off.
"The key is to put it on after the shower, while you're wet. That's probably the single most important part, because it traps the water and pushes it into your skin," said Bernstein.
There are plenty of good inexpensive moisturizers to choose from, just moisturize often.
"You've got to find the one that works for you. I like unscented. I like Aveno. I like Lubraderm. I like Curel," said Bernstein.
Bernstein also likes the Amlactin. It's not for after showering and can sting a little bit, but it does strip away the dry skin. For those really dry areas?
"My favorite product for the winter, dermatologists' duct tape, is Aquaphor. It's like Vasoline, only it's got lanolin and it traps water," said Bernstein.
Another source of dryness: alcohol-based hand sanitizers, so even more reason to moisturize.
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