Dry Skin - Know Signs Of It!

It’s needless to say, that your skin is the first line of defence against all natural elements like the wind, sun and the cold. But when you have dry skin, it’s a really uncomfortable condition and it can happen for a plethora of reasons.

Dry skin, which is medically known as xerosis, can develop on any part of your body. However, dry skin generally affects the legs, hands and arms. Although dry skin depends a lot on your health, age, the hobbies that you indulge in and the time you spend outdoors, here are some of the most pertinent causes and symptoms of dry skin.

Causes for developing dry skin:

1. Weather: You may have also noticed that the skin tends to get the driest during the winter, when humidity and temperature plummet down. But the season may not matter if you are living in an arid zone.
2. Hot bath and shower: Taking prolonged hot bath and showers can dry up your skin. So does swimming, especially if you are doing it in heavily chlorinated water.
3. Heat: Staying in close proximity to wood-burning stoves, central heating, space heaters and fireplaces, all diminish humidity and dry up your skin.
4. Harsh detergents and soaps: Maximum soaps, shampoos and detergents are formulated to remove oil. Thus, applying too much of any of these could end up giving you dry skin.
5. Other conditions: People who suffer from ailments such as atopic dermatitis (eczema) and psoriasis can also be prone to dry skin.

Mostly, dry skin could be a temporary affair as it tends to happen primarily during the winters. However, it could also be a lifelong menace to some. However, dry skin symptoms are:

1. Gray and ashy skin
2. Redness on the skin
3. Deep cracks in the skin that bleed
4. Rough skin

A feeling of tightness on the skin, especially after bathing, showering or after a swim. In most of the cases, you can find many a home remedy for curing dry skin; however, it’s always a good idea to consult a doctor.