Dry Skin Rash

October 22, 2008 | By roukarous In Types of Rashes |

What Causes Dry Skin Rash and What You Can Do About It

Healthy skin is supple, moisturized skin, a characteristic that dry skin doesn’t have. Dry skin is often looked upon as an undesirable quality, particularly because it is unattractive and associated with aging. If you’re suffering from dry skin rash, here are some things you need to know about this condition and how to treat it:Healthy skin vs. dry skin

Skin is a living organ. It consists of several layers. The topmost layer, the epidermis, acts as the protective covering of the skin, preventing the inner layers, muscles, fat tissues and blood vessels from exposure to the elements. If the underlying layer of the skin is healthy as a result of good nutrition and a healthful lifestyle, then that will be reflected on the outermost layer as well.

Conversely, unhealthy skin is dry skin. The dryness is a symptom of an underlying condition, which could be a number of things ranging from poor diet to bad lifestyle to a specific disease or health condition.

Everyone suffers from dry skin from time to time.

People are born with different skin types, which are often described as four major categories: dry, normal, oily and combination. Although people with predominantly dry skin have to take extra care to keep their skin moisturized, those who have normal, oily or combination skin might also suffer from dry skin at certain points in their lives. This can be brought on by an illness, a health condition, changes in the environment, stress, lifestyle, diet and in some cases, even hormonal imbalances.

The problem with dry skin

Other than its lack of aesthetic appeal, dry skin can often cause itching, which can vary in severity. Itching can provoke you to scratch, which can cause minor tearing of the skin. This can lead to scarring, which can cause the skin to appear rough and thickened.

Trauma can also lead to bruising. As the condition progresses, it can affect your daily activities, such as sleeping, socializing and even participating in sports. Lesions can also blister and bleed, causing unsightly blotches on your clothing, towels and bedsheets. The scarring and the thickening of the skin can also affect your confidence regarding your appearance. Scarring can also lead to infections if you don’t take care of the scratches.

Another troublesome characteristic of dry skin is that rashes not only appear, they can also lead to fissures or skin cracks. These often occur in the palms and the soles of the feet, particularly the heels. These fissures, if they deepen, can become painful over time.

Is it dry skin or something else?

You should probably know by now how your skin looks like if it’s in tiptop condition. Dry skin appears dull, lifeless and cracked. Fine lines that normally aren’t visible can now be seen and flakes resembling dandruff can even form. If you run a fingernail across your skin, you will see a visible white line. On normal skin, this line will not appear.

In severe cases of dry skin, deep cracks will be seen, resembling a dry riverbed. This is not only unappealing, it can also lead to easy tearing of the skin, which can in turn lead to infections and scarring.

Dry skin can also be a symptom of certain conditions or diseases, including dermatitis, eczema, seborrhea or even allergies, among others. These conditions can lead to unsightly dry skin rashes.

Treatment

Ordinarily, rashes as a result of dry skin are easy to eliminate. The use of gentle, moisturizing soaps, lotions and creams can alleviate the symptoms, particularly if the problem is limited only at the surface. However, if the cause of the dry skin rash is related to food, a change to a more healthful diet and lifestyle can help.

If there is a more serious underlying cause to your dry skin rash, it would be prudent to seek professional medical help. A dermatologist will be able to diagnose the problem, identify the cause and provide you with treatment options that will help solve the condition.

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