Dry Skin Management Handout

Dry skin (xerosis or asteatosis) occurs when moisture and barrier oils are lost from the epidermis.  This leads to cracks in the skin.....like a dry river bed.  Dry skin tends to be itchy.  On going dry skin with resultant scratching may lead to red, inflamed and scaly patches. This itchy inflamed skin condition is known as eczema or dermatitis.