Soap is another enemy in the fight against dry skin along with an unexpected culprit, itchy clothing. Dry skin is usually caused when fatty oils are stripped away from the skin (either by environmental factors or something we're doing to our skin) leaving the skin unprotected. People also tend to take longer and hotter showers and baths in the colder weather which will otto away the natural oils that protect your skin.

The winter season brings one of the biggest causes of dry skin dry air. Even if you're indoors, the furnace produces enough dry air to cause your skin to dry out. Less often, the cause can be internal (a health issue or genetic predisposition) or a reaction to medicines. Some doctors even refer to it as the winter itch when the dry air draws the moisture right out of the skin. Even with the skin covered up against the cold, it is still vulnerable to the effects of winter weather.

As we pile on layers of synthetic clothing, the burrs and bumps in the fabric can rub our skin raw.

There are many ways to treat and prevent.