OVERVIEW

Dry skin occurs when you skin loses too much moisture. This loss of moisture (water content) may indicate that the skin’s barrier function is compromised. The skin barrier is composed of skin cells and lipids. Changes in lipid composition and content compromise the skin barrier, allowing water to escape.

If your skin is dry, it can feel tight, itchy, and uncomfortable. It may be flaky and cracked.  If skin becomes too dry, it can become inflamed and rashy. 

CAUSES

Dry skin is often exacerbated by environmental factors such as: low humidity, hot water, over cleansing, not moisturizing. In addition, inflammatory skin conditions, such as atopic dermatitis and rosacea, disrupt the skin barrier, allowing increased loss of water from the skin’s surface.

PREVENTION

Lifestyle factors play an important role in helping to maintain/restore the skin barrier and retain moisture. These are Dr. Chiang’s gentle skin care rules for helping dry skin:

• Shower once daily
• Showers should be short (5 minutes or less)
• Use lukewarm water
• Use a gentle cleanser on the folds of the skin and any area that is visibly soiled
• Towel damp dry
• Apply a bland, heavy cream to the entire skin surface

TREATMENT OPTIONS

If you are following the above rules for prevention, and you are still having problems with dry skin, you may need a dermatologic evaluation to determine what “tweaks” to the regimen may be of additional benefit. These tweaks may include medicated otc and/or prescription topicals.