Dry Winter Skin Driving You Mad? There's a Hotline For That

Winter weather is brutal on skin, and honestly, it can feel personal. One minute your face is fine, the next it’s tight, flaky and somehow both dry andirritated at the same time. Cold air outside strips moisture fast, then you step indoors where the heat is blasting and whatever hydration you had left just disappears. It’s a one-two punch that leaves your skin feeling cranky and confused (as if it didn’t have enough problems).

Lips crack, hands get rough no matter how much lotion you swear you’ve applied, and don’t even get me started on static making everything feel itchier than it already is. Even people who never struggle with dryness suddenly find themselves slathering on creams like it’s their second job. Makeup stops sitting right, redness pops up out of nowhere, and your skin just looks tired. You aren’t even doing anything wrong, it’s just the elements. But now there’s a hotline for all of your “skincidents.”

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What in the world is a “skincident”? According to the folks over at CeraVe, the definition is, “The unexpected moment when dry skin makes an unwanted appearance—like when you cross your legs and your ankles look desert-dry, or that awkward handshake where hands feel cracked and parched.”

As someone who is currently dealing with dry, itchy skin despite living in warm Southern California, I can still identify with a “skincident.” Fortunately, CeraVe has people for that.

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Here’s How to Reach the CeraVe “Skincident” Hotline

CeraVe understands that not all of us have a dermatologist on speed dial. In fact, most of us don’t. That’s why they set up their own Skincident hotline which is open through Feb. 27. Here’s how to use it:

Dial 844-SKINCIDENT (844-754-6243)and choose from the following options:

• ‘Press 1’ to report a Skincident and share your dry-skin story.
• ‘Press 2’ to hear Dr. Dylan Greeney’s advice about preventing dry skin.
• ‘Press 3’ to learn more about CeraVe’s moisturizing products developed with dermatologists.

Now there will also be live Skincident agents availableMonday through Friday from 5:00–8:00 PM ET, but not every caller will reach one. However, if you report a Skincident during live agent hours and provide the requested information they ask for, you’ll receive a full-size CeraVe body moisturizer. Just note that this is a “while supplies last” situation.

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