Dry Skin: Everyday Causes, Medical Causes and When to Be Seen

What it involves

MedlinePlus says dry skin occurs when the skin loses too much water and oil, that it is common and can affect anyone at any age, and that the medical term is xerosis. It says skin may become dry, scaly, itchy and red, may have fine cracks, and is usually worse on the arms and legs.

Who this is for

• Adults whose dry skin does not improve with regular moisturizer
• Patients with itchy, scaly or cracked skin on the arms, legs or hands
• People with diabetes or a thyroid condition who notice new skin dryness
• Adults who want to know whether a rash is dry skin or eczema

What to expect

• Questions about when the dryness began, how you bathe and which soaps and products you use
• A look at the skin and a review of your medicines and health history
• Blood tests if your provider suspects an underlying condition
• Skin disease care at the office, or a referral if the problem needs a skin specialist

Everyday causes

The MedlinePlus encyclopedia lists several causes that have nothing to do with disease. Cold, dry winter air and hot, dry desert environments can dry the skin, as can dry indoor air from heating or cooling systems. Bathing too often or for too long, and some soaps and detergents, strip oil from the skin. Aging plays a part too, because the skin gets thinner and makes less natural oil over time. These are the first things a provider asks about, since changing them costs little and often helps.

When a health condition is behind it

MedlinePlus says dry skin can also come from skin conditions such as eczema or psoriasis, from diseases including diabetes, an underactive thyroid and Sjogren syndrome, and from certain medicines, whether taken by mouth or applied to the skin. That is why persistent dryness is worth a visit rather than another bottle of lotion. The eczema guide and the psoriasis guide describe those two skin conditions, and the thyroid care page explains how an underactive thyroid is checked.

Dry skin that itches

Itch is the symptom that sends most people in. MedlinePlus lists itchy, scaly and red skin among the signs of dry skin, and notes that fine cracks can form. Scratching can make the skin more irritated and, in some people, more likely to become infected, so a provider will often ask whether the skin has been broken. The itchy skin guide covers the other common reasons for itch, including causes that are not on the skin at all, and explains what to tell your provider about when it is worse.

What a visit usually involves

MedlinePlus says your provider will examine your skin and ask about your health history and skin symptoms, and that tests will likely be ordered if the dry skin may be caused by a health problem that has not yet been diagnosed. At Serenity By A Dr. Sareen, a visit can include skin disease care and blood work. If the pattern looks like a condition that needs a specialist, the provider can refer you. Bringing a list of your soaps, lotions and medicines, and a note of when the dryness is worst, makes the visit more useful.

Home care MedlinePlus describes

For home care, MedlinePlus says a provider may suggest moisturizers, especially creams or lotions that contain urea and lactic acid, and topical steroids for areas that become very inflamed and itchy. To prevent dryness it advises not exposing the skin to water more often than needed, using lukewarm bath water, patting the skin dry instead of rubbing, and choosing gentle cleansers free of dyes and perfumes. People with diabetes who have dry feet should read the diabetic foot care guide, because cracks in the feet need closer attention.

When to book and when not to wait

Book a visit if dry skin has lasted weeks despite gentle care, if it keeps you awake with itching, if the skin is cracked or bleeding, or if it appeared together with unusual tiredness, weight change or increased thirst. Skin that becomes red, warm, swollen or painful, or a rash with fever, should be seen promptly because it can be a skin infection. The cellulitis guide describes those signs. Sudden swelling of the lips or face or trouble breathing is an emergency and needs 911.

Sources

• MedlinePlus — Dry skin (medical encyclopedia)
• MedlinePlus — Skin Conditions (health topic)