What Does Dry Skin Look Like

Is It Cradle Cap

“Cradle cap” in babies is a condition that doctors call seborrheic eczema or seborrheic dermatitis. It appears as oily, scaly patches on the scalp. In contrast, atopic dermatitis is more often found on the cheeks, though it can also affect the scalp. Also unlike eczema, cradle cap typically isnât itchy. Usually cradle cap clears up without treatment in a few weeks or months.

What Causes Dry Skin On The Face

Dry facial skin may result from many factors. These include exposure to changing temperature or humidity levels, using harsh soaps, and skin conditions such as eczema.

Most cases of dry, flaky skin on your face are mild and will clear up with time. However, dry patches can sometimes indicate something more serious.

Contact your dermatologist if dryness doesnt go away or is severely itchy. Seeing a doctor is especially important if you dont know whats causing the dryness.

Common conditions that can trigger dry skin include:

If your doctor rules these issues out, then a lack of moisture in your skin may be the cause of the dry skin on your face. Luckily, there are plenty of things you can try at home to get softer, smoother skin.

How Does Dry Skin Affect My Body

Dry skin changes the texture of your skin from soft to rough. This can cause your skin to feel itchy or change color from your normal skin tone. You can have dry skin patches, which are small areas of dry skin, or dry skin could affect a larger area of your skin. Dry skin is usually harmless and only causes temporary discomfort until youre able to rehydrate your skin with a moisturizer.

Severely dry skin is fragile and easily flakes or cracks, which can turn into a painful sore. In the event of skin sore from dry skin, take care of your skin like you would an injury or wound to prevent infection.

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When To Seek Medical Advice

See a pharmacist or GP if you think you may have discoid eczema. They can recommend a suitable treatment.

You should also seek medical advice if you think your skin may be infected. You may need to use an antibiotic cream or, in severe cases, take antibiotics as a tablet or capsule.

A GP should be able to make a diagnosis just by examining the affected areas of skin. In some cases they may also ask questions or arrange some tests to rule out other conditions.

A GP may refer you to a doctor who specialises in skin conditions if they’re unsure of the diagnosis or if you need a patch test.

What Can I Expect If I Have Dry Skin

Most people can successfully treat dry skin by using a daily moisturizer and taking proactive steps like minimizing exposure to hot temperatures and other irritants. Its a good idea to take care of dry skin for your overall health. Rough, dry skin can feel uncomfortable and if your skin gets too dry, it can crack and break open, which makes you more prone to infection.

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How Is Dry Skin Treated

Treatment for dry skin focuses on rehydrating or bringing moisture back to your skin. Treatment for dry skin could include:

• Using moisturizers: Moisturizers are the main form of treatment for most types of dry skin. They smooth and soften dry skin to help prevent cracking and work to recreate your natural skin barrier. Moisturizing products come in ointments, creams, lotions and oils and include ingredients like emollients, which soothe and hydrate your skin, and hyaluronic acid, which increases moisture in your skin
• Taking medications: For extremely dry skin thats itchy or prone to cracking, your healthcare provider may prescribe a topical steroid, which acts to decrease the swelling in your skin that causes a rash and itching. In severe cases, oral or injectable medication may be appropriate.

What type of lotion or moisturizer is best for dry skin?

There are several different moisturizer options available if you have dry skin. When choosing a moisturizer for your dry skin, look for products that:

When choosing a moisturizer, remember that your skin is unique and a product that works for someone else might not be best for you and your skin. Your healthcare provider or your dermatologist can help you choose skin care products designed for you and your dry skin.

What Is The Treatment For Dry Skin

The best treatment for dry skin is daily lubrication with an emollient . Because most dry skin is due to external causes, external treatments like creams and lotions can be applied and effectively control the skin problem. Often, dry skin can be improved by applying a bland over-the-counter moisturizer. Once other causes of dry skin have been ruled out, the main goals of treatments are to stop the itching, prevent loss of water, and restore skin hydration.

Light moisturizing lotions for mild dry skin include:

• Cetaphil lotion
• Lubriderm lotion

Highly moisturizing products for severely dry skin include:

• hydrocortisone 1% cream ,
• Pramosone 2.5% cream ,
• triamcinolone 0.1% cream ,
• fluocinonide 0.05% cream .

As a general rule, only mild corticosteroid creams like hydrocortisone should be used on the face, underarm, and groin areas. Long-term application of strong corticosteroid creams like fluocinonide may cause serious adverse effects, including skin thinning, stretch marks, and skin breakdown.

Oral antihistamines such as diphenhydramine , hydroxyzine , and cetirizine may also alleviate generalized itching in dry skin by allowing one to sleep better at night. They do not have a direct effect on the itching itself.

Anti-itch oral medications include:

Apply an emollient cream two or three times daily to wet skin.

Special moisturizers containing lactic acid , or urea are also effective in hydrating the skin.

Mild soaps and cleansers include:

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What Can You Do About Dry Skin

Here are some ways to combat dry skin that are effective if practiced consistently:

Image: ablokhin/Getty Images

Zealous Handwashing Can Lead To Redness And Irritation

“Some people with dry skin just wash their hands constantly,” Forman Taub says. That wont help the dryness because too much washing can lead to dry, cracked skin, according to Piedmont Healthcare. This can be a big issue for people who work in industries that require frequent handwashing, such as health care. To mitigate the drying effects of your sanitary habit, use lukewarm water , avoid alcohol-based soaps, and blot your hands dry instead of rubbing them with a paper towel, according to EveryNurse. Ointments tend to be thicker than moisturizers, so keep an ointment on hand and apply after each wash.

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What Causes Eczema To Wax To Flare

Different “triggers” can make eczema worse. For infants, these can be irritants such as wool, certain detergents or extreme temperatures, or other immune triggers, such as food allergies and asthma, and even pet dander.

Most kids with the condition have the hardest time in winter, when the air is cold and dry. A small percentage has a harder time in the summer, when it is hot and humid.

Does My Child Need To See A Doctor About Dry Skin

Probably not. But you should take your child to your GP if your child has:

• dry skin that doesnt get better with the treatment described below
• patches of dry skin that are inflamed and itchy
• patches of painful dry skin
• dry skin that has yellow or inflamed spots on top.

Your GP might send your child to see a dermatologist if the dryness doesnt get better with standard treatment.

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Harsh Soaps Or Skincare Products

Skincare products containing harsh chemicals are often at the root of dry or flaky skin on your face. This is especially true for some alcohol-based products, like aggressive toners or astringents, that can strip your skin of natural oils and result in increased dehydration or irritation. This can also be true for highly fragranced products, deodorant soaps, perfumed soaps, and other products containing drying alcohol ingredients.

If you have dry skin on your face, its usually recommended to seek out non-comedogenic, gentle, fragrance-free products developed with dermatologistsor to consult a board-certified dermatologist directly for personalized guidance. CeraVe recommends gentle hydrating products, such as CeraVe Moisturizing Cream, that contain ingredients designed to help retain moisture, like hyaluronic acid, and ceramides to help restore the skins protective barrier.

Xerosis Signs And Symptoms

Xerosis is a common condition experienced by millions of people, either chronically or acutely . Just as multiple factors support skin hydration, a lack of water within the skin can present in a variety of ways. Dry skin will normally display a couple of these symptoms, while very dry skin commonly has all of these symptoms to some degree:

• Tightness is caused when the number of dead skin cells increases, leaving a layer on skins surface that causes it to dry out and feel tight.
• Roughness is also caused by dryness. This dryness increases the rate at which skin cells die off, leaving a thicker layer of dead cells at the skins surface which makes it feel rough.
• Flaky skin occurs when the large scales of the epidermis peel off and sometimes may be seen as a fine dust.
• Itching is another result of dryness and is an impulsive reaction to the discomfort caused by tight, poorly functioning skin. The urge to scratch increases according to the severity of the dryness.

Skin conditions such as Atopic Dermatitis, Keratosis Pilaris, Ichthyosis and Psoriasis predominantly cause localised areas of xerotic skin. Read more about Psoriasis, Atopic Dermatitis on face or body or aboutatopic children´s skin on face or body.

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Treatment For Dry Skin

Your doctors recommended treatment plan will depend on the cause of your dry skin.

In some cases, they may refer you to a skin specialist or dermatologist. Along with lifestyle remedies, they may recommend over-the-counter or prescription ointments, creams, or lotions to treat your symptoms.

Simple lifestyle changes can sometimes help to prevent and relieve dry skin. Try to:

• avoid using hot water to bathe or shower
• shower every other day instead of every day
• keep your shower time to less than 10 minutes
• use a moisturizing soap when you bathe or shower
• apply moisturizer immediately after bathing or showering
• pat, rather than rub, wet skin dry with a soft towel
• avoid itching or scrubbing dry skin patches
• use a humidifier in your home
• drink plenty of water
• change your skin care routine as directed by your doctor

Its also important to choose the right kind of moisturizer for your skin type. If your skin is extremely dry, look for a petrolatum-based product.

You might consider switching to a lighter, water-based lotion during the summer months. Lotions that contain grapeseed oil and antioxidants can also help trap water in your skin.

What Does Dry Skin Look Like

3 mins

Radhika Bhatia

With colder weather, its time to break out the fuzzy sweaters and the extra-strength moisturizer. Thats rightit is officially dry skin season.

Dry skin is a common skin condition that people experience year-round but is particularly prevalent during cold weather.

Dry skin is mostly harmless, but it can be painful, irritating, and sometimes a sign of a more serious health condition.

If youve ever wondered, what does dry skin look like? especially compared to other, more serious conditions, here is what you need to know.

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Does Dry Skin Cause Winter Itch

Winter itch is a common name for the skin symptom of generalized itching in the winter. It is primarily caused by dry skin and is most common in the elderly. Winter itch caused by dry skin may also be seen in those with a history of eczema. External factors, including cold temperatures, low humidity, and the use of central heat, tend to worsen dry skin during the winter season. Therefore, some people refer to the condition of dry skin in the winter as a “winter itch.”

• Atopic dermatitis

How To Treat Dry Skin Patches

Treatment for your dry patches of skin will depend on whats causing your symptoms.

Your doctor may recommend over-the-counter or prescription creams, ointments, or lotions. In some cases, pills or infusions of stronger medications are used to clear up the skin condition.

Talk with a healthcare professional about which treatment is best for whats causing your symptoms.

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What Causes Eczema In Infants And Children

Eczema is brought about by the complex interplay of a genetic predisposition and the childs environment. Many things from the climate to possible allergens can cause eczema to flare. We know that eczema tends to run in the families with a predisposition to other atopic diseases, such as food allergies, asthma and hay fever. Individuals with atopic dermatitis may lack certain proteins in the skin, which leads to greater sensitivity. Parents with eczema are more likely to have children with eczema. However, the exact way it passes from parents to children is still not known. Most children who have eczema will show signs of the condition in the first year of life. It tends to wax and wane in severity.

Causes Of Discoid Eczema

The cause of discoid eczema is unknown, although it may happen as a result of having particularly dry skin.

When your skin is very dry it cannot provide an effective barrier against substances that come into contact with it. This could allow a previously harmless substance, such as soap, to irritate your skin.

It’s important to look carefully at all the chemicals in cosmetics and toiletries that may have come into contact with your skin. Contact dermatitis, a type of eczema caused by coming into contact with a particular irritant, may have a role in discoid eczema.

Some people with discoid eczema also have a history of atopic eczema, which often happens in people who are prone to asthma and hay fever. However, unlike atopic eczema, discoid eczema does not seem to run in families.

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How To Treat Dehydrated Skin

Unlike dry skin, dehydration is treatable with lifestyle changes. Replenishing your hydration is the first major step, so its important to drink plenty of water. You can start with the old rule of eight glasses of water per day if you dont drink enough water already.

Depending on your body weight and activity levels, you may need to drink more than this. Ask your doctor what amount is appropriate for you.

Its also important not to drink too much water, as this can lead to a loss in minerals. Eating water-rich veggies and fruits can also help increase your intake .

You can also treat dehydrated skin with the following diet and lifestyle changes:

• Drink alcohol in moderation only .
• Drink less coffee and other sources of caffeine.
• Exercise regularly.
• Drink water while you work out .
• Replenish fluids after you work out.
• Get plenty of sleep.
• Eat more plant-based foods, such as fruits, vegetables, and legumes.

If youve had a recent illness, dehydration may be related to a loss of fluids from being sick. Make sure youre drinking plenty of water, electrolyte beverages, and broth-based soups.

Severe dehydration may be treatable via intravenous fluids at the doctors office or hospital.

Dry skin, on the other hand, is more difficult to treat. If your skin has always naturally been on the dry side, youll likely need to take extra care to keep it moist during cold and dry weather.

What Is Dry Flaky Skin A Symptom Of

Dry skin can flare up in winter, especially if you spend a lot of time outdoors. But sometimes dry skin can be a symptom or side effect of something else. Dry skin can be caused by:

• Aging. After age 40, your skin produces less oil and becomes drier.
• Certain medications. Dry skin can be a side effect of some prescription medicines, such as statins and diuretics.
• Certain skin conditions. Psoriasis, dermatitis, and eczema can make your skin prone to dryness.
• Dehydration. Not drinking enough water may lead to dry, itchy skin.
• Diabetes. High blood sugar can contribute to dry skin.
• Kidney disease, especially if youre on dialysis. Dialysis removes water from your body, which in turn dries out the skin.
• Menopause. With the hormonal changes of menopause, womens skin tends to become and stay drier.
• Thyroid disease. Dry skin is a common symptom of hypothyroidism.
• Vitamin or mineral deficiency. Lack of vitamin D, vitamin A, niacin, zinc, or iron can contribute to dry skin.

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