Many of us have had to deal with dry, itchy, irritated, scaly skin at some point. Doctors often hear patients complain that their skin is so dry it hurts. It can be due to numerous reasons. The medical term for dry skin abnormality is xerosis cutis. It is a severely dry skin condition that causes you to feel pain all over your face, hands, and feet. Sometimes, you may need an expert to help you deal with your skin conditions. On the other hand, you can treat some of the less aggravated dry skin problems at home with some self-care and home remedies.
In this article, we will go through all the common symptoms and causes of dry skin. We will also see the steps and treatments you can do to help you soothe and nourish your itchy, irritated, and dry skin texture.
Symptoms
The symptoms of severely dry skin often match those of regular to normal-dry skin. However, the severity of the dryness and irritation and how often it happens is what makes this condition more noticeable.
If you are itching more than you usually would, have more prominent and scaly dry patches, or go through tubs of moisturizer, you may have a severely dry skin condition.
Identifying these symptoms is the first step to correcting your condition. Following are some of the main things that could help you determine whether your skin is severely dry or not:
- The dryness is causing intense pain, itchiness.
- It is scaly in texture.
- Your redness is worsening or starting to scab, crust, peel, or scale off.
- There are patches of gray, ashy-looking skin in people with darker skin tones.
- Skin gets fine cracks.
- You find it difficult to sleep at night due to excessive itching.
- Areas of infection are filled with pus, blisters, odor, or pain.
- Your symptoms are not improving or getting worse, despite using various over-the-counter moisturizers.
Causes
Several common triggers can be the culprit behind dehydrated skin. The following factors are the leading causes of dry skin:
1- Environmental Pollutants
The weather is often the most mentioned cause of severely dry skin, particularly in winter. It is because the humidity levels also drop with the temperature that worsens your dry skin condition. Moreover, your skin can lose more moisture than usual with heaters, and more extended hotter regular showers.
2- Certain Skin Diseases
Skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis can make you more sensitive to dry skin. Many skin specialists and aestheticians have also mentioned that eczema is the most common dry and itchy skin in kids and adults.
3- Systemic Diseases
In addition to common skin conditions, systemic diseases, such as thyroid disease and diabetes can also enhance the risk of severely dry skin.
4- Lack of Moisture
Just like your body gets dehydrated, so does your skin. That is why skin experts stress the importance of regularly moisturizing your skin and drinking plenty of fluids to keep your skin hydrated from the inside. Water is the ultimate solution to many skin problems.
5- Aging
The dry skin condition can affect all ages. But as you age, you will start to notice it the most. It is primarily because your skin becomes more sensitive and thinner over time. It ultimately makes your skin more prone to drying out quicker than usual.
6- Nutritional Deficiencies
A lack of necessary vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin B-6 and zinc, can cause dry, itchy skin or skin that takes a lot longer to heal.
Prevention
To prevent causing conditions in which your skin is so dry it hurts, you should practice the following:
- Avoid using harsh soaps.
- Stay hydrated by increasing your water intake.
- Take lukewarm showers.
- Pack your skin with a gentle moisturizer after you dry it
- Avoid scraping your skin.
- Keep your thermostat down.
- Keep your indoor moisture balanced.
- Protect your skin from outside allergens by wearing gloves, scarves, and any other clothing that can cover your exposed skin.
Severe dry skin is a common condition that is managed with prescribed treatments most of the time. Dry skin tends to be more prevalent in winter when the air is colder and more dehydrated, and indoor heating is cranked up to maximum.
Among all the practices, staying hydrated, applying a good amount of moisturizer to your skin, and avoiding overly heated air and hot showers can help prevent the skin from getting so dry it hurts.
However, if your skin does become severely dry, some home treatments can often help. But if your skin does not improve or the symptoms get worse with time, you should get a follow-up with a skincare professional. To book an appointment with one of the top Dr. Haroon Nabi in Lahore, contact Marham.pk.
