Dry Skin: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment and Prevention

• Paleness that never seems to go away. For brown skinned people, this paleness could appear in the form of a dull grayish/whitish layer on the skin.
• Flaking – this ranges from the slight to severe shedding. Flaking is a graduation from paleness to the point of little ask particles going off the skin.
• Slight to severe scaling or peeling. At this point, it’s no longer tiny small particles but layers of extra dry skin being shed.
• Fine lines or cracks – believe it or not, stretch marks fall in this category. Stretch marks are caused by cracks in the dermis layer of the skin.
• A feeling of skin tightness where your skin feels overly stretched to the limit.
• Rough looking skin and also rough to the touch.
• Itchiness (pruritus) that never seems to stop.
• Deep cracks that may bleed

Causes of Dry Skin

Mild cases of dry skin are very common. Many things can cause dry skin. These include the climate, underlying health conditions, medications and the simple lack of hydration. Some can easily be fixed, others are a cause for concern and may require medical attention. Here are a few causes of dry skin:

1. Climate/Weather conditions: Living in extremely, cold, windy and low-humidity areas tends to dry up the skin. In such conditions, the skin tries its best to produce moisture (and oils) to lubricate the skin however because of the winds and cold, the skin dries up so fast that it needs extra help to do its job.
2. Heat: Lots of heat tends to reduce the air humidity which in turn requires the skin to produce enough sebum to match the limited humidity of the immediate environment. Sometimes the sebum is not enough. Such heated environments include wood/charcoal stoves, fireplaces, etc…
3. Medical conditions: these are causes for which medical attention is being given or might need to be given. The imbalance of hormones, sugars, and some other aspects of the body may be imbalanced and need proper regulation. And in that process dehydrate the skin. These include: diabetes, kidney disease, anorexia, HIV, and some harsh medications.
4. Other skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis: Eczema describes a group of skin conditions that cause itchy, inflamed, dry skin. These conditions include atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, dyshidrotic eczema, nummular eczema, seborrheic dermatitis, and stasis dermatitis.
5. Long hot and frequent showers: Good enough, it is quite the challenge to spend more than 5 minutes in ice cold water. PS: Cold water is great for the skin and body. Long hot showers drain the skin of all its natural oils which leaves it dry. Also, showering unecessarily very many times in a day is inadvertently not good for the skin too. One or two brief showers are sufficient.
6. Harsh soaps and detergents: Many popular soaps, detergents and shampoos strip moisture from your skin because they are formulated to remove oil. Our hearts go out to people who spend long hours hand washing clothes with harsh detergents. These definitely hurt the skin.
7. Aging: As people age, the skin thins and produces less of the oils needed for the skin to retain water.
8. Dehydration caused by limited water intake: This is a no brainer. No water means no hydration. No water paves the way for general body dryness.

Treatment and Prevention of Dry Skin

Many cases of dry skin resolve with drinking plenty of water and using moisturizer regularly. The AAD recommend using a butter, cream or ointment throughout the day to relieve dry skin. Butters and creams are generally more effective than lotions.

Good and recommended ingredients to look for include:

• shea butter
• jojoba oil
• glycerin
• hyaluronic acid
• lactic acid
• lanolin

A doctor will usually prescribe treatments for people with skin conditions, such as eczema. It is good to note that natural shea butter (and products with over 70% shea butter) are very good at healing eczema naturally. For children especially, Livara has the Baby Opal Butter that will guarantee to naturally heal mild eczema and when coupled with the soothing oil-rich Face and Body Soap, the results are even that much better.

When an underlying health condition, such as diabetes or anorexia, causes dry skin, doctors will work with the person to get the condition under control.

When dry skin is a side effect of a medication, it will usually go away when the person stops taking the drug. However, people should not stop taking prescription medicines without consulting their doctor first.

Try these tips to help your skin retain moisture:

1. Drink plenty of water especially when you’re thirsty. Drink non-caffeinated beverages each day to help keep all your body’s tissues, including your skin, well hydrated. It is recommended to take between 1 to 2 liters of water daily.
2. Moisturize your skin with butters, creams and oil-based lotions. A good moisturizer seals in water to help keep your skin’s protective barrier healthy. Use moisturizer throughout the day, especially on the hands. Body butters have the best hydration – better than lotions – so stock up much more on them. Do this also after swimming.
3. Use a gentle cleanser or allergen-free soap. Use an oil-rich fragrance-free moisturizing soap while paying attention to the allergen content. Remember to always apply a moisturizing butter or cream while your skin is still damp.
4. Cover as much skin as possible in cold or windy weather. Harsh weather can be especially drying to skin. Scarves, hats, and gloves or mittens help protect your skin when you’re outdoors. Wear gloves too!
5. Limit water exposure. Keep bath and shower time to 10 minutes or less. Use warm, not hot, preferably cold, water. Rinse and pat dry. Try to bathe no more than twice a day.
6. Bathe babies with care. For babies, using a moisturizing allergen-free soap thrice a week for bathing usually is enough especially in the first 4 weeks. Otherwise, bathe them in just water. However, clean their diaper area with each diaper change. Apply a thin layer of Baby Opal Butter (with shea butter) while the skin is still damp.

When to contact a doctor

If the tips above do not help or the dry skin starts to interfere with daily life, the person should seek guidance from a doctor.

The doctor will be able to assess the skin and recommend the most suitable treatment.

Summary

Dry skin is a common health complaint. It happens when the skin does not get the moisture or oils it needs to maintain itself. Dry skin might be red, scaly, itchy, or even painful.

Environmental factors, such as cold weather or dry air, can cause dry skin. It may also be due to health conditions, including eczema, dehydration, and diabetes.

People can resolve most cases of dry skin by taking simple steps, such as using moisturizer. Sometimes, however, people might need prescription-strength medication.

People should contact a doctor if they find that their dry skin does not get better with home treatment or interferes with their everyday life.