The medical term for dry skin is xerosis, and anyone can suffer from dry skin at any time. Most people suffer from dry skin in the winter, but dry skin can occur at anytime and for a variety of reasons. The symptoms of dry skin are essentially the same for each person; at least a couple of the symptoms will apply.
Factors Leading to Dry Skin
Dry skin can affect any portion of the body but is most commonly found on the arms, lower legs, sides of your abdomen, your elbows and the soles of your feet. Dry skin can of course occur on any part of your body. Dry skin can affect people in various ways. You may not experience all of these symptoms, but you may have the dry skin symptoms of some. A person’s age, gender, race, and even their amount of time spend outdoors, in dry heat and other environmental factors can lead to dry skin symptoms.
Common Symptoms
The most common symptoms of dry skin that occur on various parts of your body include but are not limited to:
- Skin that is rough to the touch
- Skin that feels tight, especially after bathing or swimming
- Skin that may appear dehydrated or sunken in
- Flaking, scaling or peeling of the skin
- Patches of the skin that are itchy (sometimes severe itching)
- Fine lines or cracks in the skin
- Appearance of calluses
- Redness or inflammation of the skin
- Thick patches of skin on the elbows, knees or heels of feet
Symptoms of dry skin can vary, and often it is required that medical attention should be sought. This is especially true if you have such conditions as diabetes.
