Yes, it is true that dry skin can be inherited and we already know you’ve blamed your genes enough for having constantly dry skin, haven’t you? But Dr. Uttam Kumar Lenka MBBS (Cal), MD (Dermatology) Consultant Dermatologist believes a lot of other factors are equally responsible for making your skin dry. In fact some of the most common causes of dry skin are chronic and lifestyle related. We tried understanding dry skin a little better from Dr. Kumar and here are some of the answers he had to our questions...

 

What are some of the most common causes of dry skin?

What are some of the most common causes of dry skin?

According to Dr. Uttam Kumar Lenka, “it is common to experience dry skin during winter and after taking hot shower bath,” as both these factors rob skin off its natural oils and make it look parched and feel stretchy. “However, dry skin can also be signalling an underlying chronic disease such as:

Atopic dermatitis: Due to defective skin barrier mechanism body water content evaporates quickly.

Psoriasis: Due to rapid skin turnover time the skin doesn't get time to mature so skin barrier function is disrupted.

Type 2- Diabetes mellitus: Diabetes affects nerve fibres which causes diabetic neuropath leading to decrease in sweat from body and make skin dry,” adds the expert.

If your skin feels dry all through the year, we recommend visiting a dermatologist to rule out all of the above mentioned chronic diseases.

Causes of dry skin Is it your lifestyle or an underlying chronic disease

Certain foods and lifestyle habits are responsible for making matters worse. Dr. Uttam Kumar Lenka suggests avoiding the following foods when suffering from dry skin…

  • Alcohol – Draws out liquid from the body and makes it dehydrated.
  • Coffee – It is harsh on skin and can increase the sensitivity of dry skin.
  • Salty Food – It is dehydrating and makes skin look drier.
  • Dry Bread Crumbs – Damages collagen in your skin and leads to premature aging.
  • Excess of sugar – Affects collagen and weakens skin cells.
  • Foods high in vitamin A – Consuming vitamin A in excess amounts can cause skin dryness.