Dry Skin (Xeroderma): Therapy

General measures

  • Avoiding factors that promote skin dryness.
    • Frequent washing, showering, or bathing (bath time maximum 20 minutes/in chronic pruritus: full bath maximum 5 minutes; bathe in cool or lukewarm water rather than hot)Note: After water contact, dab skin.
    • Climate / room temperature (see also under “Avoiding environmental pollution”).
      • Dry, hot or very cold climate.
      • Strong sun exposure
      • Cool room temperatures at night
      • In winter with heating air to ensure adequate humidity
  • Skin cleansing incl. skin care
    • Use greasy washing syndets or spreading shower and bath oils (eg kerosene soybean oil bath).
    • Mild pH neutral skin cleansers use (avoid alcohol-containing cleaning agents!).
    • Immediately after showering or bathing apply moisturizer to retain moisture from showering or bathing in the skin.
    • Use moisturizing preparations.
  • Clothing
    • Cotton instead of wool clothing
    • Avoid tight-fitting clothing (e.g. leggings)
    • Wear light clothing
    • Do not wear synthetic clothing
  • Nicotine restriction
  • Limited alcohol consumption (men: max. 25 g alcohol per day; women: max. 12 g alcohol per day).
  • Limited caffeine consumption (max 240 mg of caffeine per day; equivalent to 2 to 3 cups of coffee or 4 to 6 cups of green/black tea).
  • Review of permanent medication due topossible effect on the existing disease.
  • Avoidance of environmental stress:
    • Irritants (chemicals, solvents)
    • Air conditioning (warm, dry air).
    • Overheated rooms (maximum 21 ° C)
    • Dry room climate → use air humidifiers
    • Sun (frequent sunbathing) → sunscreen!
    • Winter (cold) – cold-dry climates; dry heating air (→ reduction of sebaceous gland secretion); in addition, the following recommendations:
      • Air space humidifier
      • Wear gloves from < 10 °C outside temperature (the production of skin sebum decreases already at outside temperatures of 8 °C)

Nutritional medicine

  • Nutritional counseling based on nutritional analysis
  • Nutritional recommendations according to a mixed diet taking into account the disease at hand. This means, among other things:
    • A total of 5 servings of fresh vegetables and fruit daily (≥ 400 g; 3 servings of vegetables and 2 servings of fruit).
    • Once or twice a week fresh sea fish, i.e. fatty marine fish (omega-3 fatty acids) such as salmon, herring, mackerel.
    • High-fiber diet (whole grains, vegetables).
  • Observance of the following special dietary recommendations:
    • Sufficient fluid intake (1.5-2.0 l/day).
    • Diet rich in the omega-6 fatty acid gamma-linolenic acid (GLA). GLA-rich foods are fats and oils such as evening primrose, black currant seed and borage seed oil.
  • Selection of appropriate foods based on the nutritional analysis
  • See also under “Therapy with micronutrients (vital substances)” – if necessary, taking a suitable dietary supplement.
  • Detailed information on nutritional medicine you will receive from us.