Dry Skin

Dermatologists often call dry skin "xerosis" or "asteatosis". It is very common and can cause problems as skin loses moisture it cracks and becomes itchy.

The dry areas may result in Dermatitis, i.e. the skin becomes red and itchy. This may result in a crazy-paving appearance on the lower legs (eczema craquelé), or round patches scattered over the trunk and limbs (a dry form of nummular Dermatitis).

Sometimes the dry skin is just itchy, without much of a rash (sometimes known as winter itch, 7th age itch, or senile pruritus).

Cause of Dry Skin

Factors which contribute to dry skin include:

• Inherited factors - those with life-long dry skin may have a form of ichthyosis.
• Metabolic factors - dry skin is more common in those with an under active thyroid, or with excessive weight loss, whatever its cause.
• Increasing age, resulting in decreased natural lubrication.
• Cool weather with low humidity.
• Air conditioning, central heating or sitting close to a fire or fan heater.
• Excessive bathing, showering or swimming (especially in strongly chlorinated water).
• Contact with soap, detergents and solvents.
• Frictional irritation and chapping.

Dry Skin Treatment

If your skin is dry, particularly if you have Dermatitis, seek your dermatologist or doctor's advice.

An important aspect of treatment is to identify and tackle any contributing factors (see the list of causes above).

The mainstay of Dry Skin management is:

• Reduce how often you bath or shower, using lukewarm water. Showers are better than baths.
• Replace standard soap with a substitute such as a synthetic detergent, water-miscible emollient, bath oil, anti-pruritic tar oil, etc.
• Apply an emollient liberally and often, particularly after bathing, and when itchy.
• Treat the eczematous patches with a topical steroid for a 5 to 15 day course. Your doctor prescribes these. Make sure you understand where it is to be applied, usually once or twice daily, only on the red and itchy areas.

Dry skin is usually a long-term problem that recurs often, especially in winter. When you notice your skin getting dry, resume your lubricating routine and carefully avoid the use of soap. If the itchy dry-skin rash returns, use both the lubricating routine and the prescription steroid cream or ointment.

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