Dermatologists say some simple steps can prevent you from suffering through itchy skin all winter. Health reporter Kafi Drexel filed the following report.

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“Cracky skin, lots of lip balm on the lips,” said one New Yorker of her skin in the weather. “I use lots of night creams, day creams.”

“The winter, it can really dry out my skin, so I moisturize my face probably about a good two, three times a day,” said another.

Dr. Neil Sadick of Sadick Dermatology says there is a scientific reason for the itchiness.

“Cold, dry air actually removes water from the skin and that has a drying effect on the skin, and when the skin is dry, the itch receptors in the skin become more activated and the skin becomes more itchy,” explains Sadick.

To get rid of that dry, itchy, and depending on your skin color, the doctor says you may want to try a facial. Sadick uses the Christian Dior facial, complete with a line of products he helped to test and develop.

“It adds moisture to the skin and it also decreases inflammation on the skin,” Sadick says. “Not only is the facial we have in our office somewhat beautifying, but more importantly, it's also quite therapeutic.”

Red light therapy can be another dry skin solution. Indirect light does not heat the skin, but shines on the skin to also help decrease inflammation from cold weather elements.

“The skin becomes inflamed when it becomes dry and then the skin becomes itchy. And then itchy, inflammatory, eczema-like rashes occur. The red light acts to decreases inflammation on the skin,” he says.

If you don't have access to those kind of treatments, there are other everyday steps you can take to prevent or heal dry skin.

One simple step you can take is adding a humidifier to the room you spend most of your time in to boost moisture.

You should also avoid super hot showers, advice that may be tough to stomach when it’s cold outside. Hot showers may be soothing, but they tend to dry out the skin. Post shower, don't towel-down, instead apply lotion when skin is still a bit damp to trap moisture in the skin and let your body air dry.

But don’t be limited to a post-shower lotion application. People with really dry skin can moisturize more than once a day.

“Most moisturizers have a really good effect on the skin. I like using moisturizers that have lactic acid in them,” says the doctor. “You can have five or 12 percent in over-the-counter or prescription-grade moisturizers. Those are the two that I find to be the best.”

The bottom line: trap moisture in, keep dryness out and your skin will feel relief even on the coldest days.