Why atopic dermatitis is more than just dry skin

Dry skin occurs when there is a lack of water in the outermost layer of the skin, the epidermis. When skin is dry, it feels irritated, itchy and can look flaky or scaly.

What causes dry skin?

The skin contains microscopic glands that secrete oil onto the surface of the skin. This oil keeps the skin lubricated and helps the skin retain moisture.

When there is not enough oil on the skin, the skin loses moisture too quickly and becomes dry. This can occur from frequently washing the skin, especially with harsh soaps. It can be caused by the weather, particularly dry air that is either very hot or very cold.

As we age, our oil producing glands tend to function less well, which is why dry skin is more common with advancing age. Dry skin can also be caused by certain medications, including some medications for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and acne.

Dry skin is also a main symptom of numerous health conditions, including eczema.

What is eczema?

Eczema is not a single condition, but a collection of conditions that cause irritated skin. The most common form of eczema is atopic dermatitis.

With atopic dermatitis, normal skin function is impaired, which causes the skin to lose moisture very quickly. As a result, the skin becomes itchy and inflamed. Skin can also become flaky and break.

Symptoms can be triggered by a number of factors, which vary depending on the type of eczema a person has, and also vary from person to person. Common triggers include temperature, irritants in household products, emotional stress, cosmetics, and clothing made from certain fabrics, like wool.

Symptoms tend to flare up at times and improve at other times. There is no cure for atopic dermatitis, but the condition can be managed with medications, moisturizing, and avoiding substances and behaviors that aggravate symptoms.

Other types of eczema include:

• Contact dermatitis, which is caused by contact with an irritant.
• Dyshidrotic eczema, which causes itchy blisters on the hands and feet.
• Nummular eczema, which causes round sores or scales on the skin.
• Seborrheic dermatitis, which causes red, scaly patches and dandruff on the scalp or areas of the body where there are more oil-producing glands, like the face.
• Stasis dermatitis, or venous eczema, which occurs when poor circulation causes fluid to leak from the veins and into the skin.

What else causes dry skin?

Dry skin can have many causes, ranging from inflammatory autoimmune diseases like psoriasis, to fungal infections like ringworm, to an allergic reaction or a reaction to cold weather.

If you are experiencing dry skin, any of the symptoms above, or any other skin symptoms, the best thing you can do is make an appointment with a dermatologist who can diagnose the cause and help you treat your symptoms.