How to Prevent: “Elbows have a thicker top layer of skin, which is easily disrupted by the loss of moisture,” Hawk says. To keep them smooth, exfoliate with a scrub twice a week and apply a thick cream every day. RS pick: The Healing Garden Exfoliating Body Scrub ($6.75 at drugstores).

How to Treat: Twice a day, slather elbows with a hydrating cream, such as Lac-Hydrin Five Moisturizing Lotion ($14 at drugstores). To soften extra-rough elbows, apply a layer of Vaseline Petroleum Jelly ($3 at drugstores) before bed to seal in moisture, says Lenora Felderman, a New York City dermatologist. Then, if you’re really motivated, cover them with terry-cloth wristbands to keep your sheets clean and let the moisturizer work during the night.

When to See a Professional:If your elbows are still scaly after a week, you might need a stronger, prescription cream, says Jeanie Leddon, a dermatologist in Lafayette, Colorado. Redness and inflammation could also indicate psoriasis, a genetic disease.