Dermatol. praxi. 2020;14(4):188-192 | DOI: 10.36290/der.2020.035
Dry skin: possible causes and everyday care options
- Dermatologické centrum Anděl, Praha
Dry skin, also referred to as xerosis cutis, xerosis, or asteatosis, is a common dermatological-cosmetic problem. It depends on the cause and symptom severity. A physiologically dry skin occurs in newborns, infants, toddlers, and the elderly. Extrinsic factors related to atopic eczema, psoriasis, or ichthyosis have an effect on skin dryness. Dry skin may be a manifestation of internal disease or a result of medication use. It affects individuals of different ages at various parts of the body. The causes may be both exogenous and endogenous factors as well as their combination. Several factors underlie the changes: factors interfering with skin barrier integrity; changes in the corneal layer; abnormalities in keratinization; changes in the composition of intercellular lipids and changes in the hydrolipidic film; impaired water metabolism; and a shift in skin pH. In all types of xerosis, there is a problem in keratinization and lipid metabolism. Between 20 and 50 percent of the population are estimated to suffer from a varying degree of dry skin.
Keywords: dry skin, xerosis, barrier function, emollients.
Published: November 20, 2020 Show citation
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