Saving Your Skin In The Winter

If you've noticed your skin getting dry and itchy lately, you're not alone.

The cold weather can wreak havoc on your skin, but there are some things you can do to stop the winter from weathering your skin.

Barbara Keogh isn't afraid to layer on the moisturizer, especially this time of year.

"My skin gets really dry in the winter time," Keogh said.

"With South Dakota being as dry as it is, there's not a lot of humidity in the air, so your skin takes the brunt," Sanford Certified Nurse Practitioner Tiffanie Van Eimeren said.

Van Eimeren specializes in dermatology.

"About 50 percent of your skin aging is purely genetic, but a big part of it is environmental," Van Eimeren said.

Van Eimeren says you should protect your skin by wearing sunscreen and moisturizer not only during the summer, but also the winter.

"Here you have that wind. If you're outside a lot, and you get that snow reflection that can be just as damaging," Van Eimeren said.

But not everyone should choose the same moisturizer. It depends on your type of skin and how old you are.

"If you're normal-skinned, then you want something more water-based. If you have oily skin, water-based, but if you have more mature skin, you might want something that has an oil base but might have some antioxidants in it," Van Eimeren said.

Some people with acne problems are afraid to wear moisturizer, but Van Eimeren says it's even more important.

"If you don't use one, you're just going to keep producing more oil because it's trying to balance itself out.  So the more moisturizer you put on, a light moisturizer that's based as water, the better your skin will be," Van Eimeren said.

Another tip? Put on your moisturizer right after you shower or bathe.

"So it can lock in some of the humidity that's already in your skin," Van Eimeren said.

All tips that will help your skin not only this winter, but for years to come.

"After I turned 50, I noticed a big difference in my skin, so I think it's really important to stay hydrated, stay out of the sun and use a good sunscreen as well," Keogh said.

As far as how much you should spend on a moisturizer, Van Eimeren says the more expensive the moisturizer doesn't necessarily mean the product is better.