Cold air and low humidity in winter can take a toll on skin. The January issue of the Mayo Clinic Health Letter offers these suggestions for protecting skin:

Use mild, super-fatted or glycerin soaps.

Bathe fast; keep baths and showers to no more than 10 to 15 minutes and use lukewarm water. Pat your skin with a towel, leaving it moist. Don't rub.

Apply moisturizer while your skin is still wet. Cream is better than lotion.

Maintain humidity in your home.

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If these remedies don't help, contact your doctor. You might have eczema or dermatitis, skin conditions that cause swollen, reddened skin.

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