Dry Skin

Dry skin is a condition in which low water levels or oil in the skin can create a tight, uncomfortable feeling, among other symptoms. Dry skin is common, though it can sometimes be a sign of more significant health issues.

This article covers the symptoms, types, and causes of dry mouth, diagnosis and treatment of dry skin, and when to get help for dry skin.

Symptoms of Dry Skin

The most common symptoms of dry skin are:

• Tight or rough skin
• Skin peeling or flaking
• Itching
• Cracked skin that sometimes bleeds
• Scales on the skin

Causes of Dry Skin

There are several reasons why someone could have dry skin, including:

• Aging
• Dry air from cold weather or desert climates or indoor heating or air conditioning
• Long baths or showers or bathing too often, which can strip the skin of oils that retain moisture
• Soaps, harsh detergents, and harsh chemicals like alcohol
  

Some underlying health issues that can cause dry skin include:

• Eczema
• Psoriasis
• Diabetes, hypothyroidism, and kidney disease
• Reactions to medications, foods, or allergies
• Mineral deficiencies, including low vitamin D, vitamin A, niacin, zinc, and iron

What Medications Can Cause Dry Skin?

There are several medications that may cause dry skin as a side effect, including:

• Isotretinoin (Accutane): This acne drug depletes oils from the skin, which can cause dryness.
• Antacids: Antacids require high amounts of moisture to be active in the body.
• Statins: Statins are cholesterol-lowering drugs, and they can reduce the amount of fat stored in the skin, which leads to dryness.
• Chemotherapy: Dry skin is one of the side effects of chemotherapy for cancer.

How to Treat Dry Skin

Moisturizing daily and often, preferably while skin is still damp, is the most common way to treat and prevent dry skin. Other ways to treat or prevent dry skin include:

• Using mild soaps with moisturizing ingredients
• Avoiding alcohol-based products and other strong chemicals, like harsh detergents
• Moisturizing with ceramides
• Using lukewarm instead of hot water for bathing and bathing once a day
• Using a humidifier
• Drinking more water to stay hydrated
• Identifying dry skin triggers, like soaps or fabrics
  

If your dry skin can't be treated at home, you might talk to your healthcare provider about:

• Prescription topical steroid creams for dry and itchy areas
• Treating health problems that cause dry skin, like hypothyroidism, diabetes, or psoriasis
• Any medications you're taking, in case dry skin is a side effect
  

Complications and Risk Factors Associated With Dry Skin

At times, untreated dry skin can lead to various forms of eczema, including:

• Atopic eczema (atopic dermatitis): When the skin reacts to triggers like chemicals or fabrics by getting red, itchy, and flaky
• Asteatotic eczema: Red, flaky skin that is more commonly seen in older adults, usually at the shins
• Discoid eczema: A type of eczema common in those who bathe too often, and that includes dry, flaky discs on the skin.

Untreated dry skin could also lead to itchy skin and infections if the skin's surface is not strong enough to protect the body. Persistent dry skin could also indicate an undiagnosed health issue, like an under-active thyroid or blood sugar problems. It could also indicate an autoimmune disorder like psoriasis.

Are There Tests to Diagnose the Cause of Dry Skin?

If your dry skin seems untreatable, a healthcare provider might consider the following to diagnose your condition:

• Family history
• Whether skin was dry at birth
• Type and location of dryness
• Signs of eczema
• Bathing and grooming habits
• Environment
• Medications

Your healthcare provider might also run tests to diagnose any underlying issues causing your dry skin, including:

• A skin biopsy to test for skin disorders and infections
• A blood test to test for disorders like diabetes, kidney disease, or low thyroid

When to See a Healthcare Provider

Seek medical attention for dry skin if:

• You are itchy but have no rash.
• You cannot sleep because of your skin's dryness or itchiness.
• You are scratching to the point of sores.
• Home remedies like moisturizing and staying hydrated do not seem to help.
  

Summary

Dry skin is when the skin lacks moisture because of low oil or water. It can be caused by aging, weather, bathing too often, harsh soaps and chemicals, or underlying issues like eczema, psoriasis, low thyroid, diabetes, and other conditions.

Treating dry skin can include moisturizing several times a day, avoiding hot showers or baths that are too long, staying hydrated, using a humidifier, and treating any underlying health issues that could cause dry skin. It's also important to test for undiagnosed health issues that can cause dry skin.

If dry skin cannot be treated at home, or if itchiness occurs without a rash, it's advised to seek medical attention. A healthcare provider will likely ask about family and medical history and examine the skin. A blood test could also be needed in case of a more serious illness.