Dry skin can happen to anyone and at any time of year. Sometimes, dry, itchy skin is simply irritating or annoying, but when symptoms become severe, it can be painful. Fortunately, most cases of dry skin can be cleared up at home.
Function
Your body’s largest organ, the skin, protects you against disease and infection. Your skin’s high water content and protective oils keep it flexible, strong and less prone to damage. When your skin’s moisture content or oils are stripped away, even everyday activity can cause cracks and bleeding. Damaged skin puts you at risk for infection, reports the University of Wisconsin Health Services.
Causes
A rather common condition, dry skin occurs more often in the winter, when cold weather and heated indoor air cause low humidity, reports the University of Maryland Medical Center. Excessive bathing, particularly using harsh soaps, may also cause dry skin. Spending an extended amount of time in the sun during the summer may also strip your skin of moisture. According to Penn State’s Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, dry skin, known by the medical term xerosis, can happen to anyone and is caused simply by a lack of moisture.
Effects
Dry skin most commonly affects the lower legs, arms, sides of the abdomen and thighs, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Its symptoms often include itching, scaling, flaking and cracks in the skin, sometimes called fissures. The Milton S. Hershey Medical Center reports that patients with diabetes often contract xerosis of the foot, which can lead to complications such as ulcers and infections.
Prevention/Solution
Take shorter and less frequent showers or baths, and use warm, instead of hot, water. Also, cut back on your soap use. Drexel University College of Medicine recommends only using soap on your face, armpits and genitals, and even then, use mild cleansers and soaps. When you get out of the shower, pat your skin dry; don’t rub it. Apply lotion or moisturizers immediately after a shower or bath to trap moisture in your skin. If the air in your home is dry, use a humidifier or leave a pan of water on top of the radiator to evaporate, recommends Columbia University Health Services.
Warning
If your home care efforts do not clear up your dry skin or you develop open sores from scratching, make an appointment to see your doctor, as you may have a skin condition that requires prescription-strength medication. Drexel University College of Medicine also advises you to call your doctor if your dry, itchy skin keeps you awake at night or you feel itchy but you don’t see a rash.
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