Dry Skin

Dry skin is often defined as having small wrinkles and can be tight, rough and dull.

Dry skin: the causes

There are many factors that give rise to dry skin. Main contributing factors are genetics and the environment:

External Factors:

There are a number of external factors that can cause dry skin:

• exposure to the sun
• extreme climatic conditions (wind, cold and heat)
• aggressive chemical agents (detergents and solvents)
• therapeutic treatment (retinoid or tar)

Genetic Factors:

Genetic pre- disposition influences skin dryness and occurs in the period in which sebaceous glands are no longer very active (infancy and old age) or where they are not present (legs, forearms and hands).

Skin disorders

Some skin can suffer from an extreme form of dryness (xerosis) often accompanied by flaking, thickening and irritation of the skin. Some of the most common:

• ichthyosis
• psoriasis
• atopic dermatitis