Winter skin care

As the snow falls and the temperature drops there are a few things to look forward to, like showing off your new mitten and scarf set and getting pleasantly rosy and fresh-faced when you spend time outdoors. There's also a winter constant that's not so fun but oh so common: dry, itchy skin.Although many us face the prospect of dry winter skin, it's easy to get relief. Dr. Rob Miller, of Halifax's Dermatology Rejuvenation Center, shared some of his tips on treating and preventing some common winter skin problems.

"As the weather gets colder, the main problem is skin drying out more easily, especially on the lower legs, for two reasons," Miller says. "There is a decrease in the oil the body produces and a decrease in humidity in buildings because the heat is on."

The lack of oil in your skin and lack of humidity in the air combine to bring on "winter itch" (just another term for very, very dry skin). Scaly, flaky, excessively dry or red skin are the typical symptoms of winter itch.

Skin soothers
You've got it, so what can you do about it? Bring on the lotion, creams and body butters. "The most important thing to do is use lots of moisturizer to prevent winter itch," Miller says. "It varies person to person, but applying moisturizer two to three times a day should be sufficient."

Don't let the dozens of different brands overwhelm you when you go to pick up a moisturizer. Miller suggests asking your pharmacist for a recommendation. A pharmacist should be able to suggest something that would be right for your skin type and condition.