Valeant Consumer Healthcare, the makers of CeraVe Skincare, has declared Jan. 8, 2017 as National Winter Skin Relief Day. This designated day, officially listed on the National Day Calendar, is designed to educate consumers about the importance of skin protection during the coldest time of the year.

"Dry skin can occur throughout the year, but is more prevalent during the winter due to cold weather," says consulting dermatologist Joshua Zeichner of New York. "It's important to be diligent about moisturizing to properly hydrate skin and protect it from further irritation."

CeraVe offers these tips to the public to help relieve winter skin:

•   Cold temperature and wind can bother the sensitive skin on the lips. Use skin-protecting ointments that can hydrate and protect. The latest generation of healing ointment also contains ceramides to help restore the skin's natural protective barrier.

•   When skin is dry, rubbing it against clothing can cause more irritation. Apply a moisturizer and allow to dry before dressing to protect skin during the day.

•   Winter weather can lead to loss of skin hydration. More advanced Moisturizers can help with occlusive ingredients like petrolatum, hyaluronic acid, mineral oil and ceramides.

The brand is promoting its CeraVeHealing Ointment as the first and only multi-purpose ointment that combines ceramides in a gentle, lanolin-free formula to protect and soothe dry, cracked skin with a non-greasy feel. It launched last year, as reported in Happi.