Dry skin

dry skin summary

Dry skin is a very common dermatological problem, which can go beyond just being an aesthetic problem.
Our skin has the role of protecting our body from external aggressions (living organisms, heat, cold, UV rays, trauma) and interacting with the environment. When we have a problem with our skin, such as dry skin, these functions can be impaired.

People with dry skin have less oily substance in the outer layer of the skin, which causes a significant loss of water, leaving the skin dehydrated and sensitive.

There are numerous factors that help the development of dry skin, including weather: sun, cold, dry air, wind, constant exposure to water (many showers, swimming pools,…), hot showers, use a lot of soap (especially the very basic ones ), using products that contain alcohol, using certain medications and aging. In addition to some diseases ( hypothyroidism , psoriasis , contact eczema , ichthyosis, neurodermatitis) and genetic factors (hereditary or not).

The main symptoms are pink or white skin, thin, lacking in brightness, roughness, sensitive and often with cracks and scales.

It is important to treat dry skin well, to avoid pain or wounds, useless itching, skin infections (dry skin favors the entry of infectious agents), as well as long-term complications: which can be dermatoses such as atopic dermatitis ( neurodermatitis), eczema or psoriasis.

The main treatment is through the use of moisturizers, which are available in different forms (ointments, lotions, creams, oils) and with different substances (paraffin, vaseline, propylene glycol, glycine, urea, dexpanthenol, among others). To find out which is the best moisturizer for your skin, you need to consult a specialist so that he can analyze your skin type, look for a dermatologist.

In addition to conventional moisturizers, there are some medicinal plants that can also be used, the most studied and known is aloe vera (aloe vera). Other medicinal plants that help hydration are: borage , chamomile , donkey grass, soy . These plants are usually used in the form of oil, creams or ointments.

But in addition to treating it, it is necessary to take some precautions such as: not taking too hot showers, using neutral soaps (preferably only once a day), using sunscreen, avoiding scratching, maintaining a healthy diet, drinking plenty of fluids (at least 2L per day) and when the air is very dry use a room humidifier.

Definition

To know what problems dry skin can cause, we first need to understand the role played by the skin, which is summarized in two functions: physical barrier and interaction with the environment. Any skin problem can affect its functions, which leads to the problems that dry skin can cause.

Dry skin is characterized by a decrease in the oily substance (lipid layer of the skin), mainly in the outer layer (epidermis) of the skin. Then there is a significant loss of water, as the lipid barrier can no longer play its protective role, ceasing to be impermeable to water, in addition to becoming more sensitive and subject to irritation and infections. Therefore, dry skin is not just an aesthetic problem.

We can understand why we talk about dry skin, because there really is dehydration (loss of water).

Epidemiology

In the United States, 50% of seniors suffer from dry skin, according to Prevention magazine (January 2021 issue). The main cause is the decrease in the production of sebum, an oily substance that is produced naturally and less frequently after the age of 40.

Causes

Several causes can cause dry skin:

– Specific climatic conditions: sun, cold, dry air (mainly in winter, in apartments with a lot of heating), winter wind, pollution…

– Take a lot of showers during the day. In fact, the more we are exposed to water, the more we eliminate the protective layers of the skin, which favors the elimination of water and leaves the skin dry. Mainly, very hot baths.

– The use of very basic (alkaline) soap and products containing alcohol in their formulation.

– Heredity: certain people genetically have a smaller amount of lipids in the outer layer of the skin. We know, for example, that black-skinned people tend to have dry skin.

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– Genetics: in addition to hereditary factors, mutations in the gene responsible for the production of the filaggrin protein increase the risk of skin problems, which includes not only dry skin but also atopic dermatitis and other skin diseases.

– Hormonal problems, such as menopause , in women.

– Age, over the years the skin naturally becomes drier.

– Children also have naturally drier skin, as they still don’t produce sex hormones.

– Hypothyroidism

– Symptoms of a skin disease (dermatosis) such as psoriasis , ichthyosis, contact eczema, neurodermatitis…

– Taking certain medications (this is the case with isotretinoin, a medication used against severe acne that often causes dry skin as a side effect).

– Vitamin A overdose, which usually occurs due to intake of more than 100,000 units per day.

– Insolation.

– Type 2 diabetes .

Symptoms

The symptoms of dry skin are almost always easy to spot. The skin is often pink or white accompanied by dullness and roughness, sometimes associated with cracks and scales. There is a strong itching sensation, which often triggers pain.

Dry skin is thinner, rougher and more sensitive not only to weather conditions (very hot, cold and dry weather) but also to the use of inappropriate products. In addition to losing elasticity.

A vicious circle regularly occurs, because with the habit of scratching, the pain increases and when there is pain, there is a desire to scratch, so it is important to quickly and effectively treat dry skin problems.

Symptoms are often temporary or seasonal, for example, a person may experience dry skin every winter but not during other seasons.

Treatments

In general, dry skin can be treated with so-called emollient preparations (from the Latin emollire , meaning to soften) to be used externally (topically). For guaranteed effectiveness, it is important that the active agents in these products penetrate the skin. In other words, they must not remain on the surface but must enter the skin tissues to be active.

The drier the skin, the more consistent or thicker the products used should be.

Emollients: 
There are many lotions, creams, ointments or oily baths available in pharmacies to moisturize the skin and therefore combat dryness. If the dry skin area is very large, it is better to use a greasy lotion or bath. If the surface to be treated is small, preferably use a cream or ointment1 . Viscosity and polarity (hydrophilic vs. lipophilic) play a key role in choosing which preparation to use. A low polarity means a significant amount of fat base (read below). A lipophilic preparation should be used when the skin is very dry and in winter (in summer, a less oily preparation is preferable).
Bases: 
These preparations for external use usually contain a fatty base with an occlusive function such as paraffin (paraffin oil), propylene glycol, sweet almond oil, vaseline or even glycerin (which also has a rehydrating effect). For each skin type, a different preparation is recommended.
Molecules: 
These preparations usually contain disinfectant (2% dexpanthenol – also a soothing agent, urea – also a rehydrating agent, chlorhexidine, polidocanol), keratolytic (urea > 10-40%), desquamating, softening or even rehydrating molecules of the horny layers of the epidermis (1 to 10% urea, up to 25% glycerin, up to 12% lactic acid derivatives, hyaluronic acid) or lipid replenishers (for example, natural oils such as sweet almond oil, linoleic acid or ceramides).
Urea can increase the skin’s moisture level by 60%. Urea-based creams or ointments are therefore strongly recommended against dry skin.
Dosage 
Emollients should generally be applied at least once or twice a day, sometimes more for very dry skin2 .
Remarks: 
Urea is sometimes poorly tolerated, with burning sensations on the skin. Urea, in any case in Switzerland, is contraindicated in children under 2 years of age. For children under 2 years old, glycerin should be preferred.

Baby oil: 
In advanced or severe cases of dry skin, the use of oil (eg baby oil) can be helpful. The oil is more effective than over-the-counter or over-the-counter moisturizers for fighting dry skin.

Inflammation and pain: 
– In case of severe itching or pain, you can also use a cream or ointment containing at least 1% hydrocortisone. The goal is to reduce inflammation.
– Polidocanol 3-10% can also act as a local anesthetic (usually for no more than 30 minutes). Menthol can have a cooling effect.

Consult a specialist (dermatologist, pharmacist and their team) to find the best preparation for your skin type.

Herbal medicine

The medicinal plants mentioned below have been shown to be effective against dry skin:

– Aloe vera , to be used in the form of a cream or ointment. Aloe gel. Apply the gel directly to dry skin, repeat several times a day if necessary.

– Borage (borage oil), to be administered in the form of a cream, ointment or capsule.

– Chamomile , to be used in the form of a cream or ointment.

– Donkey grass oil ( donkey grass oil), to be administered in the form of a cream, ointment or capsule.

– Soy (soybean oil), to be administered in the form of cream, ointment or capsule.

There are no studies that prove the effect of home remedies. Be careful, as many can further irritate the skin and make the case worse. We made a list of those that do not harm the skin (except in cases of allergies to these products):

– Honey, to be applied pure under the skin.

– Milk bath with grape seed oil. Milk alone has no effect, but with the combination of grape seed oil it acquires the effect of making the skin softer.

– sweet almond oil

Tips

– Avoid taking too many showers during the day (take a maximum of one or two per day), as this quickly dries the skin. In case of frequent showers or baths, use soap all over the body only once a day and apply a moisturizing lotion afterwards. In the bath, stay no more than 5-10 minutes.

– Give preference to the use of neutral or slightly acidic soaps.

– Apply ointments, lotions or moisturizing creams regularly (especially after bathing). When taking a shower, use lotions or bath oils (which can be found in pharmacies), as this allows you to rehydrate the skin of the whole body. It’s quite effective.

– Avoid scratching, as a vicious circle can set in and this can aggravate the situation.

– Adopt a healthy diet, rich in various antioxidant vitamins (C, E, A), especially in vitamin E (eat, for example, wheat germ , carrots), minerals and trace elements. Also try to drink plenty of water.

– Dress appropriately, especially in extreme weather conditions: intense cold, intense heat, dry weather, etc.

– Apply protective oily creams and in case of exposure to the sun, use a good sunscreen with appropriate SPF.

– In winter, try to humidify (with a humidifier) ​​and regularly ventilate the apartment.

– Avoid applying products that contain alcohol in their formulation or substances that irritate the skin.

– Wear clothing made from natural fibers such as cotton or silk. Avoid clothes made of synthetic fibers, skin breathing is not so good in this case. Beware of wool (albeit a natural fiber) as it can be irritating to the skin.

Jeanne Kenney
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I’m a stylist trainer, a content creator, and an entrepreneur passion. Virgo sign and Pisces ascendant, I move easily between my dreams, the crazy world I want, and my feet on the ground to carry out my projects.

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