If you feel like you're the only one applying ChapStick to your lips every 10 minutes, fear not—you are not alone. This winter has been especially brutal when it comes to trying to maintain skin that doesn't look reptilian.

We spoke to Cynthia Paradise, a nurse practitioner at Dartmouth Dermatology. "I've never seen more people complain about dry skin than they have this winter. There are probably multiple factors. Everyone wants to be germ-free, so we're washing our hands more frequently and using more hand sanitizer with alcohol. These things dry out the skin."

Paradise suggests using more lotion on your body. "The best time to apply lotion is right after a shower. We only have 3 to 5 minutes before the hydration from the shower is lost through dehydration and evaporation. Drinking more water will also help with dry skin."  Paradise suggest between 2 and 3 liters a day.

As dry as it has been, ABC 6 Meteorologist Kristina Shalhoup tells us that the conditions are even worse in other parts of Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

"Just looking at the drought conditions in general here on the SouthCoast, the Cape, and most of Rhode Island, we are in what's called an abnormally dry condition. Technically, it's not a drought, but we're just a breath away from one. In western and central Massachusetts, they are experiencing a severe drought."

Shalhoup believes it's not just the dry air but also the severely cold air that is contributing to the issues with our skin and lips on the SouthCoast.

 

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