Dry Skin - What causes Dry Skin - What are its Symptoms?

Dry skin, also called xerosis, is a common problem. Your skin needs moisture to stay smooth and supple, and retaining moisture is especially difficult in winter. Central heating of home and other buildings is very drying to the skin.

Dry skin has a low level of sebum and can be prone to sensitivity. The skin has a parched look caused by its inability to retain moisture. It usually feels "tight" and uncomfortable after washing unless some type of moisturizer or skin cream is applied.

Skin protects itself by producing natural oils from oil glands. Soaps remove these oils, which makes the skin drier. Heat also causes the skin to lose moisture. Dry skin may be a symptom of illness or a side effect of medicine. It is a common problem in older people because of changes in the skin, such as loss of sweat glands and oil glands.

Dry skin is common; as skin loses moisture the surface cracks. Dermatologists often call dry skin arising in later life 'xerosis', 'asteatosis' or 'acquired ichthyosis'. The dry areas may result in dermatitis, i.e. the skin becomes red and itchy. Sometimes the dry skin is just itchy, without much of a rash.

Causes of Dry Skin:-

The main causes of dry skin are as:-

• The oil glands do not supply enough lubrication to the skin. As a result, the skin becomes dehydrated.

• Cool weather, especially when windy or the humidity is low.

• Skin gets exposed to the elements especially in winter.

• Inherited factors

• Dry skin could be due to a genetic condition.

• Increasing age, resulting in decreased natural lubrication.

• Excessive bathing, showering or swimming, especially in strongly chlorinated hot or cold water.

• Poor diet. Nutritional deficiencies, especially deficiencies of vitamin A and the B vitamins, can also contribute to dry skin.

• Environmental factors such as exposure to sun, wind, cold, chemicals, or cosmetics, or excessive bathing with harsh soaps.

• Conditions such as dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis, or seborrhea.

Symptoms of Dry Skin:-

The symptoms most often associated with dry skin include:

• Scaling

• A feeling of tightness or tautness, especially after showering, bathing or swimming

• A loss of plumpness - your skin appears shrunken or dehydrated

• Skin that feels and looks rough rather than smooth

• Symptom of tightness or tautness after bathing. 
  
• Skin appearing shrunken or dehydrated. 
  
• Skin feels rough.  Deep fissures that may bleed

• Itching

• Cracks in the skin

• Slight to severe flaking or scaling

• Fine lines or cracks.