Dry elbows: Pictures of symptoms, causes, treatment, and outlook

1. Merry and moist, not cold and dry

Do you dream of sitting by the fire and walking in a winter wonderland, but are held back by the blistering cold that cracks your heels or the heat of the fire that dries out your skin? A lot of people feel pulled in two directions when it comes to these conditions and wintertime woes. The important thing to remember is that there are ways to trick old Jack Frost. You just need to stay one step ahead.

One option is to get yourself a humidifier. Humidifiers can help temper the effects of an arid environment, whether it’s the dead of winter or a desert destination in the summertime. Research suggests that dryness and itching of skin significantly decreases with the use of a humidifier. If there is more humidity in the air, moisture is much less likely to evaporate from your skin. This will help the overall tone and texture of your skin, and also deal with those rough patches on elbows and heels.

2. Don’t wait, exfoliate

It seems to be something we say we should do, and then don’t. Exfoliation is an important part of a thorough skin care routine, especially if you’re dealing with dry skin. Whether it’s dry elbows, specifically, or just dryness, dryness everywhere, don’t skip ahead to the next step of moisturizing without stopping off at exfoliation station. And if you’ve been putting it off, just remember, there’s no time like the present for sloughing off some of those dead skin cells that weren’t doing you any good anyway.

When we don’t exfoliate, dead skin cells, dirt, and other debris can collect on the skin and potentially clog pores, or create a flaky, rough layer. And if you don’t like the sound of that then you’ll love the Botanical Complexion Scrub by Viviane Woodard. It aids in that skin cell regeneration process, by sweeping away the top layer of dead skin, and clearing the way for fresh new skin cells to emerge. With natural fibers, Aloe Vera, and other rich emollients, it cleans and softens the skin as well. This scrub is great for the hands, elbows, arms, legs, and feet, but is still sensitive enough for your face. It really buffs up those rough and flaky areas and makes your skin feel smooth all over.