Dry skin can be caused by environmental and occupational factors, personal habits, underlying health conditions, products containing harsh chemicals, and dehydration. The skin dries when these elements remove the skin’s natural barrier of moisture and natural oils, and can lead to cracking over time. This worsens in cold, dry indoor and outdoor conditions, so you may moisturize more in the winter months.

Anything that could strip your skin of natural oils and moisture can lead to dry skin. This includes taking long, hot showers and baths, doing tasks that require frequent handwashing, and using scented products and acne medications containing salicylic acid or retinoids. Repairing the skin barriers with hydrating creams that target the internal cell structure offers a direct moisturising effect, replenishing the skin and counteracting dryness.

Similarly, there are a plethora of health-related reasons for true dry skin. Skin conditions, including Eczema, Psoriasis, and Contact Dermatitis. Also, diabetes, thyroid and kidney disease, and ageing, can lead to dry skin. Furthermore, nutritional deficiencies can contribute to dry skin. Lastly, some are predisposed to dry skin due to gene mutations that affect the skin’s barrier function.

Speak with an experienced Dermatologist if you have any dry skin concerns. The source could be as simple as the weather, but there could be some underlying health conditions to be addressed.

The areas of the body most commonly affected by dryness are the hands, feet, limbs, elbows, knees, and face. This is thought to be because there are fewer oil glands in these areas, they are more exposed to the elements, and they sustain the most friction from clothing. There are also more creases in these areas for inflammation to arise, which is why they are most susceptible to localised Eczema.

Your hands and arms are constantly exposed to environmental factors and are generally washed most often throughout the day. Conversely, your feet are weight-bearing and develop dryness due to the constant friction from walking in shoes. It is these factors that make these areas most vulnerable to dryness.

You can tell that your skin is dry through sight and touch. If your skin feels rough, itchy, uncomfortably tight, and appears to be flaking, scaling, peeling, or cracking, it is dry. To test whether your skin’s dryness stems from dehydration or environmental factors, gently pinch a small area on the back of your hand. If the skin does not bounce back, you are dehydrated. If it does, there are some environmental factors that are disturbing your skin’s natural barrier.

There is no need to worry right away; sometimes, environmental conditions disturb the natural condition of the skin. However, if your dry skin does not improve after a few weeks of consistent remedies, becomes inflamed, red, or painful, develops open sores, or begins interfering with your daily life, consult a dermatologist.