Dorothy FarrarScaly skin
Flaky skin is a common skin problem. Usually it is caused by harmless causes and is then easily treatable. In some cases, however, a stubborn skin disease can also be behind it.
What is scaly skin?
Flaky skin has visible flakes of skin on the surface of the skin that easily come off. A skin flake consists of an aggregation of dead corneocytes. Corneocytes refer to keratin-forming horny cells.
The renewal process of the skin through the death and regeneration of skin cells takes place constantly. Most of the time, however, this process is invisible. A flake of skin only appears in a coherent group of 500 or more smaller flakes. Flaky skin always indicates unfavorable protective conditions for the skin.
causes
Flaky skin is caused by disruption of its protective layer. This ensures the balance between the death of old skin cells and the formation of new ones. The protective layer consists of fat and moisture. If the greasy film is removed and the skin dries out, the skin cells die off more often and scales form.
The causes for the removal of the skin’s protective layer are manifold. Cold and heat, for example, dry out the skin very much. When it’s cold, for example, the blood vessels constrict, which means that the skin’s sebaceous glands are no longer optimally supplied, so that their refatting suffers as a result. Heat dries out skin quickly. Unsuitable body lotions, soaps or shampoos can severely degrease them.
However, sometimes scaly skin is also caused by an illness. In fact, dandruff formation is promoted by fungal infections, allergic contact dermatitis, genetic causes and autoimmune diseases. Some deficiencies in systemic diseases often also cause skin problems. Known causes of scaly skin include neurodermatitis and autoimmune psoriasis.
Diseases
When to the doctor?
In most cases, there is no need to see a doctor for scaly skin. It very often occurs after a sunburn and can last for several days. If the scaly skin appears after a sunburn or after exposure to extreme heat or cold, no medical attention is needed. The skin usually heals on its own within a few days and the symptom resolves relatively quickly.
However, if the scaly skin persists and does not improve after about a week, a doctor should be consulted. This may be another disease or an allergy that needs to be treated by a doctor. A doctor should also be consulted if the skin is also itchy or reddened.
Medical treatment is also necessary for rashes on the skin . These are usually inflammation or fungal infections. Treatment is either with the help of medication or with creams and ointments and is successful in most cases.
diagnosis and course
The cause of scaly skin can often be identified easily. This is especially true when this phenomenon occurs when the skin is not properly cared for. However, if sudden skin changes with reddening and itching of the skin occur, the cause should be determined by the doctor in a differential diagnosis. This can be, for example, contact dermatitis or neurodermatitis.
Other causes are also possible. By taking a medical history, the doctor will make a presumptive diagnosis. If contact dermatitis is suspected, the triggering agent must be determined by means of allergy tests. In the case of psoriasis, typical skin symptoms appear, such as loosely adhering, silvery-white scales that lead to small, point-like bleeding when removed.
However, it is sometimes difficult to differentiate it from neurodermatitis. Considering the accompanying symptoms, a more intensive diagnosis is often necessary here. However, scaly skin usually has harmless causes that can be remedied quickly.
complications
Complications can also arise related to scaly skin. Because scaly skin is extremely dry, cracking can occur in some cases . A fissure usually occurs when the skin is too dry and stressed. A deep crack occurs that can no longer grow together on its own.
There is also a risk of impurities and bacteria accumulating in the fissure, which can cause an infection. Under certain circumstances, pus can even form, so that a visit to the doctor is inevitable. In the worst case, an abscess or blood poisoning can develop. Extreme caution is required, because then there is an acute danger to life.
Another complication is the spread of scales on the skin. If there is an underlying disease such as neurodermatitis, the dry skin can spread to the entire body. Various complications can be expected, especially if left untreated. Severe itching occurs, which will also bother those affected at night. The only way to counteract this is with appropriate medication.
treatment and therapy
Although scaly skin is often thought of as a cosmetic problem, treatment is still necessary. Dandruff formation means that the protective layer of the skin is disturbed. In addition, the constant itching encourages scratching, which can lead to bloody skin injuries. Of course, each of these skin changes also harbors the risk of infection , because pathogens can then more easily overcome the skin barrier, forming severely itchy and stubborn eczema .
If the scaly skin is provoked by dehydration, the affected areas should be rubbed with fatty and moisturizing creams. The creams should contain urea for moisturizing or the active ingredients allantoin and panthenol. Creams with omega-6 fatty acids also have a positive effect on the skin’s fat barrier.
If the skin becomes flaky and supple again after this treatment, it is only due to harmless dehydration. However, if neurodermatitis or psoriasis is present, more intensive therapy is necessary. It should be noted that these skin diseases cannot be cured, but can be alleviated. These diseases are also primarily treated with good moisturizing and moisturizing creams. In the case of psoriasis, ointments containing corticoids are also used locally.
Furthermore, a treatment with salicylic acid helps to remove the scales better. There is no standard therapy for the treatment of neurodermatitis because the causes can be different. In addition to creams and ointments, medications that have an anti-inflammatory effect are also administered here. Light therapy and alternative treatment methods are also used. In any case, the basic treatment for scaly skin is to restore its natural protective layer.
prevention
There are often things you can do to prevent scaly skin. Care should be taken not to take a shower or bath that is too hot. Too much cleansing lotion should not be used when showering. The use of moisturizing and PH-neutral washing lotions is beneficial. Avoid contact with aggressive cleaning agents and solvents.
Especially in the cold season, rubbing moisturizing and moisturizing creams on often affected areas is recommended. In addition, if you suddenly develop scaly skin, you should see your doctor to rule out other possible causes.
Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.