As the seasons transition, it is not uncommon to experience changes to your skin in reaction to temperature and humidity changes. Inflammation, excessive oiliness and dryness are realistic reactions to your skin adjusting to environmental conditions. In addition to fluctuations in weather, certain chemicals, hot water and underlying medical conditions can cause dry skin. Dry skin alone is not abnormal, but it is important to find out what is causing dry skin so that you are able to treat it properly. Severe or chronic dry skin can cause irritation, such as easily flaking or cracked skin that leads to sores, that makes lifestyle changes or medical treatment necessary. 

Most people can successfully treat dry skin by using a daily moisturizer that rehydrates the skin bringing it back to its previous smooth and soft state. Moisturizing products include lotions, creams, ointments, balms and oils with emollients or hyaluronic acid. Dry skin moisturizers should be fragrance and alcohol free, they should also be free of moisture attracting ingredients like glycerin, prevent itching, offer sun protection and are designed for the application to a specific area of the body. Avoiding alcohol, caffeine, sugar and salt as well as any other foods or drinks that cause dehydration is important. 

Untreated or severely dry skin can cause the skin to crack and bleed exposing the body to infection. If your dry skin is not cured with a moisturizer, you should contact a dermatologist at THE CENTER for Advanced Dermatology to ask, “what do I do if I have dry skin?” Your doctor can assess your skin and determine the cause of the dry skin and how to best heal your skin. Common types of dry skin are contact dermatitis (when the skin reacts to something it touches and the skin becomes inflamed), seborrheic dermatitis (too much oil produced by the body that typically affects the scalp with a red and scaly rash), atopic dermatitis (also known as eczema that causes dry, scaly patches on the skin) or athlete’s foot. 

You can prevent dry skin by cleansing with a mild, moisturizing soap, taking warm (not hot) baths or showers, moisturizing as soon as you finish bathing, managing stress levels, minimizing sun exposure, not smoking, using a humidifier and drinking plenty of water. If you have concerns about dry skin, especially dry skin that itches non-stop and interferes with sleep or daily activities, appears infected or swollen, is painful to the touch or develops a rash, you should see your healthcare provider. Fortunately, dry skin is usually a simple fix and does not cause any long-term problems. If you have dry skin, let’s get an appointment schedule to help soothe your skin with prescription medications or solutions to make you feel good in your skin. Call 602-867-7546 or book online at WEBSITE. 

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