Alcohol Abuse Advice

The Causes of Dry Itchy Skin

The causes of dry itchy skin can vary.  Here are some causes of which may apply to you.  Later we will discuss how to remove dry itchy skin.

Diseases

Ichthyosis, eczema, seborrhea and xeroderma are among the skin conditions accompanied by excessive dryness and itching.  There are many types of ichthyosis, most are genetic. 
 
Eczema is characterized by redness and inflammation, as well as itching.  It is a form of dermatitis; inflammation of the dermis. 

Seborrhea typically affects the scalp and face, but not the palms of the hands or soles of the feet.  There are no sebaceous glands in those areas.  So they tend to be drier, anyway. 

The sebaceous glands secrete a substance called sebum, which is the skin’s natural lubricant and moisturizer.  Flaking, scaling and redness are other symptoms of seborrhea.

Xeroderma literally means dry skin.  The scalp, lower legs, arms and knuckles are commonly affected.  The areas typically appear white in color and may flake or crack.

Poor Nutrition

Poor nutrition is often what causes dry itchy skin.  A deficiency in vitamin A or D could be the cause.  Vitamin D deficiencies are becoming increasingly common according to doctors.
Fatty acid deficiency can cause dryness, but it is not a common problem.  It most often affects people with eating disorders.  Anorexics for example usually suffer from fatty acid deficiency.  Not only is the skin affected.  The hair becomes very dry, too.

Weather

Xeroderma occurs most often in the wintertime, when the cold air outside and the warm air inside creates a low relative humidity.  If you spend a lot of time outdoors, hot and windy weather could be what causes dry itchy skin.

Chlorinated Water

Swimming, showering or bathing in chlorinated water can cause excessive dryness.  According to scientists chlorinated water strips the skin’s sebum, even when no cleanser is used.

Harsh Cleansers and Exfoliants

Dermatologists say that they see far more problems caused by over-cleansing than by under-cleansing.  We are a “clean” society.  There’s no doubt about that.  You might just be overdoing it. 

Overexposure to the Sun

You would probably know if sunburn was the cause.  But, spending too much time in the sun can cause dryness, when no sunburn is present.  It can also contribute to aging.

Dehydration

Mild dehydration could be what causes dry itchy skin.  If you don’t drink enough water, drink too much caffeine or too much alcohol, you could be chronically dehydrated.  Frequent headaches are another symptom.

Alcohol in Skincare Products 

The alcohol in skincare products can be very drying, especially if it is petroleum-based ethyl, methyl or isopropyl alcohol.  Plant-based alcohols are less drying, but can still cause the problem if present in large amounts.

Using the Wrong Moisturizers

Lotion containing petrolatum, mineral oil or paraffin is what causes dry itchy skin in many cases.  Now, that you know about all of the causes, you probably want to know about the best solutions.  That information can be found in the next article.

Now that you have the answer to What Causes Dry Itchy Skin?, you will learn How to Remove Dry Itchy Skin in the next article.  See Resource/Author Box Below for a special invitation.