winter itch

Winter and my skin do not get along, and this gets worse every year. This year my legs are dry and peeling--I feel like a lizard shedding its skin. It would be cooler if I could peel my skin off and leave a dry replica of myself on the floor. But no. Rubbing my legs results in little rolls of skin peeling off my legs... gross. Unfortunately, this rubbing seems to be the only effective exfoliation. All the king's horses and all the king's loofahs can't rid me of my dry scaly lizard legs.

A number of winters ago, the Body Shop's body butter was helpful in ridding me of dry bumpy legs, so I stocked up on jars and jars of the butter. Unfortunately now it seems like it no longer is as effective. At least it's got a lovely texture and selection of scents, but I still need something to de-leatherize my skin. I've heard recommendations for almond oil, coconut oil, shea butter, baby oil, and many others, but how the heck to choose? What will be least likely to make me slip and crack my head open on the shower floor? (How embarrassing to be found unconscious, naked, and oily in the shower.)

A new development this winter is an oddball sensitivity to my sheets. It's probably the detergent, though my clothes don't garner this kind of itchiness. I lie down in bed and nearly immediately everything starts itching. Itch itch itch. My arms, my legs, my back, my front, my head. Everything. Is it in my head, or is it my detergent?