Here’s how to prevent and treat dry skin during the cold-weather months.

Use a humidifier to pump moisture into dry indoor air. Set it to around 60%, a level that should be sufficient to replenish moisture in the skin.

Limit yourself to one 5- to 10-minute bath or shower daily. Bathing for too long will strip away some of the skin’s protective oil layer and cause moisture loss. Always use lukewarm and not hot water.

Avoid scented soaps, which can also remove the skin’s natural oils. Choose an unscented soap that contains glycerin, or opt for a soap-free cleanser.

Don’t scrub your skin with bath sponges, scrub brushes, or rough washcloths.

Pat your skin dry with a soft towel both after bathing and washing your hands. Immediately apply moisturizer to your skin. Moisturizers help fill the spaces between skin cells and seal in moisture. Look for products that contain at least one of the following ingredients: glycerin, urea, pyroglutamic acid, sorbitol, lactic acid, lactate salts, or alpha hydroxy acids.

Always cover exposed skin when outdoors. If you can’t wear protective clothing, apply a moisturizing sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher.

At bedtime, coat cracked skin on your hands and feet with a thick layer of moisturizer or petroleum jelly and cover with cotton gloves or socks while you sleep.

(Matthew Solan is the executive editor of Harvard Men’s Health Watch.)

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