For many people, the winter months bring a chronic feeling of dry skin. If you’re someone who’s constantly wielding new lotions in the battle against itchy hands, arms and legs, the solutions may be simpler than you think.

While moisturizing properly is important, dermatologists say there are some other easy habits that can increase the skin’s natural moisture and prevent it from getting dehydrated. Here are some of their best tips.

Shorten your showers

The most important activity that affects skin dryness is your shower. Many people love a long, hot shower after a day of walking around in the cold, but experts say this habit can harm your skin’s natural barrier. “Excessive exposure to hot water strips the skin of essential natural oils in the outer layer that maintain proper barrier function,” says Dr. Joshua Zeichner, director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City.

Showers should last no more than 10 minutes, according to Zeichner, and he recommends people keep the temperature at around 84 degrees, or what you’d feel in a heated pool.

Be wary of drying skin products

The products you use to wash your skin can also have an effect. Traditional soaps have an alkaline pH that can disrupt your skin’s naturally acidic surface and contribute to drying it out. To avoid this, try using a cleanser that is pH balanced to match your body’s slightly acidic nature, says Zeichner, or look for a “gentle” cleanser that will get rid of dirt without disturbing the skin.

What about products that scrub your skin? Exfoliation can be helpful, but whether your typical routine involves a brush or a scrubbing face wash, you may want to back off in the wintertime. Pay attention to what your skin is asking for, says Dr. Marie Leger, a dermatologist at Weill-Cornell Medicine and New York Presbyterian. “If your skin is getting dry and cracked, maybe paring off those products and adding them back in one by one to see how you can tolerate it is a good idea,” she says.