This article was reviewed by Addie Ganik, MD, FAAD.
From cold, dry air and harsh detergents to underlying skin conditions and medications, there are many potential causes of dry skin. Slathering on lotion can help, but it’s good to get to the bottom of what’s going on and learn how to prevent it from coming back.
Want to know more about dry skin, including how to find relief? This condition guide will give you the low-down on dry skin, what causes it, how it’s treated, and steps you can take to prevent it.
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What Is Dry Skin?
Dry skin is skin that’s lost too much moisture. Medical providers sometimes refer to dry skin as xeroderma or xerosis — xero is a prefix meaning “dry.”
It’s a pretty common condition. One European study of over 48,000 people, aged 16 to 70, found that almost one-third had dry skin.
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Symptoms
When skin loses its ability to retain moisture effectively, it can undergo noticeable changes. Let’s explore the symptoms of dry skin now.
What Are the Symptoms of Dry Skin?
Dry skin feels different from healthy, hydrated skin. While it’s easy to say dry skin feels, well…dry, you may also notice other changes if you run your hand across dry skin patches. For example, it may feel rough or tight.
Visible changes are also common. Dry skin might look:
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Scaly or flaky
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More wrinkled than other areas
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Cracked
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Red or irritated
Dry skin doesn’t just affect how your skin looks — it can also cause discomfort. Many people with dry, flaky skin experience itchiness, and severely dry skin that’s cracked or raw may feel painful or even burn.
Cracked skin or excessive scratching at dry, itchy skin can create small breaks in the skin, increasing the risk of getting skin infections.
You can develop dry skin anywhere on your body. However, it tends to be more common in areas with fewer sebaceous glands, such as the shins, forearms, hands, and feet.
What are sebaceous glands? They’re tiny glands in the skin that secrete sebum, an oily substance that lubricates the skin and helps it retain moisture.
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Causes
If you have dry skin, you may be wondering, Why is my skin so dry? Let’s dive into what might be going on with your skin that’s causing it to lose moisture.
What Causes Dry Skin?
On a basic level, dry skin happens because of problems in the stratum corneum, the outermost layer of skin. One of the stratum corneum’s many roles is maintaining the skin’s moisture content.
The stratum corneum is made up of skin cells surrounded by a lipid (fat) matrix rich in ceramides, cholesterol, and natural moisturizing factors (NMFs) — substances produced by the skin that help attract and retain water. Together, these components form a protective barrier that locks in moisture and supports skin hydration.
Changes to the structure or composition of the stratum corneum — whether due to cold air, harsh cleansers, aging, genetics, or something else — can disrupt this barrier, leading to moisture loss and, ultimately, dry skin.
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Risk Factors
We’ve covered the nitty-gritty of what’s actually going on when your skin gets dry. But you may be curious about who’s more likely to get dry skin.
Numerous factors, known as risk factors, can increase your chances of having dry skin. We’ll examine these now.
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Individual and Medical Risk Factors for Dry Skin
A number of factors can increase the likelihood of developing dry skin. These include personal characteristics, as well as certain skin conditions, medical issues, and treatments.
Risk factors for dry skin:
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Age. Sebum production declines with age, particularly starting in your 40s, making skin more prone to dryness.
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Genetics. Genetics can make a person more or less susceptible to dry skin.
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Menopause. Postmenopausal women have a higher risk of dry skin due to hormonal changes.
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Skin conditions. Skin conditions can cause dry skin, including atopic dermatitis (eczema) and psoriasis.
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Medical conditions. Medical conditions can contribute to dry skin, like diabetes, thyroid disease, kidney disease, dehydration, and nutritional deficiencies in iron, zinc, vitamin A, or vitamin D.
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Treatments. Certain medications, including statins, diuretics, and topical retinoids, can cause dryness. Dry skin can also be a side effect of medical treatments like chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and dialysis.
If you think your medication or another treatment you’re receiving is contributing to dry skin, let your healthcare provider know or get in touch with a dermatologist.
Malnutrition, including due to eating disorders like anorexia, may also lead to dry skin. And obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is associated with behaviors like excessive handwashing that can dry out skin.
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Environmental and Lifestyle Risk Factors for Dry Skin
A variety of environmental and lifestyle factors can also increase your risk of developing dry skin. These include:
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Certain personal-care practices, such as taking long, hot baths or showers and using harsh soaps, cleansers, or detergents
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Visiting or living in cold and dry climates
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Frequent skin exposure to water or chemicals, often seen in certain occupations like cooking, housekeeping, nursing, or hairdressing
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Smoking
As you can see, some of these are within your control (like smoking and what products you use). But others, such as your local climate, may require you to adapt your routines to protect your skin.
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Diagnosing
Mild cases of dry skin are quite common and often self-diagnosed. If you have excessively dry skin — especially if it’s frequently itchy, raw, or cracked — make an appointment with a healthcare provider to have them check it out.
While your primary care provider can address dry skin, consulting a dermatologist, a doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating skin conditions, can provide more targeted expertise.
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How Is Dry Skin Diagnosed?
Most of the time, a healthcare provider can diagnose dry skin based on a skin exam.
During your appointment, your provider may ask various questions to better understand your condition, including:
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How long you’ve had dry skin
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If you have any additional symptoms
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Whether certain factors improve or worsen your dry skin
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Your bathing habits and skincare routine
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Whether you have a personal or family history of skin conditions or other medical conditions
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What medications, vitamins, and supplements you’re taking
If your healthcare provider suspects an underlying condition may be contributing to your dry skin, they might recommend some tests. These could include blood tests to check thyroid hormone levels, kidney function, or nutrient deficiencies, as well as a skin biopsy or other assessments to rule out specific skin disorders.
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Treatment
Dry skin can be effectively managed with the right combination of treatments and preventative measures. Healthcare providers typically focus on:
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Restoring moisture to the skin
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Relieving immediate symptoms like itching and cracking
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Managing any underlying medical conditions that may be contributing to dryness
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Preventing future occurrences of dry skin
Now let’s look at the various treatment options available to tackle dry skin, including practical steps you can take at home and when to seek professional help.
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Treatments for Dry Skin
Many times, dry skin can be treated with readily available skincare products and lifestyle adjustments.
Moisturizing the affected area regularly is essential. For treating dry skin, creams or ointments are often the best choice, as their oil-based formulations are more effective at locking in moisture and creating a protective barrier.
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What’s the Best Lotion for Dry Skin?
There’s not a one-size-fits-all answer. The best choice depends on a variety of factors, like the severity of dryness and personal preference. Generally speaking, creams or ointments containing a combination of humectants and emollients are ideal.
Lotions, on the other hand, are typically water-based, which makes them less effective at providing long-lasting hydration and barrier protection.
Humectants — like glycerin, hyaluronic acid, or urea — help draw water into the skin, while emollients — like shea butter and ceramides — soften and smooth the skin by filling in gaps in the skin barrier. Occlusive ingredients like petrolatum or dimethicone can also help by forming a protective layer to prevent moisture loss.
That said, using a moisturizing product consistently is more important than focusing on any one particular ingredient.
Ideally, you should moisturize multiple times a day, as needed. The best time to apply moisturizer is after a bath or shower, while your skin is still damp, as this helps lock in moisture.
Other lifestyle changes can help manage and alleviate symptoms of dry skin:
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Showering in lukewarm water instead of hot water and keeping baths or showers short (15 minutes or less)
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Opting for gentle, fragrance-free skincare products and laundry detergents to avoid irritating your skin
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After bathing, blotting skin gently with a towel to dry yourself instead of rubbing it
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Drinking enough water to stay hydrated
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Using a humidifier to combat dry indoor air
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Covering up when outside in cold, dry, or sunny weather
If your dry skin doesn’t improve with self-care measures, make an appointment with a dermatologist. They can evaluate your skin to identify any underlying factors, such as eczema, psoriasis, or other issues that might be contributing to your dryness.
Your dermatologist will work with you to create a personalized treatment plan to help manage your condition. This may include prescription medications, specialized skincare recommendations, or lifestyle changes to alleviate discomfort and restore your skin’s health.
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Prevention
Almost everyone experiences dry skin at some point in their lives, but there are steps you can take to lower your risk and keep your skin healthy.
Dry Skin Prevention Tips
Try out the tips below to help keep your skin hydrated and prevent dryness:
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Apply a moisturizer regularly, especially after bathing or showering, to lock in moisture.
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Consider reducing the frequency and duration of baths or showers, and use lukewarm (not hot) water to avoid stripping your skin of natural oils.
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Use gentle, fragrance-free cleansers, soaps, and detergents.
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Protect your skin from the elements by wearing appropriate clothing in cold, dry, and sunny weather to shield your skin.
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Use a humidifier in your home to make the air less dry.
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Keep your lips moist by applying lip balm or petroleum jelly.
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Drink enough fluids each day, especially water.
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Eat a healthy, balanced diet to ensure your body is well-nourished.
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Quit smoking.
If you’re finding it difficult to prevent dry skin despite making adjustments, don’t hesitate to reach out to a healthcare provider for additional guidance and recommendations.
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This article originally appeared on Forhers.com and was syndicated by MediaFeed.org
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