cracked<\/span>.<\/p>\nAlthough any site on the body can be dry, dry skin tends to affect pimples more than any other site.<\/p>\n
The clinical features of ichthyosis depend on the specific type of ichthyosis.<\/p>\n\n<\/span>Dry Skin<\/span><\/h5>\n<\/section>\n\n\n
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Ichthyosis<\/p>\n
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Ichthyosis close-up<\/p>\n
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Dry skin dermatitis.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n
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See more images of dry skin.<\/p>\n
<\/span>dry skin complications<\/span><\/h2>\nDry areas of skin may be itchy, indicating a form of eczema<\/span>\/ dermatitis has developed.<\/p>\n\n- \n
Atopic eczema, especially in people with ichthyosis vulgaris<\/li>\n
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Eczema craquel\u00e9, especially in older people. Also called asteatotic eczema<\/li>\n
- A dry form of nummular dermatitis \/discoid<\/span> eczema, especially in people who wash their skin excessively<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
When an older person's dry skin is itchy without a visible eruption<\/span>, sometimes called winter itch, seventh age itch, senile pruritus<\/span> or chronic itching of the elderly.<\/p>\nOther complications of dry skin can include:<\/p>\n
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skin infection when bacteria<\/span> or viruses penetrate a break in the skin surface<\/li>\n- Overheating, especially in some forms of ichthyosis\n<\/li>\n
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Food allergy<\/span>, for example, to peanuts, has been associated with filaggrin mutations<\/li>\n- \n
Contact allergy, for example to nickel, has also been correlated with barrier function defects.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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<\/span>How is dry skin type diagnosed?<\/span><\/h2>\nDry skin type is diagnosed by careful history and examination.<\/p>\n
In children:<\/p>\n
\n- Family history<\/li>\n
- starting age<\/li>\n
- Appearance at birth, if known<\/li>\n
- \nDistribution<\/span> dry skin<\/li>\n
- Other features, eg, eczema, abnormal nail<\/span>, hair<\/span>, dentition, sight, hearing.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
In adults:<\/p>\n
\n- Medical history<\/li>\n
- Medications and topical preparations.<\/li>\n
- Frequency of bathing and use of soap.<\/li>\n
- Evaluation of environmental factors that can contribute to dry skin.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
sometimes a skin biopsy<\/span> may be ordered Additional tests may be ordered to diagnose some types of ichthyosis.<\/p>\n<\/span>What is the treatment for dry skin?<\/span><\/h2>\nThe basis of treatment for dry skin and ichthyosis are moisturizers \/emollients<\/span>. They should be applied liberally and often enough to:<\/p>\n\n- reduce itching<\/li>\n
- Improves barrier function\n<\/li>\n
- prevent the entry of irritants<\/span>bacteria<\/li>\n
- Reduce transepidermal<\/span> loss of water<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
When considering what emollient<\/span> is the most suitable, consider:<\/p>\n\n- severity of dryness<\/li>\n
- Tolerance<\/li>\n
- personal preference<\/li>\n
- Cost and availability.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Emollients generally work best if applied to damp skin, if pH<\/span> is below 7 (acidic), and if it contains moisturizers<\/span> such as urea or propylene glycol.<\/p>\nAdditional treatments include:<\/p>\n