Dry Skin

What is Dry Skin?

Dry skin has a low level of sebum and can be prone to sensitivity. Dry skin appears in many ways. The dry areas are often itchy, and this is the main symptom of dry skin. The skin has a parched look caused by its inability to retain moisture. It usually feels "tight" and uncomfortable after washing unless some type of moisturizer or skin cream is applied. Chapping and cracking are signs of extremely dry, dehydrated skin. Dry skin is a condition that causes skin to become itchy, irritated, or cracked. It's a common problem, and most often affects the lower legs, upper arms, hands and thighs. It looks dull, especially on the cheeks and around the eyes. There may be tiny expression lines on these spots and at the comers of the mouth.

In general, this is how to recognize dry skin:

its complexion is tough, dull with red patches over it;
it feels tight;
it is flaky, scaly and may develop cracks;
it has almost invisible pores;
it develops mainly on the extremities: knees, elbows, fingers;
it becomes itchy

Dry skin - looks dull and irritated

Dirt, bacteria, viruses, chemicals and other irritants get under the outermost layer of the skin through the cracks and small fissures, making skin itch.

Dry skin has rough texture, flaky, feels tight, irritated, painful when cracks.

What Causes Dry Skin?

Many circumstances can cause dry skin, including winter weather, heated homes and offices, and repeated exposure to wind or irritating chemicals. Dry skin becomes more common as you get older. Aging skin loses some of its underlying layers of fat as well as its elasticity. This makes skin more vulnerable to water loss through small cracks that occur when it's rubbed and stretched.

In general, this is what cause dry skin:

exposure to physical elements: direct sunlight, wind, cold;
dry air, especially in overheated houses in winter, air conditioning;
frequent bathing, usage of strong soaps, washings with hot water, cosmetics;
some diseases may also produce dry itchy skin: diabetes under active thyroid, food allergies, skin allergies, psoriasis, dermatitis, eczema;
sometimes dry skin is a genetic condition, that is inherited and runs in families;
skin aging. As people get older, the skin tends to become drier because the oil-producing glands (sebaceous glands) are less active. In addition, the shedding and renewal of cells in the skin’s stratum corneum – the top sublayer of the epidermis – slows down with age, resulting in a rough, dull complexion.
Gender. Even though everyone’s skin dries with age, in general men’s skin tends to retain moisture longer than women’s. Men experience a relatively small decrease in oil production until well into their 80s, whereas women’s skin tends to become much drier after menopause.
Not drinking enough water. Not drinking enough liquids can lead to dehydration, which can cause the body to lose more fluid than what is taken in. Dry skin is one of the first signs of dehydration.
Nutritional deficiencies. Deficiencies in certain fatty acids (e.g., omega-3), zinc and vitamin A can affect the moisture levels of the skin.

What is Normal Skin?

Normal skin has a soft, supple texture because of its water content. For skin to feel soft, pliable and "normal," its top layer must contain a minimum of 10% water — and ideally between 20% and 35%.

The outermost layer of the epidermis is made up of sheets of dead cells that serve as the major waterproof barrier to the environment. In addition, special cells called melanocytes inside the epidermis produce brown pigment which helps protect you from ultraviolet light. To help protect the outer layer of skin from losing water, the skin's sebaceous glands produce an oily substance called sebum. Sebum is a complex mixture of fatty acids, sugars, waxes and other natural chemicals that form a protective barrier against water evaporation. If the skin doesn't have enough sebum, it loses water and feels dry. If environmental factors cause more water evaporation and overwhelm the ability of sebum to prevent water loss, the skin will shrivel and crack. And of course the as you past the age of 50 the body decreases its production of sebum, since the number of sebaceous glands in the skin tends to decrease with age. Aging also may cause blood flow to the skin to decrease, causing a drop in sebum production.

Dry skin - after only a few applications of Gloves In A Bottle shielding lotion
Dry skin greatly improved only after a few days of being on the Prairie Belle Dry/Itchy Skin Care Program

Facts about dry skin

Dry skin is unhealthy skin, can lead to a skin disease, and is the beginning of skin breakdown.
77% of people over age 64 have Pruritus (itchy skin) and Xeorisis (dry skin)
Dry skin leads to itching impacting quality of life
Dry unhealthy skin need not to be a way of life at LTCs.
Dry skin is more susceptible to injury, cracking, and fissuring than well-hydrated skin.
The dry areas may result in dermatitis, i.e. the skin becomes red and itchy.
Dry skin is a common problem in people with diabetes or skin allergies (atopic dermatitis).
Dry skin inhibits the skins ability to get rid of toxins.
Patient with dry skin are at risk for developing a pressure ulcer
2-28% of patients in LTC facilities develop pressure ulcers
The cost to treat Decubitus per occurrence per patient is $2,000-$65,000.
Wounds afflict more than one-third of the over 1 million hospice patients in the United States, 50% of these are pressure ulcers
Standard wound care focuses on wound healing and closure of wounds with an average cost of $1,600/patient/month
With Healthy Skin, 95% of all skin diseases including decubitus are preventable.
There are more than 3000 skin diseases many complicated by dry skin
Present dry skin care in LTC care facilities is inadequate.
In addition, dry skin sometimes develops as a side effect of medication, especially acne products that are applied to the skin.
Individuals with dry skin should avoid astringents and any product with alcohol because they easily strip away moisture from the skin.
100 percent of all diabetic patients have their skin affected in one way or another.
Nearly on-third of diabetic patients have some type of dermatologic manifestation
Skin is the largest organ of the body and is as susceptible to failure as any other organ system
33% of all people in U.S. have a skin disease
66% of people over 50 have a skin disease
77% of people over 64 have a skin disease
A woman typically applies over 200 chemicals on her skin per day
89% of the 10,500 chemicals in skin care products are untested by any government organization
More than 60% of what is applied to the skin is directly absorbed into the bloodstream.
Not everyone needs a moisturizer
Moisturizers, to be truly effective, are not about giving skin moisture, but helping skin retain its existing moisture level
Too much moisture can actually cause problems for the skin
Everyone needs ingredients that enhance the function and structure of skin to prevent dryness (and lots of moisturizers can’t do this)
Sometimes, the only symptom of dry skin is itching, although most people also will notice that their skin is flaky and slightly more wrinkled than normal. Symptoms of dry skin may worsen during the winter months, especially if you spend a lot of time indoors, where the heated air is dry.
Normally, the cells that compose the outer part of the skin will shed about 28 to 30 days after they are formed in the deep layers of the skin.

Is pH of the skin important?

Healthy skin has a mean pH of 5.5. This natural acidity (known as the acid mantle) is responsible for maintaining the skin’s natural flora and protecting against bacterial/fungal colonization. The natural flora of the skin keeps the bacterial/fungal load in balance. When this normal balance is disrupted, bacteria and fungus colonize more freely, causing infection.

Cells in the skin were designed to operate optimally at a pH of 5.5. When the pH of the skin is raised significantly, moisture escapes from the skin cells, drying out the skin. The result is an epidermis that has cracks and crevices and therefore is more susceptible to bacterial invasion than healthy skin.

The pH level is an important indicator of the safety of skin care products and a key characteristic to review when comparing these products. The desirable pH range for skin care products is between 4 and 7. Products within this range are considered pH balanced because their pH does not disrupt the skin’s acid mantle. Products outside of this pH range can dry and irritate skin and alter the normal skin flora.

Moderate or severe dry skin (xerosis) and one of its most distressing symptoms, itching, are particularly common among the elderly (Draelos, 1997; Phillips, 1994). In patients with neuropathy, cracks, fissures, and callus formation on the feet increase the risk of skin breakdown because they are exacerbated by high foot pressures (Boulton, 1997). Dry or fragile skin is more susceptible to injury than well-hydrated skin. Dry skin is easily damaged by pressure, rubbing, friction, or shearing (pressure ulcers, skin tears) as well as adhesive tape products or dressings (White et al, 1995; Malloy and Perez-Woods, 1991). If the bond between the epidermis and dermis is weaker than the bond between the adhesive tape and the epidermis (eg, patients with dry or fragile skin, those with blistering skin conditions such as epidermolysis bullosa, and neonates), epidermal stripping or tape tears may occur upon removal of adhesive products.

What to do about dry skin?

nourish and hydrate the skin – it is not enough to just use a moisturizer but the skin needs nutrients
Limiting bathing time. Showers and baths should be limited to 10 minutes or less, and only once a day.
Using warm water instead of hot water.
Avoiding harsh, drying soaps and powders. Non-deodorant soaps and nonsoap cleansers are best.
Skin should be gently patted dry with a towel after a shower or bath.
Moisturizing the home if the air is dry.
Keeping the temperature of the home low.
Choosing natural fabrics (e.g., cotton, silk) that do not irritate the skin.
Using detergents that do not contain fragrances or dyes.
Incorporating a well-balanced diet.
Limiting alcohol and caffeine consumption.
Avoiding or limiting cigarette smoking.
Drinking plenty of water (at least eight 8-ounce glasses) every day.
Wearing gloves when doing chores, such as washing dishes and gardening. They should also be worn in cold temperatures to minimize exposure to the elements.
Bathing as soon as possible after spending time in a chlorinated pool or hot tub.

Without proper care, dry skin can become a chronic problem that can lead to skin thickening, cracking and bleeding. This may increase your risk of skin infections and decrease the quality of life.

The Prairie Belle Skin Care Programs are most effective when following the entire program which includes, assessment tools, skin care plans and the products.

Prairie Belle’s basic skin care program for dry and itchy skin helps maintain healthy skin — for as little as 25 cents per day.

Contact Prairie Belle or your local skin care representative for more information.