How to get rid of Dry Itchy Skin in Winter

Dry skin is very common in the cold winter months. Winter weather brings wonderful holiday cheer, but it also makes dry skin even drier. And not just the skin on face either! The skin on the rest of your body gets dry to the point that it itches non-stop.

If you are constantly asking yourself "why is my skin so dry?" and you want to know how to fix it, here are the things you can do to keep your skin healthy and moisturized year round:

How to get rid of Dry Itchy Skin in Winter

Put Hand Lotion by Each Sink

With as many times as you wash your hands during the day, no wonder they are parched, dry and possibly cracking. Luckily for you, this is an easy fix. Every time you wash your hands, dry them off and apply a pump of hand lotion. It may take a little while to get used to the added step, but your hands will thank you for it when they go from dry to moisturize around the clock. And don't forget to add a travel-size bottle in your handbag for on-the-go washings out in the public.

Vaseline Works Wonders

Vaseline isn't really the high-end pampering product you might want to buy, but Vaseline can be a skin-saver for dry skin in the winter months. There are so many uses for Vaseline as well. For extremely cracked hands and feet, apply and then put on cotton socks and gloves. Doing this will give immediate results.

Drink lots of water

Water flushes toxins from your system and carries nutrients to your cells. This helps to prevent dry skin by keeping your skin nourished and hydrated. You should aim to drink at least two liters of water per day.

Eat fresh fruit and vegetables

A healthy and balanced diet will help your skin by providing the vitamins and nutrients that the body needs to stay healthy and hydrated. Try to eat at least 2 portions of green, leafy vegetables and 2 portions of seasonal fruits daily. Fruit and veg with a high-water content, such as watermelon, broccoli and tomatoes, are especially good for hydration.

Avoid excessive bathing

Do not shower or wash your face too much, as this will dry out your skin. In order to avoid dryness, you should limit your bathing to just one bath or shower a day. You should also avoid steaming your skin and washing with water that is too hot. Use warm or lukewarm water so hydration isn't stripped from your skin. Water that's too hot tends to wash away your skin's protective lipid barrier. For the same reason, you should also avoid taking long showers or baths.

Wear sunscreen

If you spend a lot of time outdoors, it's imperative that you protect your face with a cream or moisturizer that contains an SPF of 15 or higher. This will protect the sensitive skin on your face from damaging sun rays, which cause burns, sun spots and even wrinkles. Remember that you can burn your skin all year round, so sunscreen isn't just for summer!

Get a humidifier

A warm mist humidifier is great for the winter, especially if you have sinus congestion, but a cool mist humidifier is good too. Humidifiers are great for adding moisture back into the air so the air doesn't pull moisture out of your skin. Make sure you clean humidifiers and take care of them properly to prevent bacterial growth.