Overview

Dry skin makes the skin look and feel rough, itchy, flaky or scaly. It's a common condition that affects people of all ages. The medical term for dry skin is xerosis.

Dry skin has many causes. Examples include cold or dry weather, sun damage, harsh soaps, and too much bathing.

You can do a lot on your own to improve dry skin. Self-care steps include moisturizing, choosing products that are gentle on your skin and protecting your skin from the sun. You may need to try a number of products and skin care routines to find what works best for you.

Symptoms

Symptoms of dry skin can include:

  • A feeling of skin tightness.
  • Skin that feels and looks rough.
  • Itchiness.
  • Slight to severe flaking. This causes the ashy look that can affect dry brown and Black skin.
  • Scaling or peeling.
  • Fine lines.
  • Cracks in the skin, including deep cracks that may bleed.
  • Skin that ranges from reddish on white skin to grayish on brown and Black skin.
  • A feeling of pain, stinging or burning on the skin.

When to see a doctor

Most cases of dry skin respond well to lifestyle changes and self-care. But make an appointment to see a healthcare professional if:

  • Dry skin lasts despite self-care steps.
  • Skin becomes inflamed or painful.
  • Dry skin makes you so uncomfortable that you're losing sleep or are distracted from your daily routines.
  • Open sores or infections develop from dry skin that has broken open.
  • Large areas of scaly or peeling skin form.
  • Dry, thick skin develops as a side effect of cancer treatment.

Causes

Dry skin happens because of water loss from the outer layer of skin. It might be caused by:

  • Heat. Central heating, wood-burning stoves, space heaters and fireplaces all lower air humidity.
  • Environment. Living in a climate that has low humidity raises the risk of developing dry skin.
  • Too much bathing or scrubbing. Taking long, hot showers or baths or scrubbing your skin too much can dry the skin. Bathing more than once a day can remove the natural oils from your skin too.
  • Harsh soaps and detergents. Many soaps, detergents and shampoos strip moisture from the skin because they are designed to remove oil.
  • Other skin conditions. People with skin conditions such as atopic dermatitis or psoriasis are more likely to have dry skin. Atopic dermatitis also is called eczema.
  • Medical treatments. Some people develop dry, thick skin after receiving treatment for cancer, having dialysis or taking certain medicines.
  • Aging. As people age, the skin thins and makes less of the oils needed for the skin to hold water.

Risk factors

Anyone can develop dry skin. But you're more likely to develop the condition if you:

  • Are older than 40.
  • Live in climates that have low humidity.
  • Have a job that requires you to put your hands in water often or use harsh soaps. Examples include nursing, hairstyling and dishwashing.
  • Use your hands to work with cement, clay or soil.
  • Have certain medical conditions, such as hypothyroidism, ichthyosis, diabetes or malnutrition.

Complications

Dry skin usually is harmless. But when it's not cared for, dry skin may lead to:

  • Atopic dermatitis, also called eczema. If you're prone to developing atopic dermatitis, very dry skin may trigger the condition, causing a rash and cracking skin.
  • Infections. Dry skin may crack, allowing bacteria to enter the body and cause an infection.

These health concerns are most likely to happen when the skin becomes so dry that it can't protect itself the way it typically does. For example, very dry skin can lead to deep cracks forming in the skin. Those cracks may open and bleed. That offers a way for bacteria to get into the body and cause an infection.

By Mayo Clinic Staff