Introduction and definition

Xerosis is a medical term that is used to describe the skin that is dry. When it results in skin, which is somewhat scaly and itchy, the condition is labeled as pruritus. This would occur when the natural moisture is drawn out of the dermal layers. The skin requires adequate moisture to protect itself without which, it would certainly become dry. The best way for relieving the dry skin is to use some kind of natural moisturizers. Too much water may cause the skin to dry out. Habitually to shower or to bathe more than once in a day, in this case, is to be avoided for preventing the dry skin.

Nearby condition to this is eczema, which is dry skin that has turns into red, itchy, or painful patch and finally turns cracked (fissured). The skin would protect the body against various infections, and if the outer layer of skin (medically known as epidermis) turns cracked or broken, there are some chances of the infection that includes condition like cellulites (featuring inflammation of the subcutaneous tissues), increases. This condition is to be treated as soon as possible by health expert.

Causes of xerosis

Xerosis can be caused because of any factors, including:
1. Washing the body areas with excessively hot water
2. If one is using certain types of the soaps those are non-moisturizing soap
3. If one takes showers or bathes more than once in a day, and
4. if one bathes for quite a longer period of time.

Risk Factors

There are many risk factors involved in xerosis. Environmental factors such as too much exposure to sunlight or sunrays and exposing to pollutants present in the air can damage the skin. Dry skin is oftentimes a problem in cooler climate, particularly during winter months when there is home heating system switched on a regular basis. This un-humidified heat is drier in nature and might draw moistures from the skin layers. Outdoors, cold winter air can also cause the body for protecting itself by drawing blood away from the dermal layers. When such thing happens, the skin does not get enough and well nourishment and xerosis could be the result.

Treatment of xerosis

The goal of any xerosis treatment is to reverse fissures and scales and add moistures to the skin. Because water provides skin with its flexibleness, moisturizing the outer layer of the skin is quite essential. Emollients are the creams those can be applied to the affected area for preventing water from evaporating from the surface of the skin.

Emollients also smoothen over the scaly edges those can flake off and produce intense itching. Emollients must be applied after having bathed and frequently all the day. Oils can also be added to bathwater, but they are not as effectual as compared to emollient creams. Bathing for longer periods or bathing more often than one in a day could be detrimental to treatment, even though it may seem to offer relief.

Certain creams and lotions those contain keratolytic agents like as urea, salts (or salisilate), lactic acids, vitamin A, and propylene glycols are also considered to be very beneficial treating such condition. Such lotions are however, not as hydrolizing as compared to that of the emollients.

Generally, the cause of the xerosis finds out the best and suitable treatment or remedy option for the overall condition. For instance, if the cause of the condition is an infectious component, such as some infections caused due to microorganisms like virus or bacteria some sort of systemic medication might be required to have favorable results. Xerosis in the absence of an infectious agent might need frequent and prolonged moisturizing therapies one or the other way.

In case, there is a severe xerosis, then it might require remedy or treatment with some prescription medicines those are stronger and more effective than OTC (over-the-counter) products or remedies. If lotions do not give satisfactory results by relieving the dry skin, or dryness keeps on or lasts longer than 15 days, a podiatrist must be consulted for a perfect and accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment or remedy as options. There might be some other causes for the dryness. Athlete's foot, for instance, is quite a common skin trouble that can turn skin having dryness and itching. For this, one has to identify the underlying cause before going for the treatment.