You can thank the dry winter air—which is often made even drier due to cranked-up indoor heating systems—for your parched skin. “If your skin is less moist than the air, the skin will absorb water,” explains Dr.

Winter brings cold winds and lower humidity, which can strip the skin of its natural moisture, leading to dryness, flakiness, and irritation. This condition, often referred to as "winter skin," is common as the chilly weather and indoor heating systems exacerbate the loss of hydration from the skin.

The skin serves like the walls of a building, protecting it from outside forces while also keeping everything that belongs on the inside where it should be.