Brittle nails are very common, and there are many triggers - age, diet, stress, climate, and more. Several steps should be taken to improve your nail’s growth and minimize splitting. Most people get stronger nails from vitamin supplements and temporarily using a nail strengthener.

Eczema (or atopic dermatitis) is very common and worsens in dry climates, in the winter, and when sick. All the extra hand washing and hand sanitizing with COVID have not helped. Moisturizers are an essential tool for preventing and minimizing skin flares. Other tricks help as well.

Dry lips can be very frustrating - they can crack, bleed, and constantly peel. Often, we want to lick our lips more frequently, but this can make it worse. Some over-the-counter products can be very helpful for this.

Dry hands have become a big problem with all the extra hand washing and hand sanitizer use since COVID. Some over-the-counter options can be very helpful to combat the dryness.

Stasis dermatitis (a.k.a., venous eczema) is very common in older adults. It is dry, itchy skin on the shins, ankles, and tops of the feet. Our leg veins get tired, lose their strength, and get leaky. Leg swelling stretches and makes gaps in the skin causing eczema. Treatment includes compression, leg elevation, moisturizing, and topical medications.

Diaper rash (or diaper dermatitis) is common in babies and older adults. Urine and stool are not meant to be on the skin, and they irritate the skin and cause a rash. Barrier creams are an essential tool for preventing and minimizing flares of diaper rash.

Eczema from lip licking is very common, especially in kids. We instinctively want to wet them by licking them, but your saliva (spit) is not your friend on the skin. It can dry out the lips and make the skin around the lips red and flaky. Fix it with some over-the-counter products and a bit of willpower.

Perleche is the name for cracks and redness at the corners of the mouth - it is painful, but often easy to treat with over-the-counter products, if you know what to use.

Mask-ne is common in the age of COVID. It is caused by masks clogging pores and irritating the skin. Treatment is pretty straightforward, and good over-the-counter options are available if you know how to use them.