DermZone.comDermZone.com

Product Finder:

Your Cart:

Your cart is empty

Free gift with every order over $150
Click for coupon code!

Skin Conditions:

Ingredients:

Product Types:

Brands:

Gift Certificates:

Dry Skin

Dry skin may be linked to a diagnosable skin condition or be a simple symptom due to many causes. Conditions that may present with slightly dry or scaling skin include subacute (mild) contact dermatitis, mild psoriasis, mild atopic dermatitis, nummular eczema, icthyoses, and other scaling conditions with mild severity. More often, however, dry skin presents in many others as a chronic symptom characterized by flaking, itching, and occasional burning when stretched or as an irritating liquid is applied. In some severe cases of dry skin, the skin may actually fissure leading to wide cracks and bleeding.

One common cause of dry skin is the use of overly hot showers which tend to detract moisture out of the top layers of the skin. Some people even resort to hotter showers to take away the itch sensation, thus leading to even drier skin. Another prominent cause of dry skin is low-humidity weather such as seen in more arid climates and in the winter. In fact, "winter itch" (asteototic eczema) is an actual separate diagnosis for dry skin. Excessive use of soaps, body washes, or other means of excessive cleansing may be quite drying. Many medicines, such as benzoyl peroxide, alpha-hydroxy acids, or retinoids, are often quite drying. Also, gels and some lotions (e.g. calamine) can be drying.

Treatment of dry skin is simple. For cases where there is not underlying skin condition (such as psoriasis, atopic dermatitits, or contact dermatitis), warm showers with tap-dry toweling followed by copious moisturizing is ideal. Moisturizing should take place at least 3-4 times per day and may be done with numerous non-fragranced over-the-counter agents. Moisturizer preference is often due to which application is able to be comfortably applied. For instance, while petrolatum jelly is one of the best absolute moisturizers, many persons can not tolerate the feel of a thick ointment on their skin. Thus, some prefer creams and others prefer lotions. For thicker scaling on the hands and feet, a urea or lactic acid cream may be especially helpful when used twice daily. In certain cases, topical steroids are particularly useful in both moisturizing and anti-inflammatory capacities.

Excellent moisturizers include:

* Cetaphil

* Cerave

* Lubriderm

* Eucerin

* Aveeno

* Vaseline Intensive Care

* Aquaphor

Excellent medications for scaling include:

* AmLactin

* Lac-Hydrin

* Carmol

* Keralac

For scaling feet and thick nails, warm water soaks for 20 minutes twice a day prior to the application of urea creams is an excellent treatment. Theraseal moisturizer is especially helpful for cracking on the hands

Should skin be drying in thicker, fish-type scaling, this may represent a medical condition that should be addressed with your dermatologist. Occasionally, certain types of dry skin both representing distinct skin conditions or by themselves may represent a greater overall problem, and should be clearly addressed by your dermatologist.

Don Mehrabi MD, FAAD
Dermatologist, Certified by the American Board of Dermatology
Los Angeles, California

[ Browse Skin Care Products ] [ Return to main menu ]