5 Causes of Dry Flaky Skin - 1 Solution That Works Safely

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Dry flaky skin and its cause can be different from other people but here are five causes that are most common. You will find a reference to a good solution that works safely and effectively.

**Low Humidity

Low relative humidity is most common in temperate climates during the winter. The cold air outside combined with the hot air inside creates the problem. Hot showers aggravate the situation.

The back and scalp are most commonly affected. Itching is one of the other symptoms. When the heels are affected, cracking may occur.

**Washing Too Often

Soap and water strip away the skin's naturally protective oils. Water alone can have the same effect, especially if it is chlorinated. The hands are most commonly affected in this situation. In an effort to avoid spreading germs, people who work in public situations may wash their hands dozens of times per day. Since the fall and winter are cold and flu seasons, low relative humidity can also play a role.

**Sunburn & Windburn

Sunburn initially causes redness. As the burn heals, scaling or peeling may be seen. Fair-skinned individuals are most commonly affected.

Windburn may initially cause redness of the cheeks or other exposed areas. Dry, flaky skin may appear quickly on the lips as they become chapped.

Sunburn occurs more often in the summer, while windburn occurs most often in the winter. Once again, the low relatively humidity increases the risk of windburn, because of low humidity.

**Nutritional Deficiencies

If the weather is mild, there has been no sunburn and washing too often does not explain the problem, a nutritional deficiency could be to blame. Any nutritional deficiency will have a detrimental effect on the skin's appearance. Lack of essential nutrients is the most likely cause when dry, flaky skin seems to cover the whole body.

Vitamin A deficiency causes the skin's outer layers to become dryer and rougher. Interestingly, low blood levels of vitamin A are also associated with acne. Yet excessive oiliness is usually blamed for acne. It just goes to show you how important the vitamin is to your skin's overall health. Other symptoms of low vitamin A intake include difficulty seeing at night and dry eyes.

Vitamin A deficiency is relatively rare in developed countries due to supplementation and food fortifications. Vitamin D deficiencies, on the other hand, are becoming increasingly common in developed countries. Dry, flaky skin could be a symptom of low vitamin D intake. Other symptoms include depression and fatigue.

**Cosmetic Ingredients

Numerous cosmetic ingredients can cause excessive dryness. Ethanol, methanol and other forms of alcohol strip away the skin's oils. Those ingredients are found in lotions, creams, toners, astringents, aftershaves and many other skincare products.

Mineral oil, petrolatum and paraffin will appear to be beneficial at first, but if used on a regular basis, they cause excessive dryness. In large amounts, they contribute to premature aging according to some dermatologists.

**How to Get Rid of It

The causes listed above are the most common. Major illness and the use of certain medications, such as antihistamines, are less common causes.

There could be only a single cause or a combination of contributing factors. But if you're like most people, what you really want to know is how to get rid of dry, flaky skin. You'll learn all about that in my next article. Please click the link on How to Get Rid of Dry Skin in the author/resource box below.

 


09 Sep, 2011


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Source: http://margaretbell.articlesbase.com/skin-care-articles/5-causes-of-dry-flaky-skin-1-solution-that-works-safely-5201437.html
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