Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsTypesCausesRisk FactorsTreatmentSeeking Medical Care
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Types
Causes
Risk Factors
Treatment
Seeking Medical Care
Dry skin may cause scaling, cracking, and discomfort. Although dry skin is often noticed on the face, hands, legs, and feet, it can develop anywhere.
Dry skin has many potential causes, including aging, your environment, bathing habits, soaps, medications, and underlying health conditions. You can often take steps at home to treat and prevent dry skin, but you may need to see a healthcare provider if those steps don’t provide relief.
This article will cover the symptoms of dry skin, types of dry skin, common causes, and how to get rid of dry skin.
Ivan Kryvoshei / Getty Images
Dry Skin Symptoms
Dry skin can cause several symptoms, including:
Types of Dry Skin
Certain skin conditions are known to cause dry skin. Here are some of them.
Eczema
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See PhotoReproduced with permission from ©DermNet NZwww.dermnetnz.org2022
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See Photo
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.
Reproduced with permission from ©DermNet NZwww.dermnetnz.org2022
Eczemais an inflammatory skin condition associated with:
About 31 million Americans have eczema, according to the National Eczema Association.Eczema can present in infancy, childhood, or adulthood.
Psoriasis
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See PhotoPsoriasis.DermNet /CC BY-NC-ND
DermNet /CC BY-NC-ND
Psoriasisis a disease that causes raised plaques and scales on the skin. Although the cause isn’t clear, it’s related to inflammation and the immune system not working as it should.
The raised areas of skin most commonly appear on the:
In addition to dry, itchy skin, other symptoms of psoriasis include swelling and joint stiffness.
There are more than 7.5 million adults with psoriasis in the United States.
Seborrheic Dermatitis
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See PhotoReproduced with permission from © DermNet New Zealandwww.dermnetnz.org2023.
Reproduced with permission from © DermNet New Zealandwww.dermnetnz.org2023.
Seborrheic dermatitisis a condition that causes inflammation of the skin’s upper layers. In infants, it’s often referred to as cradle cap. It can occur in adulthood as well. Its milder form is referred to as dandruff.
Symptoms associated with seborrheic dermatitis include:
Hormonal changes and cold weather can make seborrheic dermatitis worse.
Winter Rash: Effects and Skin Care in Colder Months
What Causes Dry Skin?
Dry skincan have many potential causes. Sometimes, the cause is obvious. Other times, the cause of your dry skin is unclear.
Here are some potential causes of dry skin:
Dry Skin in the Winter
Even if you rarely have dry skin, you may find you have some dry areas in the wintertime. This is because the humidity is often lower in the winter months, both outside and indoors when using heating. Wintertime dry skin can happen to people of all ages, no matter what their usual skin type is.
Risk Factors for Dry Skin
Certain risk factors can increase the chance that you may develop dry skin. Those include:
Dry Skin Complications
Another potential complication of dry skin is itching or thickened patches of skin if you have dry skin for a long time.
Dry skin won’t lead to a chronic health condition, but dry skin is a common complication of certain conditions. These include diabetes,thyroid disease, andpsoriasis.
How to Get Rid of Dry Skin
Dry skin can cause discomfort, so you will most likely want to find relief. Many moisturizing choices are available, with ointments and creams usually being more effective and less irritating than lotions.
Moisturizers to Treat Dry Skin
Thicker ointments or creams should help dry skin more than thinner ones.Look for anointment or creamthat contains at least one of the following:
Is Vaseline Good for Dry Skin?Also called petrolatum or petroleum jelly, Vaseline historically has been an inexpensive way to help dry skin. Apply Vaseline when your skin is damp, like right after you bathe or shower. If you have acne-prone skin, avoid using Vaseline on your face. It may lead to more breakouts.
Is Vaseline Good for Dry Skin?
Also called petrolatum or petroleum jelly, Vaseline historically has been an inexpensive way to help dry skin. Apply Vaseline when your skin is damp, like right after you bathe or shower. If you have acne-prone skin, avoid using Vaseline on your face. It may lead to more breakouts.
Lifestyle Measures to Treat Dry Skin
Other measures you can take to treat dry skin can include:
Preventing Dry SkinIf you know you’re prone to dry skin or if you want to stop dry skin problems before they occur, consider taking the following preventive measures:Use moisturizer daily.Stick with short, lukewarm showers or baths, and pat dry afterward rather than rubbing the skin.Avoid sitting near drying heat sources (like fireplaces).Use fragrance-free skin products.Drink plenty of water, which will benefit your whole body.Shower after swimming to remove irritating pool chemicals.
Preventing Dry Skin
If you know you’re prone to dry skin or if you want to stop dry skin problems before they occur, consider taking the following preventive measures:Use moisturizer daily.Stick with short, lukewarm showers or baths, and pat dry afterward rather than rubbing the skin.Avoid sitting near drying heat sources (like fireplaces).Use fragrance-free skin products.Drink plenty of water, which will benefit your whole body.Shower after swimming to remove irritating pool chemicals.
If you know you’re prone to dry skin or if you want to stop dry skin problems before they occur, consider taking the following preventive measures:
When to See a Healthcare Provider
If your skin continues to itch and feel irritated even after using over-the-counter products, it’s time to see a healthcare provider. This may include a dermatologist (a specialist in skin conditions).
It could be that you need a stronger product to help your dry skin. Your dry skin may also be a sign of a chronic skin condition or other medical condition that needs treatment.
A healthcare provider may take these steps to diagnose the cause of dry skin:
If underlying issues are suspected, they may do further tests:
Summary
Dry skin can cause scaling, cracking, and irritation. It results from aging, cold weather, taking certain medications, and having certain chronic conditions. You’re more prone to dry skin if you are over the age of 40, have black or brown skin (or fair skin), and if you smoke.
Some ways to get rid of dry skin include applying ointments or creams (regularly and also after you bathe) and using fragrance-free skin products. You should see a healthcare provider, like a dermatologist, for dry skin if you try over-the-counter products and still have dry skin irritation or concerns.
15 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.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Dry skin: signs and symptoms.National Eczema Association.What is eczema?National Psoriasis Foundation.About psoriasis.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Seborrheic dermatitis.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Dry skin: who gets it and causes.American Cancer Society.Dry skin.National Kidney Foundation.Dialysis: Dry, itchy skin.University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics.Winter dry skin.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Dry skin: diagnosis and treatment.Harvard Health Publishing.9 ways to banish dry skin.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Dermatologists' top tips for relieving dry skin.MedlinePlus.Dry skin.Best Practice Advocacy Centre New Zealand.“Seventh age itch”: preventing and managing dry skin in older people.University of Utah Health.When should you see a dermatologist?MedlinePlus.Skin biopsy.
15 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.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Dry skin: signs and symptoms.National Eczema Association.What is eczema?National Psoriasis Foundation.About psoriasis.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Seborrheic dermatitis.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Dry skin: who gets it and causes.American Cancer Society.Dry skin.National Kidney Foundation.Dialysis: Dry, itchy skin.University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics.Winter dry skin.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Dry skin: diagnosis and treatment.Harvard Health Publishing.9 ways to banish dry skin.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Dermatologists' top tips for relieving dry skin.MedlinePlus.Dry skin.Best Practice Advocacy Centre New Zealand.“Seventh age itch”: preventing and managing dry skin in older people.University of Utah Health.When should you see a dermatologist?MedlinePlus.Skin biopsy.
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.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Dry skin: signs and symptoms.National Eczema Association.What is eczema?National Psoriasis Foundation.About psoriasis.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Seborrheic dermatitis.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Dry skin: who gets it and causes.American Cancer Society.Dry skin.National Kidney Foundation.Dialysis: Dry, itchy skin.University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics.Winter dry skin.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Dry skin: diagnosis and treatment.Harvard Health Publishing.9 ways to banish dry skin.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Dermatologists' top tips for relieving dry skin.MedlinePlus.Dry skin.Best Practice Advocacy Centre New Zealand.“Seventh age itch”: preventing and managing dry skin in older people.University of Utah Health.When should you see a dermatologist?MedlinePlus.Skin biopsy.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Dry skin: signs and symptoms.
National Eczema Association.What is eczema?
National Psoriasis Foundation.About psoriasis.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Seborrheic dermatitis.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Dry skin: who gets it and causes.
American Cancer Society.Dry skin.
National Kidney Foundation.Dialysis: Dry, itchy skin.
University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics.Winter dry skin.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Dry skin: diagnosis and treatment.
Harvard Health Publishing.9 ways to banish dry skin.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Dermatologists' top tips for relieving dry skin.
MedlinePlus.Dry skin.
Best Practice Advocacy Centre New Zealand.“Seventh age itch”: preventing and managing dry skin in older people.
University of Utah Health.When should you see a dermatologist?
MedlinePlus.Skin biopsy.
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