by Maya L. Trimner

Created on: January 02, 2011

Snowflakes may feel great on the tip of your nose during a snowfall, but the cold that accompanies a snowfall is not so great for exposed skin. Hand eczema and psoriasis tends to worsen in the winter but taking the right steps before going outside will prevent and heal itchy fingers.

The blustery cold of winter is brutal to sensitive skin, so it is important to protect skin to keep it from cracking. Lotions and creams do not always work to keep you soft so here are some surefire ways to get baby-soft skin in even the coldest conditions.

Exfoliate Your Skin

Using a body exfoliator during the winter months is crucial to slough off dead skin and keep your skin super-smooth. Find an exfoliator which is strong, such as St. Ives Apricot Scrub, $6, found at drugstores. Although this scrub was marketed for the face, it is strong enough for the body. Don't have the money to spend? Use sugar and olive oil to scrub away dry, dead skin and reveal glowing smooth skin.

Oil After Shower

Use a body oil or baby oil after the shower, while the door is still closed and your skin is still damp. This technique will help trap moisture into the skin using the oil. If you still need extra moisturization after this, mix a dab of Vaseline with your favorite moisturizer to apply onto damp skin to keep your driest areas ultra soft.

Warm Clothing Softens

Immediately putting on socks after moisturizing or putting on clothing will help trap moisture so that you stay soft while you are outside for hours at a time. Hands are especially prone to dryness so be sure to coat them before adding gloves so that your hands get a mini spa treatment while you walk through that winter wonderland. Another trick is to wear non-latex gloves overnight after slathering your hands with Vaseline; you will wake up to baby-soft skin.

Add Oil Supplements to Your Diet

Omega-3s are not just healthy for the heart, they are also very softening for the skin and hair. Evening primrose oil is also healing and softening for the skin and is used for various skin disorders such as psoriasis and eczema with an added benefit of relieving PMS symptoms. Take 2-3 capsules per day with food for extra moisturization.

A little extra care will help ease the stress of dry, flaky skin and relieve the itchy redness to reveal soft, supple skin you can be proud of.

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