Test Your Knowledge

Various environmental factors can lead to a loss of moisture in the skin, resulting in dryness and/or coarseness. These may include:

• Weather. Skin tends to become dry during winter or when temperatures and humidity levels drop. Winter and colder climates tend to make other existing skin conditions (e.g., psoriasis, eczema) worse, which may exacerbate dryness.
  
  
• Excessive sun exposure. Like all types of heat, the sun has a drying effect on the skin. Plus, the sun’s ultraviolet rays penetrate deep within the epidermis causing long-term damage, which can lead to the formation of deep wrinkles and loose, sagging skin.
  
  
• Air conditioning and/or central heating units. These appliances tend to draw moisture out of the air and out of the skin. Other moisture-depleting devices include wood burning ovens, space heaters and fireplaces.

Other factors leading to dry skin include:

• Over-cleansing. Frequent showering or bathing, especially using hot water, tends to break down the lipid barriers in the skin, resulting in dryness. Also, frequent swimming, especially in heavily chlorinated pools, can lead to dry skin.
  
  
• Harsh soaps and detergents (e.g., deodorant and anti-bacterial soaps). Products containing fragrances and lauryl sulfates are harsher and more irritating to the skin. Therefore, excessive use of these products can lead to a loss of moisture.
  
  
• Alcohol, caffeine and drugs. Excessive alcohol and caffeine intake can deplete the body of water and lead to dry skin. Certain prescription drugs (e.g., diuretics to increase urine production) also have a drying effect.
  
  
• Smoking cigarettes. Tobacco does not cause the skin to dry, but it does deprive it of oxygen, thereby leading to the formation of premature fine lines and wrinkles, which can give the skin a coarse, dry appearance.
  
  
• Age. 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.

In addition, some underlying health conditions and skin disorders may lead to or exacerbate dry skin. These may include:

• Diabetes (excessive blood sugar levels). Diabetes can damage small blood vessels and nerves, making the skin prone to dryness as well as serious complications, such as infection (e.g., cellulitis).
  
  
• Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid gland). When the thyroid produces too few hormones, it reduces the activity of the sweat and oil glands, leading to dry skin.
  
  
• Ichthyosis. A group of skin disorders that result in excessively dry skin that is extremely rough and scaly in appearance. These conditions may be inherited or caused by environmental factors.
  
  
• Eczema. Inflammatory skin condition characterized by lesions that appear dry, thick and scaly.
  

  

• Psoriasis. A chronic skin condition resulting in the rapid buildup of rough, dry, dead skin cells that form thick scales.
  
  
• Keratosis pilaris. A genetic (inherited) condition in which the hair follicle is plugged with dry skin. This results in redness and the appearance of tiny bumps on the skin, which often resemble small pimples. It typically affects the back of the upper arms, buttocks and thighs. In children, it is commonly found on the face.