Brief overview
- Causes: external factors (e.g. heat, cold, sunlight), diet, certain medications, stress and emotional strain, biological factors (such as age), diseases such as neurodermatitis, allergies, psoriasis, contact eczema, leg ulcers (ulcers on the lower leg), Diabetes mellitus (diabetes), hypothyroidism, Crohn’s disease (chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract), Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (cancer of the pancreas), coeliac disease (gluten intolerance)
- Treatment: depending on the trigger, e.g. with medication (such as cortisone); also treatment of underlying diseases (such as diabetes)
- Self-treatment and prevention: proper skin care, sun protection, protecting the skin from dry heating air in winter (e.g. with a humidifier), a balanced, healthy diet, drinking enough, as little alcohol as possible, not smoking, plenty of exercise in the fresh air, home remedies (such as a face mask with avocado)
- When to see a doctor? If your own measures do not change the dry skin; if the skin suddenly dries out for no apparent reason, burns, flakes, itches or becomes inflamed; if there are additional symptoms such as hair loss, headaches, dizziness or nausea
Dry skin: causes
Normally, the sebaceous and sweat glands continuously produce a mix of oil and water to keep the skin supple. Dry skin occurs when the sebaceous glands release too little oil and moisture-binding substances. The skin’s ability to function then suffers: for example, it can no longer adequately protect the body from external influences such as UV radiation, pathogens or mechanical injuries, nor can it fully regulate body temperature and water balance.
Dry skin is particularly common on the face. However, the lower legs, shins, feet, hands, elbows and forearms can also be affected.
Dry skin feels rough and brittle. It has fine pores, is tight, flaky and itchy. Reddened areas are also common. Dry skin cracks quickly and reacts sensitively to cold and/or heat. In extreme cases, dehydration eczema can develop: The skin tears and becomes inflamed.
External influences, biological factors and certain illnesses usually cause dry skin.
External factors
Weather:
The weather can irritate the skin. If you sweat in summer, for example, your body loses fluids and the skin dries out more quickly. Air conditioning and sunlight intensify this effect.
Nutrition:
Diet also influences the appearance of the skin. In particular, malnutrition and the resulting underweight dry out the skin. People who drink too little, smoke a lot and/or drink alcohol regularly also develop dry skin quickly.
Stress and emotional strain:
In addition, stress and emotional strain can dry out the skin.
Medication:
Dry skin can also occur as a side effect of medication that affects the body’s fluid balance or certain glandular functions. These include skin creams containing cortisone, retinoids (for the treatment of acne and psoriasis), diuretics (drugs that flush out water) and chemotherapeutic agents (for cancer therapy).
Radiotherapy for cancer can also dry out the skin.
Biological factors
- With increasing age (from the age of 40), the moisture content of the skin decreases. In addition, the skin binds less moisture with age and the sweat glands produce less sweat. Both of these factors further dry out the skin.
- Genetic predisposition also influences the appearance of the skin – dry skin is therefore sometimes familial.
Diseases
Certain diseases are associated with dry skin. The most important include
- neurodermatitis
- allergies
- psoriasis
- Contact eczema (skin rash)
- Ichthyosis (also known as fish scale disease, hereditary disease of the uppermost corneal layer)
- Ulcus cruris (ulcer on the lower leg)
- Diabetes mellitus (diabetes)
- Underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism)
- Intestinal diseases (for example Crohn’s disease)
- Inflammation of the stomach lining (gastritis)
- Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (increased production of the hormone gastrin causes the stomach to produce too much acid, resulting in ulcers in the gastrointestinal tract)
- Coeliac disease (chronic disease of the mucous membrane of the small intestine due to gluten intolerance)
Dry skin: treatment
The treatment of dry skin depends on the cause. The dermatologist can, for example, prescribe preparations containing cortisone or recommend care products that are specially tailored to your skin and moisturize it. They will also treat underlying conditions such as neurodermatitis or diabetes accordingly. However, you can also do something about dry skin yourself.
Skin care
The be-all and end-all for dry skin is the right skin care. You should only wash dry skin with mild substances that are ideally pH-neutral and fragrance-free. You should avoid toners containing alcohol, as they dry out your skin even more. Always apply cream to dry skin after bathing or showering to compensate for moisture loss.
As older people often suffer from dry skin, they should pay more attention to adequate skin care.
Nutrition
A balanced diet also protects against dry skin. Fresh fruit and vegetables provide important minerals and vitamins for the cells. Drink enough, preferably water, fruit spritzers, fruit or herbal teas. However, you should avoid alcohol as far as possible, as it can also dry out the skin. The same applies to smoking.
Home remedies
Some sufferers swear by home remedies for dry skin, for example
- coconut oil
- almond oil
- aloe vera
- avocado
- Olive oil
- honey
- Carrot juice
- Clay
Mixed with water, rose water or a high-quality oil and applied as a cream or mask, these substances can moisturize dry skin and make it supple again.
Home remedies have their limits. If the symptoms persist over a longer period of time and do not improve or even get worse, you should always consult a doctor.
Miscellaneous
Get plenty of exercise in the fresh air to promote blood circulation in your skin and prevent dry skin. Avoid frequent exposure to direct sunlight. To protect your skin from dry heating air in winter, you can use humidifiers or place bowls of water in the room.
Dry skin: when do you need to see a doctor?
You should consult a (skin) doctor if:
- you have been suffering from dry skin for a long time and applying cream does not alleviate the symptoms.
- your skin suddenly becomes dry for no apparent reason.
- scaly and dry patches of skin develop.
- the skin is painful, red and inflamed.
Additional symptoms such as hair loss, headaches, dizziness and nausea, significant weight gain or loss, severe thirst, frequent urination, inner restlessness or unusual anxiety make a visit to the doctor urgently necessary.
Dry skin: What does the doctor do?
The first step is to take a medical history, during which your doctor will ask you in detail about your symptoms and the various factors influencing the appearance of your skin. Possible questions include:
- How long have you suffered from dry skin?
- Did you change your diet before your skin became dry?
- Do you regularly take medication?
- Is the dry skin accompanied by other symptoms?
- Do you suffer from a specific underlying condition such as an allergy or diabetes?
Physical examinations
After taking your medical history, the doctor will examine you. The dermatologist will focus on the areas of skin that have changed and examine them with a magnifying glass or microscope. This enables him to determine how moist or oily the skin looks and whether it is noticeably rough.
Laboratory tests
Special blood tests and urine tests can also be informative. These can detect deviations in the salt-water balance, deficiencies and hormonal disorders.
The doctor can use a tissue sample (biopsy) to diagnose psoriasis or ichthyosis.
With the help of further examinations such as a stool examination, colonoscopy, ultrasound and X-ray examination, various other diseases can be identified as possible causes of dry skin.
