Severe dry skin can be caused by skin and medical conditions, a lack of moisture, and the use of harsh soaps and cleansers. Atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, and hypothyroidism are common causes. Hot water, low humidity, and certain detergents can also worsen dry skin.
Severe dry skin can be caused by a number of things. Skin and medical conditions like eczema, psoriasis, and hypothyroidism can cause extreme dry skin. Other factors that can cause exceptionally dry skin include a lack of moisture and the use of harsh soaps and cleansers. Showering or bathing too often or with water that is too hot can also dry out the skin.
Atopic dermatitis, a form of eczema, is often the cause of severe dry skin. People with atopic dermatitis often have dry, scaly patches of skin on the face, neck, knees, ankles, wrists, or elbows. Sometimes those with mild eczema believe they simply have dry skin, but regular moisturizers may not be enough to relieve their symptoms.
Psoriasis is a common chronic skin disease that can cause severe dry skin. Symptoms of the condition include red patches and peeling skin. There are many types of psoriasis, and some can make the skin dry enough to crack and bleed. There are treatments for psoriasis, but some severe cases can be disabling or disfiguring.
Some thyroid disorders can also be the source of severe dry skin. Hypothyroidism, for example, prevents the thyroid gland from producing adequate amounts of thyroid hormones and reduces the productivity of the sweat and sebaceous glands in the skin. Reduced productivity of the glands can result in extremely dry and rough skin.
A lack of moisture in the air can dry out your skin. People who live in hot desert climates with low humidity may experience dry skin problems. Humidity levels can also drop during the winter months. Heating and cooling the air can exacerbate the problem because air conditioners, space heaters, central heating, and fireplaces reduce the humidity in the air. A combination of humid weather and rapidly cooling or heating air can cause severe dry skin.
People who shower or bathe frequently can suffer from extremely dry skin, especially if they prefer to be in very hot water for a significant amount of time. Contact with hot water can deteriorate the skin’s lipid barriers, causing the skin to dry out. Swimming in pools with high levels of chlorine can have the same effect.
Detergents and soaps can also break down the skin’s lipid barrier. Deodorant and antibacterial soaps dry out the skin quickly, and harsh shampoos can cause severe dryness on the scalp. Overly strong clothes detergents can also aggravate and dry out the skin.
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