Dry Skin (Xerosis)

Signs and Symptoms:

• Rough, scaly, or flaking skin
• Itching
• Gray, ashy skin in people with dark skin
• Cracks in the skin, which may bleed if severe
• Chapped or cracked lips

When dry skin cracks, germs can get in through the skin. Once inside, germs can cause an infection. Red, sore spots on the skin may be an early sign of an infection.

Diagnosing Dry Skin:

A medical evalaution will be performed to determine if your dry skin is a a sign of skin disease or a health problem. Determining when the problem began and asking questions about changes in lifestyle or diet can help to determine the cause of the issue. These questions will help the dermatologist make the right diagnosis and determine the best treatment. Tests may be needed if a dermatologist thinks your dry skin is due to a health problem.
Treatment options that are often suggested:

Moisturizer: Applying a moisturizer frequently throughout the day can help. It can make the skin softer, smoother, and less likely to crack. Body moisturizers come in a few forms — ointments, creams, lotions, and oils. Your dermatologist can tell you which is recommended for you.

For very dry skin, a moisturizer that contains urea or lactic acid may be helpful. These ingredients help the skin hold water. You can find these ingredients in both prescription moisturizers and those that you can buy without a prescription. A drawback is that these ingredients can sting if you have eczema or cracked skin.

Medicine: When skin is extremely dry, your dermatologist may prescribe a medicine that you can apply to your skin. This may be a corticosteroid (cortisone-like) or an immune modulator (tacrolimus, pimecrolimus). These medicines tend to be quite good at relieving the itch, redness, and swelling. You also may need to use a moisturizer several times a day.

Changes to your day: If your dry skin is caused by something that you are doing, such as immersing your hands in water all day, you may need to stop doing this for a few days. When you start up again, you may need to wear gloves or apply a special moisturizer throughout the day.

Outcome

Using a moisturizer frequently throughout the day helps many people. If this does not help, you should see a dermatologist.

(Source for Info )