If you live in a cold climate, you know what it means to have dry, chapped, irritated, or broken skin on your hands. Or maybe you work in the health care industry and have to constantly wash your hands, using harsh soaps to kill germs but making your skin dry and feel like sandpaper. In any case, we can all suffer from dry skin at some point and you can take some simple steps yourself to remedy the problem.

So how do you know if you have a problem? First of all, with just a physical examination of the skin, you can see whether it is dry or not. If it looks flaky and dry, you have dry skin. But, for many people, it goes beyond that. When your skin is exposed to cold, dry winter weather or harsh chemicals, it can become red, cracked, and even start bleeding if you don’t do something to help your skin heal.

First, you need a good moisturizer. Many people have a favorite, but did you know that you may need to use a different moisturizer when the air is dry, for example in the winter months? You need a thicker moisturizer that penetrates deep into your skin and helps relieve dry, chapped, or bleeding hands during the winter. Consider trying a walnut oil. You most likely have it in your closet and it’s great for helping to nourish skin and heal it quickly and easily.

Once you have a moisturizer, follow these steps:

1. As you prepare for bed, gently exfoliate * your hands to remove dry skin.

2. Rinse and dry your hands lightly.

3. Apply your moisturizer while the skin on your hands is still slightly damp and gently rub into your skin until it is completely absorbed.

4. Wear cotton gloves (even cotton socks work great) at night.

In the morning, you will see a noticeable difference in your skin. There will be less irritation, redness and even cracks will miraculously heal.

Do this every night until you no longer need it.

* Note: Step 1 is generally only needed once a week. You don’t need to exfoliate too much.

Finally, one of the simplest and most basic solutions is to make sure you drink enough water. This is often overlooked as a remedy, but it really is important. If you don’t try to replenish your skin from the inside, you will definitely be in trouble. So, drink an extra glass of water. If you are not normally a water drinker, try adding a glass here and there until it becomes more common.