Dry skin is a common problem that can occur due to weather changes, frequent bathing or using harsh soaps. Dry skin can also be a sign of a more serious medical condition. If you experience chronic dry skin, contact your doctor who can perform a variety of laboratory tests to determine the underlying problem. Many conditions that cause dry skin also affect your liver, causing an increase in liver enzymes.
Liver Enzymes
Doctors can monitor the health and function of your liver by performing a liver panel that measures the level of liver enzymes in the blood. When liver cells become damaged or inflamed, they release enzymes into the blood. These enzymes include alanine transaminase — ALT; aspartate transaminase — AST; alkaline phosphatase and gamma-glutamyl Transferase — GGT. An increase in the levels of these enzymes can signal the presence of liver disease. Because the liver performs many types of functions that affect nearly every area of the body, including hormone levels as well as digestion and skin health, elevated liver enzymes can also occur due to other conditions.
Liver and Skin Connection
Your liver continually filters your blood to remove toxins and waste products. When your liver cannot effectively function, toxins and waste products build up in your blood and can irritate your skin, causing itchy, dry skin that may become red and inflamed. In addition, your liver produces bile, a substance necessary for the breakdown of dietary fat. Failure to produce or secrete bile can inhibit digestion and slow your metabolism — the term used to describe the process involved with the conversion of food into energy and the use of that energy. A slow metabolism contributes to the buildup of toxins in the blood and promotes dry skin.
Liver Disease
Doctors use the term "liver disease" to describe any disorder that causes the liver to function improperly or stop functioning, according to MedlinePlus. Liver disease occurs over time and involves inflammation of the liver cells that can lead to the buildup of scar tissue, a condition known as cirrhosis of the liver. Patients with liver disease exhibit an increase in liver enzymes and chronically dry, itchy skin. A variety of other symptoms can occur, including fatigue, jaundice, yellowing of the skin, abdominal pain and nausea.
Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism occurs when your thyroid, a gland located in your neck, fails to produce enough hormones. Thyroid hormones regulate nearly every bodily function, including liver. The characteristic symptoms of hypothyroidism include dry skin, fatigue, increased sensitivity to cold, constipation, high cholesterol levels, weight gain, muscle weakness or pain and depression. To diagnose hypothyroidism, doctors look for the symptoms and take blood samples. Your blood will show low levels of thyroid hormone and increased levels of liver enzymes.
Dermatomyositis
Dermatomyositis is another medical condition that causes dry skin and elevated liver enzymes. Doctors classify this rare disease as an inflammatory disease. The characteristic skin rash helps doctors make an accurate diagnosis, but blood tests will also show elevated levels of creatine kinase, a muscle enzyme, and liver enzymes. Other symptoms of dermatomyositis include muscle weakness or tenderness, fatigue, stomach ulcers and deposits of calcium under the skin.
