What should you know about super dry skin?

Dry skin develops when the outer barrier does not hold water effectively. Cold or dry air, hot showers, frequent washing, harsh soaps, and irritating fabrics can worsen it. Fine scaling, tightness, itching, roughness, and small cracks are common features. Marked dryness can also occur with asteatotic eczema, atopic dermatitis, or psoriasis, especially when there are inflamed patches, a recurring pattern, or thicker scale. The symptom alone cannot identify which condition is present.

Keep showers brief and lukewarm, use a gentle cleanser only where needed, and pat the skin dry. Apply a thick, fragrance-free emollient while the skin is still slightly damp, then reapply whenever tightness returns. Wear soft breathable clothing, protect hands during cleaning, and avoid scrubbing or picking scale. If moisturising does not settle the problem, a clinician can look for eczema, psoriasis, contact irritation, or another contributor and tailor treatment.

Book a review for painful fissures, bleeding, oozing, crusting, significant redness, or itch that interrupts sleep. Seek prompt advice if dryness starts suddenly, covers much of the body, follows a new medicine, or occurs with fever or feeling unwell. Cracks around the eyes, mouth, or genital skin may need targeted care because those areas are especially sensitive.

Does this look like simple dryness or an inflammatory skin condition? Which emollient texture suits the affected areas? Could a cleanser, medicine, or workplace exposure be contributing? How should I treat cracks? When should I return if the skin does not improve?