All About Women | Women

Has your skin suddenly turned into a dry, itchy mess? Ah, it must be wintertime. When the outdoor temperature drops and indoor heating cranks up, your skin is officially under assault. Chronic low humidity levels and wintertime habits such as long, hot baths can make your delicate dermis crack, peel, and itch -- not a pleasant feeling.

You should do something to protect your skin. Prepare yourself with a skin-saving arsenal that includes:

1. An emollient-rich beauty bar, such as Dove or Oil of Olay, to replace your usual body soap 
2. A tub of petroleum jelly
3. A big bottle of therapeutic lotion that contains petrolatum or mineral oil
4. An alpha hydroxy acid lotion (if your dry skin is really flaky)
5. Body oil, such as Neutragena Body Oil or Rainbath Dry Oil
6. A winter-weight face cream, with at least SPF 15
7. A humidity gauge for your home ($20 or so at hardware stores)
8. A humidifier ($15 or less in many drug stores) - be sure to clean the filter frequently to prevent mold from growing