Dry winter skin need not be a fact of life

Hands and lips are likely to become dry and chapped in winter weather, but a U.S. expert suggests there are ways to avoid uncomfortable, dry skin. Dr. Kent Aftergut, a dermatologist at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, said there are two main reasons hands get particularly dry in the winter. "First, cold weather means drier air and lower humidity, which dries skin," Aftergut said in a statement. "It's also cold and flu season, so people tend to wash their hands more often and use alcohol-based hand sanitizers. But you can protect your skin by using a gentle soap and using hand lotion regularly." To avoid dry skin, use hand lotion when winter begins long before dryness appears, Aftergut said. Protect lips by using lip balm, especially when going outdoors. If redness develops, or there is itching, cracking or blisters on your skin, see a dermatologist, Aftergut recommended.