Here’s Why Your Skin Is Drier (and Itchier) Than Ever

Stave off ashiness this winter by learning exactly what’s sucking the moisture from your skin.

You’re cranking up the thermostat. Central heating makes the air superdry, and that zaps moisture from your skin, says Joshua Zeichner, a dermatologist in New York City. You could give it up altogether and start watching TV in a parka, or you could just plug in a humidifier (choose a cool-mist version—that’s easiest to clean). It adds moisture back into the air and, ultimately, your skin.

You’re showering the wrong way. We love a long, steamy shower in the winter, too. But water strips essential oils from your skin, and hot water is the worst offender. “Stick with warm water, and keep it under ten minutes,” says Zeichner.

You’re scrubbing daily. Exfoliating dry skin makes it look more human, less snakelike in the short term. But scrubbing daily causes inflammation that makes dry skin even drier (and flakier, and itchier) over time. If you exfoliate just once a week—and prevent irritation by washing with a creamy, hydrating cleanser before you scrub—your skin will look smoother in the long run, says Zeichner.

You’re not making the most of your body lotion. The best ones have ingredients (like glycerin) that pull water into your skin. Keep your lotion in the shower so you remember to use it right after you towel off, when skin is still slightly damp, and it’ll work better. And don’t stop using it just because your skin is softer and smoother. “When you stop using moisturizers, your skin will revert back,” says Zeichner.

Your sweaters are sabotaging you. Maybe you can wear wool without feeling all itchy. Even so, when wool rubs against skin, it can still irritate and dry you out, says Zeichner. Wear a layer of cotton underneath, or switch to something softer, like cashmere. Can we get that in a prescription, please?

You’re skipping sunscreen. “Even in winter, UV rays can prevent skin from holding onto moisture,” says Zeichner, who recommends wearing a face cream with SPF 30 or higher every day.