The winter months can really weather your skin. Between harsh winds and dry air, winter seems to suck the moisture right out of them. Now dermatologists are working to create a barrier of protection to help protect your skin. That would certainly help Dara Toles. Her dry, scaly legs took her straight to the dermatologist for help. "My skin differs from my body to my face. My face is kind of oily, but when it gets to, like, my arms and my legs it's pretty dry," she showed us. Winter is the toughest, she said. "During the winter months my skin does change a little bit." Her dermatologist's advice? Treat your skin like an envelope. Anything that penetrates the envelope can lead to even bigger problems. "You want to keep the bad stuff out, let the good stuff in," advised her dermatologist, Dr. Ranella Hirsch. Dr. Hirsch, who is with the American Acne and Rosacea Society, said when your skin barrier is functioning properly, skin cells are plump and hydrated. That forms a seal to protect against damage. "It's keeping moisture in the skin where it belongs," Dr. Hirsch said. Dr. Richard Fried, another dermatologist, agreed. "So instead of being plump, the skins begin to separate and shrink, creating gaps that irritants, allergens and infectious material can freely penetrate," he explained. The infectious material he referred to includes some pretty nasty stuff, including staph and herpes. A damaged skin seal can also inflame existing conditions like psoriasis, acne and eczema. The good news? There are easy ways to protect yourself. "Some of the techniques that we talk about with patients are making sure not to use any products that strip the skin, so we tend to avoid using any perfumed products, scratchy sort of scrubs," Dr. Hirsch advised. Moisturizing is also important. A variety of products can be found right at your local drug store, including some that contain "ceramides." Dr. Fried explained how ceramides work. "Ceramides are natural components or constituents of our skin that allow the skin to stay hydrated or moisturized, and allow the skin to function well." Finally, don't underestimate the power of a healthy diet and daily exercise, said Dr. Hirsch. "We also recommend shorter showers, not a hot bath. Hot baths tend to take the little bit of moisture the skin has and actually remove it," she added. After showering, seal in the moisture with a lotion. The one Dr. Fried gave Dara helps keep her skin barrier intact and healthy. We asked Dara if she's seen a difference. "I don't tear up my skin by itching," she said. And that's a good start. Over the counter products could help you, but if your skin is getting worse, you're advised to see a dermatologist.