Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSimple FixesWhat Causes Dry Elbows?When to See a Provider

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Simple Fixes

What Causes Dry Elbows?

When to See a Provider

Dry elbows are a common problem. Sometimes, dry skin on the elbows may appear gray or whitish in color (ashy).

Usually, dry skin on the elbows is nothing to worry about. You can reach for your favorite product, such as a lotion, body butter, or oil, to help ease the condition. If the dryness is excessive or it doesn’t go away, there could be an underlying condition such aseczema, psoriasis, or diabetes.

This article discusses some easy fixes for dry elbows, the causes, and when to reach out to your healthcare provider for help.

Ivan-balvan / Getty Images

A person applying lotion to their dry elbow.

3 Fixes for Dry Elbows

Managing dry elbows can be an easy task. The key is understanding the reason why the elbows are dry in the first place.

Stay Moisturized

To combat dry elbows, it is important to keep the skinmoisturized.

For the best results, look for products that contain:

Products like shea butter, cocoa butter, mineral oil, and aloe vera can help moisturize dry elbows.Research has found that incorporating specific humectants into a topical moisturizer for dry skin is important to reduce dryness.

Pay Attention to Clothing

If your elbows become dry, flaky, or itchy after wearing certain fabrics, stop wearing them. If the dryness or itching does not improve, contact a healthcare provider.

Avoid Stress and Irritants

It is important to follow your healthcare provider’s recommendations for treating eczema or psoriasis if one of these conditions is causing your dry elbows. Because stress can aggravate these conditions, avoiding stressful situations may help.

If your medication is making your elbows dry and it is a concern, contact your healthcare provider to discuss other options for treatment.

Dry elbows usually have common causes and improvement can be made with lifestyle adjustments. Sometimes, however, the dryness can be a sign of an underlying condition.

Some of the causes of dry elbows include:

When to See a Healthcare Provider

While dry elbows are generally nothing to worry about, they can become irritating and uncomfortable. Go ahead and reach out to your healthcare provider if your dry elbows do not get better with home remedies, moisturizers, or over-the-counter treatments.

You should also see your healthcare provider if:

Although uncommon, dry and cracked elbows can become infected. Call your healthcare provider if you develop anysigns of infection, including:

How to Keep Your Skin Hydrated (and Why It’s Important)

Summary

Dry elbows are common. If you have lifestyle habits that cause dry elbows, try to change them or get a product that provides proper moisture for your skin and elbows.

See your healthcare provider if your elbows are very dry and itchy, if they crack or bleed, or if they show signs of infection.

8 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.University of Rochester Medical Center.Dry skin.Purnamawati S, Indrastuti N, Danarti R, Saefudin T.The role of moisturizers in addressing various kinds of dermatitis: A review.Clin Med Res. 2017;15(3-4):75-87. doi:10.3121/cmr.2017.1363Harvard Health.9 ways to banish dry skin.DermaNet NZ.Textile contact dermatitis.Rousset L, Halioua B.Stress and psoriasis.Int J Dermatol. 2018;57(10):1165-1172. doi:10.1111/ijd.14032Naldi L.Psoriasis and smoking: links and risks.Psoriasis (Auckl). 2016;6:65-71. doi:10.2147/PTT.S85189Teasdale E, Muller I, Sivyer K, et al.Views and experiences of managing eczema: Systematic review and thematic synthesis of qualitative studies.BJD. 2020;184(4):627-637. doi:10.1111/bjd.19299Rendon A, Schäkel K.Psoriasis pathogenesis and treatment.Int J Mol Sci. 2019;20(6):1475. doi:10.3390/ijms20061475

8 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.University of Rochester Medical Center.Dry skin.Purnamawati S, Indrastuti N, Danarti R, Saefudin T.The role of moisturizers in addressing various kinds of dermatitis: A review.Clin Med Res. 2017;15(3-4):75-87. doi:10.3121/cmr.2017.1363Harvard Health.9 ways to banish dry skin.DermaNet NZ.Textile contact dermatitis.Rousset L, Halioua B.Stress and psoriasis.Int J Dermatol. 2018;57(10):1165-1172. doi:10.1111/ijd.14032Naldi L.Psoriasis and smoking: links and risks.Psoriasis (Auckl). 2016;6:65-71. doi:10.2147/PTT.S85189Teasdale E, Muller I, Sivyer K, et al.Views and experiences of managing eczema: Systematic review and thematic synthesis of qualitative studies.BJD. 2020;184(4):627-637. doi:10.1111/bjd.19299Rendon A, Schäkel K.Psoriasis pathogenesis and treatment.Int J Mol Sci. 2019;20(6):1475. doi:10.3390/ijms20061475

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

University of Rochester Medical Center.Dry skin.Purnamawati S, Indrastuti N, Danarti R, Saefudin T.The role of moisturizers in addressing various kinds of dermatitis: A review.Clin Med Res. 2017;15(3-4):75-87. doi:10.3121/cmr.2017.1363Harvard Health.9 ways to banish dry skin.DermaNet NZ.Textile contact dermatitis.Rousset L, Halioua B.Stress and psoriasis.Int J Dermatol. 2018;57(10):1165-1172. doi:10.1111/ijd.14032Naldi L.Psoriasis and smoking: links and risks.Psoriasis (Auckl). 2016;6:65-71. doi:10.2147/PTT.S85189Teasdale E, Muller I, Sivyer K, et al.Views and experiences of managing eczema: Systematic review and thematic synthesis of qualitative studies.BJD. 2020;184(4):627-637. doi:10.1111/bjd.19299Rendon A, Schäkel K.Psoriasis pathogenesis and treatment.Int J Mol Sci. 2019;20(6):1475. doi:10.3390/ijms20061475

University of Rochester Medical Center.Dry skin.

Purnamawati S, Indrastuti N, Danarti R, Saefudin T.The role of moisturizers in addressing various kinds of dermatitis: A review.Clin Med Res. 2017;15(3-4):75-87. doi:10.3121/cmr.2017.1363

Harvard Health.9 ways to banish dry skin.

DermaNet NZ.Textile contact dermatitis.

Rousset L, Halioua B.Stress and psoriasis.Int J Dermatol. 2018;57(10):1165-1172. doi:10.1111/ijd.14032

Naldi L.Psoriasis and smoking: links and risks.Psoriasis (Auckl). 2016;6:65-71. doi:10.2147/PTT.S85189

Teasdale E, Muller I, Sivyer K, et al.Views and experiences of managing eczema: Systematic review and thematic synthesis of qualitative studies.BJD. 2020;184(4):627-637. doi:10.1111/bjd.19299

Rendon A, Schäkel K.Psoriasis pathogenesis and treatment.Int J Mol Sci. 2019;20(6):1475. doi:10.3390/ijms20061475

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