Dry skin can occur anywhere on your body, but the area on your elbows is among the most common trouble zones. Although generally not serious, dry skin can be unattractive and uncomfortable. Most cases of elbow dry skin can be easily treated and prevented without a doctor's care, but in a few instances, you may need to see a dermatologist.
Definition
Dry skin takes place on the surface of your skin where dead cells line the outer protective layer. Under normal conditions, this surface layer is shed every day and replaced by new skin cells. Between the cells, your skin also contains vital substances such as amino acids that form a barrier to preserve moisture. But if this barrier is stripped away by environmental or chemical elements like sunlight, pollution or irritating skin-care ingredients, your skin cells lose water and tend to dry out.
Causes
Most causes of dry skin on your elbows are due to environmental factors such as low humidity, central air/heating and sun exposure. Certain hygienic habits can also lead to drier skin, including the use of harsh soaps and detergents, taking hot baths and showers or taking long showers or baths. Occasionally, dry skin may also be caused by medical conditions, with the inherited disorder ichthyosis vulgaris, psoriasis, eczema and hypothyroidism among the most common.
Symptoms
If your elbows are dry, they'll feel tight, especially after showering or swimming, feel and look rough, appear shrunken or dehydrated and they can itch, flake and peel. In more severe cases, the skin may also be red and develop deep fissures that bleed.
Treatments
Staying hydrated by drinking water is very important, but it won't solve the problem by itself. If your condition is mild to moderate, using moisturizers several times a day, especially after bathing, may be all that you need to solve the problem. At night, after you've applied your moisturizer, massage a few drops of extra virgin olive oil over the most stubborn areas. You can also use a moisturizer with alpha hydroxy acids that will remove dry, dead skin and trap moisture in your skin at the same time. If your skin is itchy, cool moist compresses with water or milk can be soothing, and if the skin begins to flake or scale, you may need to try an over-the-counter cortisone cream or lotion. In the most severe cases, your doctor may need to prescribe a stronger cortisone treatment.
Complications
In some instances, dry skin can lead to eczema, inflamed hair follicles or the potentially serious bacterial infection known as cellulitis. This is most likely to occur if the skin has cracked and bled. Dr. Dee Anna Glaser, assistant professor of dermatology at St. Louis University School of Medicine, also notes that some of her patients who have scratched their dry skin excessively ended up with permanent scratch lines and scars.
Prevention
The best way to keep dry skin at bay is to prevent it in the first place. Avoid overly abrasive scrubs, scrub mitts and loofahs, astringents and toners, water that's too hot or cold and bar soaps and bar cleansers. Some of the most irritating ingredients to avoid in skin-care products include alcohol, camphor, citrus oils, eucalyptus, fragrance, menthol, mint and sodium lauryl sulfate. Always use sunscreen and moisturizer and get a humidifier for your home, if conditions are dry.
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