Medical history (history of illness) represents an important component in the diagnosis of xeroderma (dry skin).
Family history
Social history
- What is your occupation?
- Are you exposed to harmful working substances in your profession?
Current medical history/systemic medical history (somatic and psychological complaints).
- Do you suffer from:
- Itching?, burning? – especially after bathing or showering
- Skin florescences (skin lesions):
- How long have you been suffering from these complaints?
- Is the itching reduced or increased by daily skin care?
Vegetative anamnesis incl. nutritional anamnesis.
- How often do you bathe or shower?
- Do you often go to the tanning salon?
- Do you eat a balanced diet?
- What is the humidity in your workplace or home?
- Do you smoke? If so, how many cigarettes, cigars or pipes per day?
- Do you drink alcohol? If yes, what drink(s) and how many glasses per day?
- Do you use drugs? If yes, what drugs and how often per day or per week?
Self history incl. medication history.
- Pre-existing conditions (skin diseases)
- Operations
- Radiotherapy
- Allergies
Medication history (medications that may cause a decrease in sebaceous gland production (sebostasis)).
- Cimetidine (H2 antihistamine).
- Desiccant medications
- Diuretics
- Retinoids (acitretin, isotretinoin)
- HIV protease inhibitors (indinavir).
- Hormones
- Hormonal contraceptives (birth control pills) and antiandrogens.
- Estrogens (sebostasis/inhibition of sebum formation).
- Indinavir (antiviral)
- Monoclonal antibodies – bevacizumab, pertuzumab, trastuzumab.
- Lipid-lowering agents
- Psychotropic drugs
- Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) – dasatinib
- See also under “Pruritus due to drugs” if applicable.
Environmental history
- Irritants (chemicals, solvents)
- Air conditioning (dry air)
- Overheated rooms
- Dry room climate
- Sun (frequent sunbathing)
- Winter (cold) – cold-dry climates; dry heating air (→ reduction of sebaceous gland secretion).
