Between the freezing winter temperatures and dry heat emitting from our radiators, we can't seem to lock in enough moisture. And our elbows are taking a brutal beating thanks to the dehydrating effects of this season[1] .


After rolling up the sleeves on our chunky knit sweaters only to see the thick, parched skin covering our joints, we became desperate for relief, even if that meant weird beauty fixes. So here are five ways to get rid of dry, rough elbows[2] for good:


Dab on some petroleum jelly and put a sock on it. This old-fashion remedy that was passed down to us from our grandmothers hasn't failed us yet. However, we have grown lazy, and thus, this had led to our skincare problem. Moisturizing your elbows before bed and then slipping on a open-ended sock helps to soften dry skin. But keep in mind, petroleum jelly may clog pores and aggravate people suffering from psoriasis[3] and other skin conditions.


zambuk


Grease 'em up with Zam-Buk. When HuffPost Style senior editor Ellie returned from her vacation in South Africa bearing this green miracle balm[4] , we were a bit skeptical at first. The ointment possessed a potent herbal scent that made it unappealing to put anywhere near our bodies. But once we got over that hurdle and greased up our dry elbows, the eucalyptus and thyme oils-infused product soothe our scaly and chapped elbows.


Apply Vaseline and then... take a shower. Dr. Andrew Ordon of TV's "The Doctors" introduced us to this unconventional method to treat dry elbows[5] . According to the plastic surgeon, applying petroleum jelly before stepping into a steamy shower will help the moisturizer penetrate deeper into dry areas.


banana peel


Rub a banana peel onto your elbows. Dr. Ordon also recommends rubbing elbows in a circular motion with a banana peel to reduce dryness. As noted in the Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry[6] , bananas are a fruit rich in vitamin C (which aids in healing), and the peel has been scientifically shown to contain both antifungal and antibiotic components.


emollients


Pictured from left to right: Avene TriXera Emollient Cream, Alba Botanica Very Emollient Body Lotion Maximum and La Roche-Posay Lipikar Lait Lipid-Replenishing Body Milk[7] [8] [9]

Switch out your usual lotion for an emollient cream. Emollients are a category of moisturizers often used to help maintain skin hydration and provide a skin barrier[10] . In addition to making the skin look and feel smoother, some emollients contribute to the reduction of trans-epidermal water loss[11] (TEWL). While perusing the ingredients label of moisturizers, look out for emollients[12] such as glycerol stearate, lanolin, soy sterol and sunflower seed oil.


More ways to win the battle against dry winter skin:



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  • Choose Cream Over Lotion


    "The best way to fix and protect winter skin is to seal it and heal it," Krant says. "Yes, I just made that up." That means choosing a moisturizer that locks in moisture and provides some protection of the dermis to encourage healing, but still lets the skin breathe. Krant recommends choosing a thick, fragrance-free cream instead of a lotion, which can be watery, and putting it on after every shower. <a href="www.drbobby.com">Dr. Bobby Buka</a>, a dermatologist in practice in New York City, also encourages a thick moisturizer. "I like non-petroleum based moisturizers," Buka told HuffPost Healthy Living. "Naturalists should like this too! Ceramides are naturally occurring moisturizers found in many emollients nowadays."




  • Skip The Perfume


    Your perfume can irritate your skin and, thanks to its alcohol content, can interfere with your skin's ability to maintain moisture levels. "Avoid fragrance, as this can cause mild irritation that further compromises barrier function against drying elements," Buka says.




  • Cut Your Shower Time


    Shortening your shower time and cooling the temperature of the water won't feel so great in the moment, when you'd like a little steam heat in your life, but your skin will thank you later. Hot, long showers strip our skin of its natural moisturizing oils, according to Krant. And Buka recommends bathing no more than once a day.




  • Drink More Water Than You Want To


    "Drink more water each day than you expect to really need," advises Krant. That will help replenish the water you're losing, thanks to windy, cold weather and overheated houses.




  • Wear Your Food


    "Coconut oil, avocado oil, olive oil applied topically are great," says Dr. Patricia Fitzgerald, HuffPost Healthy Living's Wellness Editor, who credits these nourishing, food-grade oils with helping many of her patients.




  • Eat Some Omega-3s


    Fitzgerald recommends eating fish oil supplements or another source of heart-healthy omega-3s. That may be because a component of omega-3s, eicosapentaenoic acid -- or EPA -- is thought to <a href="http://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/food-nutrition/facts/benefits-of-omega-35.htm">help regulate the skin's oil production</a>, reports Discovery Health.





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