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. … Dry Skin (Xeroderma): Therapy
A comprehensive clinical examination is the basis for selecting further diagnostic steps: General physical examination – including blood pressure, pulse, body weight, height; further: Inspection (viewing) of the entire skin! Skin [skin florescences (skin lesions): Partly scaly, partly excoriated erythema (“excoriated skin redness”) on dry skin. Rough skin Flour-line-like scratch marks] Health check Square brackets … Dry Skin (Xeroderma): Examination
Therapy target The goal of treatment of xeroderma is to rebalance the fat content of the skin. Therapy recommendations Re-greasing care products such as creams, lotions and ointments containing fat; oil baths with a re-greasing effect are also skin-soothingIn dry skin, conscientious re-greasing (with the addition of 3-5% urea, if necessary) is basically required. Grease … Dry Skin (Xeroderma): Drug Therapy
To prevent xeroderma (dry skin), attention must be paid to reducing individual risk factors. Behavioral risk factors Diet Malnutrition Malnutrition Fluid deficiency Consumption of stimulants Alcohol (woman: > 20 g/day; man > 30 g/day). Tobacco (smoking) Washing behavior – excessive use of: Soaps or shower products Bath additives Brushing or rubbing the skin (→ in … Dry Skin (Xeroderma): Prevention
The following symptoms and complaints may indicate xeroderma (dry skin): Pruritus (itching), burning – especially after bathing or showering. Skin florescences (skin lesions): Partly scaly, partly excoriated erythema (“excoriated skin redness”) on dry skin. Rough skin Floury scratch marks Predilection sites (body regions where the disease occurs preferentially). Lower leg (esp. pretibial/located in front of … Dry Skin (Xeroderma): Symptoms, Complaints, Signs
Pathogenesis (disease development) The older a person gets, the more the structure of the different skin layers changes: The skin becomes thinner. The number of stored sweat glands becomes less or sebaceous gland secretion is reduced (time course of sebaceous gland production: drop after birth, increase with puberty, maximum circa 25 years of age, then … Dry Skin (Xeroderma): Causes
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 … Dry Skin (Xeroderma): Medical History
Blood, hematopoietic organs – immune system (D50-D90). Iron-deficiency anemia (anemia due to iron deficiency). Endocrine, nutritional, and metabolic diseases (E00-E90). Andropause (male menopause) Dehydration (lack of fluid) Hypernatremia (excess sodium) Hypothyroidism (hypothyroidism) or latent hypothyroidism. Malnutrition Menopause (menopause of the woman; climacteric) Somatopause – decline in STH secretion (somatotropic hormone (STH), English “human growth hormone”: … Dry Skin (Xeroderma): Or something else? Differential Diagnosis
The following are the most important diseases or complications that may be contributed to by xeroderma (dry skin): Skin and subcutaneous (L00-L99). Desiccation eczema (synonyms: Desiccation eczema; Asteatosis cutis; Asteatotic eczema; Desiccation eczema; Dermatitis sicca; Eczema craquelée; Desiccation dermatitis; Desiccation eczematid; Xerotic eczema); clinical presentation: reticular tears of the cornea resembling a dried riverbed and … Dry Skin (Xeroderma): Complications
