Feb. 22, 2012 | During the winter months, many people suffer from dry skin, a medical condition known as xerosis. While the condition is not serious, it can be uncomfortable and unsightly, turning plump skin cells into shriveled ones and creating fine lines and wrinkles. Serious dry skin conditions, an inherited group of disorders called ichthyosis, can sometimes be disfiguring, causing psychological distress. Fortunately, most dry skin results from environmental factors that can be wholly or partially controlled. These include exposure to hot or cold weather with low humidity levels and excessive bathing. Dry skin is most common in a person’s lower legs, arms, flanks, which are located on the sides of the abdomen, and thighs. It happens more often in the winter when the cold air outside and the heated air inside cause low humidity. Forced-air furnaces make skin even drier. When this happens, the skin loses moisture and may crack and peel, or become irritated and inflamed.

Feb. 22, 2012 | Dry skin is often just a temporary problem, one you experience only in winter, for example, but it may be a lifelong concern. And although skin is often driest on your arms, lower legs and the sides of your abdomen, this pattern can vary considerably from person to person. What’s more, the symptoms of dry skin depend on your age, your health status, your locale, the amount of time you spend outdoors, and the cause of the problem. Some of the most common signs of dry skin include a feeling of tightness, especially after showering, bathing or swimming as well as slight to severe flaking, scaling or peeling. Redness and itching that may sometimes be intense are other possible symptoms. Fine lines and cracks or deep fissures that may bleed often occur in severe cases. Although anyone can develop dry skin, the condition is more likely to be seen in those people who are older than 65, live in dry, cold or low-humidity climates or bathe or shower frequently.

Feb. 22, 2012 | Most people’s skin becomes dry in the winter, when temperatures and humidity levels plummet. Winter conditions also tend to make many existing skin conditions worse. Central air and heating, wood-burning stoves, space heaters and fireplaces all reduce humidity and dry your skin. You should also know that frequent showering or bathing, especially if you like the water hot and your baths long, breaks down the lipid barriers in your skin. Many popular soaps and detergents also strip lipids and water from your skin. Deodorant and antibacterial soaps are usually the most damaging, as are many shampoos, which dry out your scalp. And like all types of heat, the sun can dry your skin. Yet damage from ultraviolet radiation penetrates far beyond the top layer of skin. The most significant damage occurs deep in the dermis, where collagen and elastin fibers break down much more quickly than they should, leading to deep wrinkles and loose, sagging skin.

Feb. 22, 2012 | Sometimes dry skin is more than just a simple irritation. Your physician may want to conduct a thorough physical exam and ask questions about your medical history, including when your dry skin started, your bathing habits, your diet, and how you care for your skin. You may have to have certain diagnostic tests if your physician suspects that your dry skin is the result of an underlying medical condition, such as hypothyroidism. If you have very dry and scaly skin, your doctor may recommend you use an over-the-counter cream that contains lactic acid or lactic acid and urea. If you have a more serious skin disease, such as psoriasis, your doctor may prescribe a prescription cream or ointment. Sometimes dry skin leads to dermatitis, which causes red, itchy skin. In these cases, treatment may include hydrocortisone-containing lotions. If your skin cracks open, your doctor may prescribe wet dressings with mildly astringent properties to contract your skin and prevent infection.

Feb. 22, 2012 | Following the same skin care routine that worked so well in your youth can take a toll on aging skin, especially when the humidity drops. Mature skin is thinner and drier. Without a change in skin care, dry air can make fine lines and wrinkles more noticeable. It can make skin flake, crack, and even bleed. To help alleviate these unwanted effects, use warm, not hot, water when bathing. Hot water removes natural oils from the skin more quickly than warm water. The more natural oils removed, the drier the skin becomes. And use a mild cleanser. Deodorant bars, fragrance in soaps, and products containing alcohol strip natural oils from the skin, which dries the skin. Apply moisturizer within 3 minutes of getting out of the bath. Contrary to popular belief, moisturizer does not add moisture to the skin. Moisturizer traps existing water in the skin, preventing the water from evaporating. You may also want to consider plugging in a humidifier, which can add much-needed moisture to the air.