The winter months can bring dry air that can cause numerous skin problems. For those that find themselves suffering from severe dry skin, there are a few tips that can help to make this problem easier to manage.

Use An Oil-Based Moisturizing Lotion

Regularly applying lotion to your skin can be one of the best ways to combat dry skin. However, some people will not pay close attention when they are choosing a lotion. If you make the mistake of using a water-based lotion, your skin may not see much benefit. This is because the water will simply evaporate away in the dry winter air. Rather, you will want to use an oil-based lotion. These lotions will be last far longer, and they can act as a protective moisturizing layer over your skin.

Place A Humidifier In Your Home

You will likely spend much of your time inside your home during the cold winter months. As a result, you may be able to greatly alleviate your dry skin by placing a humidifier in your home. These devices will release moisture into the air, which can limit the drying effect that it has on your skin. For those that live in particularly large homes or that spend much of their time in different rooms of the house, it may be necessary to use several humidifiers to adequately moisturize the air. To ensure that your humidifiers function as efficiently as possible, you should only use distilled water in them. Tap water can contain minerals that may clog the system and prevent it from releasing the correct amount of moisture into the air.

Visit A Skin Specialist

If you find that using over-the-counter moisturizers and humidifiers is not correcting your dry skin, you may want to visit a skin care specialist. There are a number of conditions that can inhibit your skin's ability to moisturize itself. These professionals will be able to thoroughly examine your skin so that the cause can be determined. Depending on the cause and severity of your skin problem, your dermatologist may prescribe you a medicated lotion or skin care treatment. Unfortunately, these treatments can take several weeks to show noticeable improvements, but it is important for you to make sure that you closely follow your doctor's instructions. If the first treatment fails to remedy your problem, there are likely other options, but you will have to follow your treatment instructions exactly to know whether or not it was successful. For more information, contact companies like Dermatology Surgery Center.