Dry and cracked skin can make other people feel uncomfortable when it comes to making physical contact with you.

In a social situation or during intimacy, such skin can be quite a turn-off especially when it is flaking and peeling.

To avoid such an embarrassing situation, here’s the complete lowdown on dry skin.

Causes of dry and cracked skin

Dry skin (xerosis) is something that is understandably embarrassing but it is a fairly common affliction. Its symptoms include:

• Skin tightness, especially after a shower or swimming
• Skin that feels and looks rough
• Itching
• Mild to severe flaking, scaling or peeling
• Grey, ashy skin
• Redness and inflammation

Dry and cracked skin can be due to certain environmental factors, inherited skin diseases or a combination of both.

Identifying the possible causes of dry skin can help you control or prevent it altogether.

Environmental causes include:

The weather: If you live in a temperate climate, your skin is at its driest during winter. The drop in temperature and humidity severely reduces your skin’s ability to retain moisture.

Environmental heat: Prolonged exposure to central heating, wood-burning stoves, heaters and fireplaces all reduce humidity and can cause dry skin.

Hot baths and showers: Regular hot baths or showers may not be good as hot water strips moisture and oils from your skin, leaving it parched and scaly.

Chemicals in soap and detergents: Most shower gels, shampoos, detergents and soaps are formulated to remove oil from your skin. This is great to prevent acne formation, but it can cause dry skin too.

Certain inflammatory skin conditions like dermatitis can cause your skin to become dry as well, including:

• Contact dermatitis
• Irritant contact dermatitis
• Allergic contact dermatitis
• Seborrheic dermatitis
• Atopic dermatitis (eczema)

Psoriasis and diabetes can also cause your skin to dry out.

Dry and cracked skin happens more often with some people. This is because you may have more risk factors for dry skin compared to others.

Age: Dry skin increases with age. More than 50% of people aged 40 and above have dry skin.

Occupation: Some jobs such as nursing and hairstyling may require you to immerse your skin in hot water.

This increases your chances of developing dry skin. Pool lifeguards and swimmers are also at risk as they are exposed to chlorinated water.

Complications of dry skin

If not handled, managed and treated adequately, dry skin can complicate into something more serious.

What begins as fine lines and cracks can lead to deeper cracks and cause bleeding. When this occurs, the integrity of your skin is compromised.

Skin acts as a natural barrier to protect your body from harmful micro organisms, so this disruption can lead to secondary bacterial infections such as cellulitis.

Cellulitis can progress to a life-threatening problem known as sepsis, a bacterial infection in your blood.

Managing dry skin

Fortunately, dry and cracked skin is both preventable and treatable.

Important preventive steps include:

• Using a moisturiser
• Keeping your bath water lukewarm instead of hot
• Using a shower gel or soap which helps skin retain moisture
• Covering up during winter
• Wearing rubber gloves
• Drinking plenty of water
• Avoid scratching dry skin

Skincare for babies

You cannot overlook the soft and delicate skin of babies. Here is how to care for baby skin:

Change diapers often: Diaper rash happens when babies are left in dirty diapers for too long. To prevent chafing, apply diaper cream at every change and monitor discharge regularly.

Moisturise: Apply moisturiser and only select moisturisers without fragrances or dyes to stay clear of skin irritants.

Wipe saliva regularly: Babies’ drool can irritate their own skin. It is especially bad when unattended saliva dries and gets wet repeatedly, as this evaporation process dries up natural skin moisture.

Dress for comfort: The best fabric for babies is cotton as it is soft and breathable, allowing adequate skin ventilation.

Bathe with care: Babies do not need to take baths as frequently as adults, but they should be bathed at least once a day.

Use room temperature water and gentle non-soap cleanser.

Most cases of dry skin respond very well to the above measures. Implementing the correct preventive steps is crucial in keeping your skin moisturised and healthy.

Consider visiting a clinic if the following conditions persist:

• Your skin doesn’t improve in spite of your best efforts
• Intense and widespread redness starts to develop
• Dryness and itching interfere with sleep
• You have open sores or infection from scratching
• You have large areas of scaling or peeling skin

Your doctor may prescribe certain ointments, creams, or lotions to treat these early signs.

In rare instances, you may be referred to a dermatologist for further management. Dry skin is a manageable problem but it shouldn’t be taken lightly as it can lead to severe distress and complications.

This article first appeared in Hello Doktor. The Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.