You can't win.

During the summer, the sun can dry your skin and leave it flaky, especially if you swim a lot. In the winter, all that artificial heating has the same effect. If you're like me, you smother yourself in body lotion to prevent the itchiness that results. But I've found another way to treat my skin and eliminate that dryness -- body scrubs.

Your skin has several layers, the topmost of which is the epidermis, itself divided into several layers. Fresh new cells start at the bottom. These slowly fill with keratin and die. They eventually reach the top layer called stratum corneum, and become sloughed off, or desquamated. These dead skin cells sit on the surface and not only leave your skin looking dull, but also can make it feel scratchy. Soap gets rid of dirt and the oils on your skin, but the exfoliant in a body scrub eliminates the dead layer and leaves the fresh, healthy layer underneath. That's why your skin glows when you use it.

In fact, most body scrubs contain two main ingredients: an exfoliant and a moisturizer. The exfoliant can be made of ground nuts or nut shells, sea salt, sugar or even loofah particles. Their function is to provide the gentle abrasion which removes the surface layer without harming the fresh cells underneath.

Secondly, most body scrubs contain oil which moisturizes the cleansed skin surface to prevent drying. This can be as simple as olive or coconut oil, or as esoteric as grape-seed, nut oils, lavender, or marula oil. These penetrate the skin and supply essential fatty acids that assist in the repair of the skin's moisture barrier, helping to restore moisture, smoothness and suppleness.

Most body scrubs have an additional advantage in that they are scented. If you shower at night, try using a scent like lavender because it's calming. On the other hand, citrus or mint are invigorating for your morning scrub.

The Body Shop has a whole range of scrubs ($20 for 10 oz). Two of my favourites are Coco-nut Body Scrub which contains several oils, including marula, soya and sweet almond, for wonderful moisturizing; and Mango Body Scrub which uses both sugar and salt crystals for the ultimate itch-relieving abrasion.

Another favourite is derma e's Microdermabrasion Body Scrub ($27.50 for 4 oz) which is chock full of essential oils like grape-seed, jojoba and sweet almond, so it leaves your skin soft and smooth after use. A friend recommends Origins Incredible Spreadable Scrub ($31 for 8 oz) which has white and brown sugars to buff roughness away while Dead Sea salts leave the skin replenished. Best of all, it contains ginger which she says, "wakes me up."

Scrubs should only be used a couple of times a week in order not to irritate the skin or destroy the healthy layers underneath. On the other hand, body polish -- a sort of finer version of the scrub -- can be used more frequently. The Body Shop makes a Cranberry Body Polish which is very gentle. Nonetheless, if you have sensitive skin, it's advisable to limit usage. Note that if you have acne, sunburned skin, rashes or 'spider veins', you should probably avoid scrubs, as they might aggravate these. Instead, use a soft body brush in the shower or bath.

After using a scrub, use a good moisturizing body lotion to ensure that your skin doesn't dry out. After all, you've removed the protection afforded by the dead cells.

By the way, scrubs are not just for women. Men should use a scrub regularly as well, for glowing, healthy skin. Your skin is the largest organ in your body; take care of it and it will not just last a lifetime but make you look good.