6 Reasons Your Skin Is Dry
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Medically reviewed by Susan Bard, MD
Xeroderma, also known as dry skin, is a common condition resulting from a lack of moisture in the skin that causes flaky, scaly, or itchy patches on the face or body. When external or internal factors weaken the protective function of the outermost layer of the skin, called the skin barrier, excessive water loss occurs. This moisture loss causes dry skin.
Dry skin is something many people experience at some point in their lives. It also becomes more common as people age, as the skin gradually starts to lose sweat and oil glands.
You can care for dry skin by using moisturizers and other self-care measures to restore hydration and moisture to the skin barrier.
Dry Skin Symptoms
Dry skin can feel rough, tight, or itchy, with the appearance of visible flaky or scaly patches on the areas of dry skin. Skin may also appear cracked in some areas.
Dry skin can present anywhere on the body or face, but it tends to occur more frequently in areas with fewer oil glands, such as the elbows, lower legs, hands, feet, and lower arms.
When left untreated, dry skin may lead to pruritus, which is severe itching of the skin. Pruritus increases the likelihood of scratching, which can damage the skin and lead to a greater risk of getting skin infections.
Causes of Dry Skin
There are many causes of dry skin. External factors like exposure to harsh weather or irritating cleansers are common triggers for dryness. However, internal factors like aging and some medical conditions can also contribute to dry skin.
Environmental Factors
Exposure to certain outdoor or indoor elements can impact the skin's moisture. For example, the sun, cold weather, dry indoor heating, and low humidity can all dry out the skin and cause it to lose moisture.
Reducing your exposure to these environmental stressors, such as applying a broad-spectrum sunscreen to your skin while outside, will help prevent dry skin.
Over-Cleansing Your Skin
Washing your face and body with harsh cleansers or body washes, or cleansing your skin for too long, can make the skin become dry. Taking hot showers for long periods can also lead to skin dryness.
To combat this, limit the amount of time you spend in the shower to under 10 minutes and use gentle, fragrance-free cleansers. After bathing or showering, apply a moisturizer to damp skin, which will help seal in moisture.
Age
As you age, your pores produce less sebum, an oily substance that moisturizes and protects your skin. This decline typically begins around age 40. From your 40s onwards, your sebum levels will continue to drop, leading to drier skin as you get older.
Smoking
Multiple studies have found that smoking is associated with premature aging of skin. The chemicals in cigarettes have been found to accelerate skin aging, which causes your skin to become drier. Smoking may also lower estrogen levels in females, which could contribute to dry skin.
Inflammatory Skin Conditions
Inflammatory skin conditions are long-lasting dysfunctions of the skin barrier that are triggered by pruritogens, substances that act on sensory nerves in the skin. When the skin is scratched, the body releases pruritogens, which cause dry, itchy skin and other inflammatory symptoms.
One common inflammatory skin condition is atopic dermatitis, also known as eczema. This condition causes dry, itchy, and inflamed skin.
Another common condition is psoriasis. About 80-90% of people with psoriasis have plaque psoriasis. This type is characterized by patches of dry, thick, raised skin (called plaques), which are sometimes covered by a dry, itchy, silvery-white coating called scales.
Medical Conditions and Treatments
Some medical conditions and treatments can cause dry or extremely dry skin. These include:
Diabetes
Kidney disease
Statins, medications that help lower cholesterol levels in the blood
Diuretics, medications that help move fluids out of the body by increasing the production of urine
Dialysis, a treatment for kidney failure
Cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy (a treatment that uses drugs to kill cancer cells), targeted therapy (a treatment that targets the proteins that cancer cells need to grow and survive), and radiation treatments (a treatment that applies high doses of radiation that reduce the size of tumors and kill cancer cells)
Treatments for Dry Skin
There are many ways to relieve dry skin. Applying moisturizing products directly to the skin and making changes in your environment can help treat dryness and address the cause of your dry skin.
You can manage symptoms of dry skin at home by following a gentle skincare routine. Use moisturizers for the face and body that contain hydrating ingredients such as ceramides, urea, or lactic acids. In cases of very dry or itchy skin, you might need a prescription moisturizer from a healthcare provider.
Older adults who are more susceptible to dry skin should aim to moisturize their skin twice per day. One Japanese study found that a moisturizer containing sericin (a silk protein) and ceramide NP (an ingredient that improves skin barrier function) was the most effective in improving the appearance of dry skin on the lower leg, among 39 healthy adults over the age of 65.
Making certain changes to your home or work environment can help improve symptoms, too. Regularly using a humidifier in your home will help add moisture to the air and improve your symptoms of dry skin.
If high exposure to sun, cold weather, or water is causing your dry skin, take measures to protect your skin in these conditions. For example, keep your skin covered when outdoors or wear rubber gloves while washing dishes.
If your dry skin is from a medical condition or medication, visit a healthcare provider or board-certified dermatologist (a medical doctor who specializes in treating conditions of the skin, hair, and nails) to discuss treatment options.
How To Prevent Dry Skin
Keeping your skin barrier protected and hydrated can help prevent dry skin. Here are a few ways to maintain your skin health and avoid dryness:
Apply moisturizer immediately after washing your hands or within five minutes of showering or bathing, and apply to your body and face as needed throughout the day.
Use gentle, fragrance-free cleansers.
Use moisturizing lotions, ointments, or creams containing hydrating ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, jojoba oil, glycerin, lactic acid, or shea butter.
Choose laundry detergents labeled as hypoallergenic. It may also be helpful to avoid wearing wool or scratchy clothing, which can irritate dry, itchy skin, and opt for clothes made out of cotton or silk.
Wear gloves while outside in the winter, while cleaning or gardening, or to protect hands during jobs where they might get wet or cold.
Avoid smoking.
When To See a Healthcare Provider for Dry Skin
If your dry skin is not improving with self-care practices or changes to your environment, or if your skin becomes very itchy, see a board-certified dermatologist or healthcare provider to discuss other treatment options. At your appointment, the provider may ask you about your family history of medical conditions and allergies, any known triggers for dry skin, and any treatments you have previously tried.
The provider may prescribe a medical-grade moisturizer or take further steps to diagnose and treat any underlying medical conditions. If one of your medications is causing dry skin, a healthcare provider may also be able to recommend alternative options.
A Quick Review
Moisture loss in the skin barrier can result in dry skin, a common condition that can occur anywhere on the face or body. Symptoms of dry skin include rough, tight, or itchy skin. Visible flakes, cracked skin, or scaly patches may also appear on dry skin.
Factors like hygiene habits, age, environmental exposures, and certain medical conditions can all lead to dry skin. You can typically treat and prevent dry skin by moisturizing your face and body regularly. Making lifestyle changes like using a humidifier at home, quitting smoking, and covering your skin in sunny or cold weather can also help.
If self-care efforts to restore moisture to the skin are not effective or if your skin becomes very itchy, visit a dermatologist or healthcare provider to discuss further treatment options.
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