Dry skin is an often ignored health problem that millions of people live with. When soft, healthy skin dries out it deflates, leaving your skin shriveled and prone to flaking and cracking. The medical term for dry skin is xerosis. Often seen as a superficial issue, dry skin is routinely forgotten about until the symptoms get worse and develop into rashes or start bleeding. Most dry skin is viewed as an unsightly nuisance that comes and goes. But if dry skin is left untreated for too long there can be all sorts of health problems, including disfigurement. Luckily though, most dry skin issues are not severe and can be treated quite easily without prescription medicines or doctor visits. In fact, most of the reasons for dry skin are environmental factors which you can easily control.

Dry skin is usually not obvious to the eye and you feel it more than notice it.

The common places people experience dry skin symptoms are on the belly, hands, arms and lower legs. When you rub these spots you may notice the skin is rougher feeling or perhaps it feels tight. Itching is a common symptom and can cause problems especially when you are asleep and are unconsciously scratching yourself. These are all mild symptoms but if you have large patches of peeling skin, puffy redness surrounding the dry patches or open sores, you should seek medical help. Also, some people with dry skin issues may suffer from a genetic predisposition such as eczema which can sometimes require medical attention.

While some dry skin issues may be medically related, most are not. Weather can play a large role in the health of our skin. People who live in deserts may notice more skin problems because of the low levels of humidity. Winter is also a known factor for dry skin. The low humidity coupled with strong winds can easily dry you out. Dry skin is often experienced more in the winter because of the use of heaters or fireplaces. Both of these can dry out the air which can affect your skin. People who work in climate controlled environments with either heaters or air conditioners running all day commonly have dry skin problems. Sun damaged skin can lead to dryness as well. People who spend a great deal of time outdoors may experience the sun drying out their skin. Bathing and hot showers are sometimes considered bad for skin, but there are two schools of thought regarding this topic. One view is bathing and hot showers remove the essential oils from the skin which can lead to drying. The other view is bathing and showering is a great way to hydrate your skin. Soap can also be a problem. Antibacterial soaps, foaming soaps and perfumed soaps can leave your skin stripped of the natural oils. Milder, fragrance free soaps are often a wiser choice for people who suffer from dry skin.

Most dry skin problems can be easily solved by using a quality moisturizer. Choosing the correct moisturizer is important. Products that contain perfumes or other scents should be avoided. Thick, greasy moisturizers (which are often the cheapest) are preferred over liquid moisturizers. Putting moisturizer on dry skin is the least effective way to heal your dry skin. Moisturizer should be applied right after a bath or shower. Blot your skin dry to leave it a little damp and then apply the moisturizer to help trap water in the surface skin cells. Humidifiers can be a great investment for your skin. Some models can even be attached to a heater. A simple test to see if a humidifier is right for your skin is to hang a damp bath towel near the air vent in your bedroom at night. If your skin feels less dry in the morning you are lacking humidity. Besides harsh soaps, many types of cosmetics can also cause problems. If you suffer from dry skin and habitually use scented lotions, makeup or perfumes, you might want to stop to see if the problem goes away. Some types of detergents and using scented dryer sheets can cause your clothing to become permeated with chemicals that can dry out your skin.

Your skin is not only the largest organ on your body; it is also your best protection against external agents such as bacteria, pollutions and viruses. Your skin contains Langerhans cells which are the frontline defense for your immune system. Making sure you keep your skin healthy is not only good for your self esteem, it is vital for you health and well being. Cracked skin exposes your body to health risks such as infections or other pathogens. While most dry skin problems can be ignored or put aside during the more pressing concerns of the day, you should always remember to take good care of your skin. Protect your skin and it will protect you.