More Than Just Dry Skin
Written by Ron Rodriguez, PA-C
A common problem we see every day. We all have experienced a little dry skin once in a while and lately with the increase in hand washing and sanitizer usage we have seen more and more patients coming to see us with this common problem.
Is it really a thing?
“Xerosis Cutis” is the medical term for abnormally dry skin! This word is derived from the Greek word “Xero” which means dry and the Latin word “Cutis” which means skin. It can affect any part of the body. For most people, xerosis cutis is triggered by environmental factors such as:
-bathing too frequently or over-cleansing
-using excessive hot water
-using strong cleansing agents
-lack of moisturizer
-winter weather or living in low humidity places
-dehydration and extensive sun exposure
In The Queen City, we usually see more patients with this condition during the fall & winter months. This is usually due to the dry cold air and lack of humidity leading to a loss of natural oils and other components in the skin which allow it to function properly.
Who is at risk?
Patients over the age of 65 are more susceptible to abnormally dry skin. Yes, the older we get, the dryer and more sensitive our skin becomes due to hormonal changes. Other risk factors include diabetes, anemia and thyroid imbalance.
What are the symptoms?
They can vary from mild dryness to severe dry, itchy and scaly skin. The symptoms usually begin on the extremities such as hands and feet, occasionally the face is involved. More symptoms are:
-red and irritated skin
-fine fissures and cracks on the skin, usually worse on hands or feet.
-tight sensation on the skin after showering/bathing.
How is it treated?
For most, treatment can be as simple as changing to a moisturizing soap and adding a little cream or lotion after each shower or hand washing. My favorites include Cetaphil body wash or Aveeno body wash. For moisturizers my favorites include La Roche Pose double repair or Lipakar, CeraVe and Cetaphil cream.
For severe dry, cracked hands, it helps to apply at the end of each day a thicker layer of moisture such as Aquaphor healing ointment or CeraVe healing ointment.
On some occasions, to help with symptoms like itching or burning it may help to add a topical steroid such as hydrocortisone 1% cream or ointment, in addition to the moisturizer.
Look for moisturizers containing vitamin B5 or hyaluronic acid, ceramides and lipids. These are all ingredients that help the skin restore back to normal!
Remember, for most this is a big life-style change! Most of my male patients are not good at moisturizing at all. Incorporating these tips into your daily routine is crucial to keep the dry-itchy skin away.
If after all these recommendations you’re still up at night itching, give us a call, we’ll be happy to help!