Symptoms and Treatments for Dry Skin Allergies

What is dry skin: Dry  skin , and an extreme condition is known as xerosis, which is a common skin condition. It mainly occurs due to lack of enough moisture or oils in the epidermis, the top layer of the skin. This results in dry patches and small, fine flakes on the skin.

Causes:  Dry skin is caused by both external and internal factors. External factors like low humidity, cold temperatures, hot showers, over use of soaps and disinfectants can cause the skin to become dry. While internal factors such as age, genetics, and personal and family history, as well as skin conditions like allergies, asthma , dermatitis causes skin dryness. People who suffer from thyroid disorders are also prone to dry skin .

Underlying conditions:  The skin is made up of 3 layers – epidermis (outer), dermis (middle) and hypodermis (innermost). The epidermis, the protective layer, is made up of proteins and lipids (from fat ). The lipid helps keep the skin hydrated. When the skin loses fatty oils it easily loses moisture and protection. This makes the skin dry , making the skin more sensitive to rashes and other problems (xerosis). Eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis, hives, etc. are the severe cases of dry skin problems.

Dry skin symptoms:

1. Rough and gray scaly skin:  Dry skin , as said before, it needs natural fatty oils and moisture. This causes the skin to become rough, scaly, and sometimes hardened. Dandruff is one of the common ailments, which results in dry skin on the scalp. Dry skin flakes often turn pale, peel off and come off on their own.

2.Itching:  Dry  skin  can lead to an itching cycle. This cycle happens more in people who are not very conscious, when he/she is involved in some important work, or while sleeping, etc.

3.Red  spots: Rough raised patches of scaly skin can itch, which causes a severe burning sensation. This burning sensation makes the skin red and causes red spots.

4. Cracks in the skin that can bleed:  Often, dry skin tends to crack, especially during winter. These cracks become a breeding ground for microbes. These microbes cause infection in the crevices, causing itching, burning and bleeding. This can lead to serious skin infections, which can spread to other parts of the skin.

5. Chapped lips and heels: Chapped  lips are the first symptom of lack of water and moisture in the body. It can also be a sign of some kind of dysfunction in the body. As well as cracked palms and heels. Although these are very common symptoms and mostly occur during winter, see a doctor in severe cases.

Treatment for dry skin:  There are different treatments for dry skin , depending on the condition and severity of the problem. Treatments can be either external or internal. The treatments are
as follows:

1.Hydration:  Hydration is an external treatment. It involves the frequent application of moisturizers to the problem area on the skin. Applying moisturizer to damp skin is most effective. In case of extreme dry skin , moisturizers that contain urea or lactic acid are helpful. These ingredients help the skin to maintain and retain water in addition to keeping the skin well hydrated. It is effective in not very severe cases.

2. Medications:  If the skin condition gets worse, consulting a dermatologist is the best way to go. The dosage of the drugs depends on the severity of the case. If the condition is getting very serious, steroids may also be prescribed. Some of the oral medications are: Hydroxyzine (Atarax), diphenhydramine (Benadryl), cetirizine (Zyrtec), loratadine (Claritin).

3. Lifestyle change:  This is the most important factor in the case of skin diseases. Most serious dry skin problems like eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis, etc., can be directly linked to an unbalanced, or unhealthy lifestyle. A person has to maintain healthy habits to avoid these kinds of diseases.

One should avoid doing all those things that can trigger the problem or increase it. If a person is allergic to some kind of environment or food that makes the skin dry, he/she should avoid it. If pollution or cold is the reason, then keep your skin covered when you go out.

4. Humidify the air during winter:  Dry skin , as mentioned earlier, occurs due to lack of moisture. Humidifying the air to keep it moist is a good way to protect your skin during the winter. One can use humidifiers at home and in the office as well. They make dry air moist and lessen dry skin problems .

Caution: Dry skin is a common problem and not well attended to. If you want to avoid further complications, be sure to take care of your dry skin today. If necessary, make an appointment with a good dermatologist to find a solution.