Dry Skin Allergies: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment & Remedies
We all wish to have supple skin with a glow n it. But due to various reasons many f us fail to have a perfect skin. Skin can be of 3 types, which are normal, dry and oily. Sometimes you may also get a combination of all three types. When your skin is exposed to various harmful factors, it may become dry or oily.
What is Dry Skin?
Dry skin is a very common skin condition in which your skin becomes dry, without any moisture or natural oils in it. In extreme conditions dry skin is also called xerodermatitis and xerosis. This type of skin occurs mainly due to lack of moisture or oils in the epidermis. Epidermis is the uppermost layer of the skin. As a result, dry patches and small fine flakes are seen on the skin.
Causes for Dry Skin:
Various external and internal; factors are responsible for causing dry skin. External factors include low-humidity, hot showers, cold temperatures, over usage of harsh soaps and sanitizers, etc. Internal factors include age, genetics, personal and family history of skin problems like allergies, dermatitis, asthma etc. People suffering from thyroid problems also suffer from dry skin.
Underlying conditions:
The skin consists of three layers, which are Epidermis (outermost layer), dermis (middle layer), and the hypodermis (innermost). Epidermis is the protective layer of the skin and it s composed of proteins and lipid. Lipid is great for keeping your skin hydrated. When the fatty oil present in the skin is lost, it can make your skin dry. As a result, your skin becomes more sensitive to allergies. When the skin loses the fatty oils, the skin loses its moisture very easily. This makes it unable to give proper protection to your skin. This can make your skin dry. As a result, your skin becomes more sensitive to rashes and many other problems. Some of the examples of severe cases of dry skin problems are eczema, dermatitis, psoriasis, hives and so on.
Sudden Dry Skin Allergy Symptoms:
Cracks in the skin, which may bleed:
Many times, especially in the winter times, the skin becomes very dry and even tends to crack. Many of us suffer from such cracks on the heels during the winter. These cracks can harbour microbe growth. The microbes thus growing in these cracks can cause infections, which causes itching on the skin. This can even lead to burning sensation on the skin and bleeding. As result, various skin infections can occur. These infections may even spread to the other parts of the skin.
Chapped or cracked lips, heels, and palms:
When you have chapped lips, it means lack of moisture and water in your body. It can also be a symptom of some kind of dysfunction in the body. Cracked palms and heels are also a sign of such problems. Although these symptoms are very common and occurs mainly in winters, it is better that you see a doctor in severe cases.
Itching:
Itching is another symptom of dry skin. It can aggravate the severity of dry skin. This can lead to an ‘itch-scratch’ cycle. This cycle is more when the person is not much conscious; for example, when the person id engrosses in some important work or when sleeping.
Rough flaky skin:
Your skin gets dry when it loses its natural fatty oils and moisture. When these are lost, the skin becomes rough, flaky and scaly. Sometimes the skin can even become hard. When you have dry skin on the scalp, you often suffer from dandruff. The dry skin flakes turns pale and then peel off and shed on their own.
Red patches:
Sometimes you can see rough, raised patches of flaky skin. This can itch and cause severe burning sensation as well. This burning sensation can lead to reddening of the skin. As a result, you can see red patches on your skin.
Dry Skin Allergy Treatments:
Treatments for dry skin vary according to the condition and severity of the problem. The treatment can include external as well as internal treatments. Some of the treatments are:
Avoid heat by applying cool cloths:
Heat can also cause dry skin as it removes moisture from your skin. Using hot water can lead to the removal of natural oils from the skin and make your skin dry. Try to use warm water instead of hot water on your skin. You should also avoid long baths. 5 to 10 minutes of bath is good for hydrating the skin. But more than that time can be bad for your skin. Make sure that you do not use harsh soaps and cleansers.
Change in lifestyle:
Most if the severe dry skin problems arise due to unbalanced, unhealthy or stressful lifestyle. So, to treat these conditions, adopt a healthy lifestyle. Try to avoid doing things that can trigger your problem or increase it. For example, if you are allergic to a certain food or environment which causes dry skin, you should avoid it. If cold or pollution is the reason, make sure that you cover your skin when you go out.
Humidity during winter:
Dry skin occurs when moisture is lacking. So, humidifying the air is a good way to prevent dry skin problems in winter.
Moisturizing:
Moisturizing is an external treatment. Here you have to apply moisturizers on the affected part of the skin frequently. To make it more effective, try to apply the moisturizer on the damp skin. In case of extreme dry skin conditions, you can apply moisturizers containing urea or lactic acid. These help in retaining the water in the skin, thereby keeping the skin hydrated. Some of the moisturizers you can use are vaselione, Aquaphor, Cataphyll lotion, Lubriderm lotion, Crisco vegetable shortening etc. you can also use topical steroid creams.
Medicines:
If the condition of the dry skin is worse, you can consult a dermatologist and take medicines. If the condition is very severe, even steroids may be prescribed. Some of the oral medicines are Hydroxyzine, Diphenhydramine, Cetirizine, Loratidine etc.
Dry skin is a common problem and you can treat it. Make sure that you take proper care of your skin to avoid further complications. If necessary you can even consult a dermatologist.
