If it’s dry and cold where you live, work or play, it’s winter skin season, but the fixes may not be as obvious as they seem. Rather than bide your time until April, the Associated Press asked dermatologists for tips on seasonal care and protection to stave off itchy, flaky and cracked skin.

— Don’t take extra-hot showers. As much as you want the comfort of that heat when it’s chilly, there’s less moisture in the air during winter and hot showers can further dehydrate your skin, said Dr. Neil Sadick, clinical professor of dermatology at Weill Cornell Medical College.