Diagnosis and treatment of dry skin or xerosis

If your skin feels rough, flakes and itches frequently, it is most likely due to dryness of your epidermis, commonly referred to as dry skin. Lack of moisture can be due to a number of causes, including the environment (cold or dry climate), prolonged exposure to the sun, poor diet, smoking, alcohol consumption, use of harsh soaps and creams, and excessive or improper hygiene.

What is dry skin?

Dry skin responds to a lack of water and lipids (sebum) in the epidermis. Lipid deficiency leads to a loss of water retention capacity, which dries the skin and causes rashes and cracks.

In addition to the manifestation in the form of rashes and cracks, the loss of moisturisers in the epidermis causes external irritants (pollution, pollen, etc.) to penetrate more easily and deeply, resulting in skin irritation and redness.

Dry skin can be seasonal in origin, only occurring at certain times of the year, or it can be chronic.

Symptoms of dry skin

The symptoms of dry skin are numerous. Your age, the presence of other diseases (especially dermatological), your lifestyle and the environment around you will determine the degree of the condition.

The most common skin symptoms are

• Tightness of the skin, reduced elasticity.
• Irritation, itching(pruritus).
• peeling of the skin
• Lines or cracks in the skin, which may even bleed.
• change in skin colour from white to red to brown to greyish.

Why does the skin dry out?

There are numerous reasons for the condition.

• A cold, dry climate promotes flaking of the skin (cold urticaria) and reddening of the skin.
• Dry environment. Lack of humidity in the environment due to air conditioning or heating.
• Presence of chemicals in hygiene and beauty products. Soap is designed to clean impurities and grease but, if used in excess, there is no grease to clean but only that which is naturally present in the epidermis.
• Excessive contact with water, as it washes away the lipids of the epidermis and leaves it exposed.
• Skin diseases. Certain diseases, such as psoriasis or atopic dermatitis, promote dry skin and desquamation.
• Excessive exposure to the sun, which dehydrates and damages the skin.
• Ageing of the skin due to aging.

Preventing and curing dry skin

In most cases, preventing dry skin is relatively simple. Here are some tips to help you do this:

Body care

Do not use hot water during your bath or shower. Limit the temperature, use lukewarm water and limit the bathing time. Long showers and baths and/or baths with hot water remove the hydrolipidic layer of the skin. Use a soap-free cleansing cream or gel, use soap only in areas where hygiene is necessary such as the groin and armpits; do not use sponges or pumice stones. Clean soap thoroughly and pat dry.

Use moisturiser on the skin several times a day, after contact with water (bathing, hand washing or swimming).

Urea, ceramides, fatty acids and glycerol or glycerine, shea butter, almond oil and cocoa butter are products that will help you to restore your skin’s balance. The products you use should be hypoallergenic and should not contain sodium lauryl sulphate because it is a drying component.

In the case of non-serious conditions, the use of a thicker moisturiser or baby oil will help it stay on longer than lotions do and, at the same time, prevents water evaporation on the skin.

Face care

Wash the skin on your face twice a day with a mild, alcohol-free, non-foaming cleanser. If your skin is sensitive, wash with a cleanser at night and use only water the other time.

Use a moisturiser after cleansing and, if you’re going outside, make sure it has a high sun protection factor. Reapply every two hours or if you swim or sweat. If you have oily skin, avoid those containing petroleum jelly, cocoa butter or coconut oil as they can cause acne.

Facial care for mature skin. Peeling skin caused by dry skin can be avoided by using products containing antioxidants or alpha hydroxy acids. The wrinkle creams you use at night often have a base of moisturisers along with retinoids, antioxidants, peptides and other ingredients.

Use a makeup remover with a creamy texture that is removed with a cotton pad or tissue, avoiding those that are removed with water as they are generally too aggressive on the surface of the skin.

Hand care

As mentioned above, use warm water and hypoallergenic moisturising soap and, after washing your hands, apply a moisturising cream. In case of noticeable dryness, it is advisable to use plenty of petroleum jelly before going to bed.

General care

Other general care is as follows

The use of a humidifier inside your home, as hot, dry air encourages itching and flaking. The humidifier will bring humidity to the environment.

Cotton and linen allow the skin to breathe, which prevents dry skin. Avoid wool and synthetics. Wash clothes with fragrance-free detergents.

Use a cold cloth to soothe the itching sensation or, alternatively, apply a cream or ointment.