Dry skin is a common dermatological problem that occurs when the skin tissue is unable to retain enough moisture, resulting in rough, flaking and sometimes itchy skin. In general, dry skin is not something to be worried about and can easily be managed by developing simple habits like applying a daily skin moisturizer. However, it's still important to understand what can cause dry skin in order to better avoid it.
Age
One factor that can contribute to dry skin is your age. As you grow older, your skin tissue naturally becomes thinner. The thinner your skin, the harder it is for the skin to retain moisture, leading to consistently dry skin.
Sun Exposure
Sun exposure can also dry out your skin. The natural heat of the sun causes moisture to evaporate more quickly out of the skin. On top of dryness, regular exposure of your skin to sun also causes damage to the skin cells all the way down into the deeper layers of the dermis, causing fibers called elastin and collagen to break down. As these fibers breakdown, the skin starts to sag and take on the appearance of dry skin, suggests the Mayo Clinic.
Weather
Weather can also affect the moisture content of your skin. This can especially be seen as winter approaches in the northern United States, creating extremely dry air due to colder temperature and dramatic drop in humidity. In areas of the southern United States, the effect may be opposite with summers bringing in extremely warm weather that can quickly dry out the skin.
Indoor Heating Sources
With winter creating an environment of low humidity also comes the extended use of home heating elements such as baseboard heaters, fireplaces or even central heating. These heating sources reduce humidity in the air of your home, contributing to the already drying effects of winter.
Soaps
Harsh soaps can dry skin by removing the layers of protective lipids from your skin, as well as removing water from the skin tissue. This effect goes beyond just soap, with many deodorants and shampoos causing some of the most damage to your armpits and scalp, suggests the Mayo Clinic.
Water
Although it may seem like exposing the skin to water would help prevent dry skin, in actuality, actions like taking long baths or showers can actually cause dry skin. Long baths and showers break down the lipid barriers of your skin, which is responsible for slowing down the rate at which moisture escapes from the skin tissue.
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