Dry Skin

It’s common to experience dry skin, but whether it’s caused by the weather or a chronic skin issue, skin that’s dry is compromised and not at its healthy best. When skin is properly hydrated, supple and elastic, it provides a natural protective barrier that helps the body stay healthy. Skin that’s too dry can be irritated, itchy and, in severe cases, prone to infection. Not only does dry skin make you feel uncomfortable, but it can also hurt your sense of self-confidence.

Help for Dry Skin in Indianapolis

At the Laser and Skin Surgery Center of Indiana, we specialize in the evaluation, diagnosis and treatment of dry skin of all types.

The Evaluation

At your first appointment with the Laser and Skin Surgery Center of Indiana (LASSI), we’ll examine your skin for several factors including its degree of dryness. We’ll review your medical history and any medications you’re currently prescribed, discuss any treatment methods you’ve tried at home, and address any concerns you may have. Our board-certified dermatologist will also examine your skin and, if necessary, take a small testing sample to rule out more serious skin conditions.

Diagnosis and Treatment

It can be difficult to know if your dry skin is due to seasonal conditions or something more complex. If you’re experiencing continually dry, itchy skin, our team can help. Our staff includes a board-certified dermatologist, a physician assistant and licensed medical aestheticians who are passionate about skin health and beauty.

Dry skin can be the result of an allergy or skin condition, like eczema or psoriasis. Skin rashes that are caused by various dermal disorders may need specialized treatments. Our dermatologist knows the signs and symptoms to identify what ails you, and how to help.

Once we’ve diagnosed your issue, we’ll recommend the best treatment and products for your individual needs and skin type.

Why Choose the Laser and Skin Surgery Center of Indiana?

When you choose the Laser and Skin Surgery Center of Indiana for your skin care needs, you can be confident your concerns will be assessed and treated by experienced, qualified professionals. We provide both medical and aesthetic solutions to treat and manage dry skin. Also, we strive to stay at the forefront of dermatology practices and innovations as demonstrated by our participation in various clinical trials in dermatology research.

Our team of dermatology and skin care experts has an in-depth understanding of the skin and works under the supervision of our board-certified dermatologic surgeon according to the highest safety standards.

Common Causes of Dry Skin

Many suffer from dry skin and don’t realize it is often due to factors which are easily remedied. The most common causes of dry, rough, or chapped skin are:

• Aging
• Bathing habits and hand washing
• Dermatitis
• Seasonal conditions
• Swimming or chlorine exposure

Aging

Dry skin can occur at any age, but changes in the skin over time increases the likelihood that a problem will develop. As we grow older, our skin’s ability to produce natural oils decreases. The rate at which our skin cells are replenished decreases as well resulting in thinner skin more susceptible to dryness. This can sometimes develop into rough patches which feel uncomfortably tight and itchy, bleeding and becoming infected if scratched. Most people, therefore, need to adjust their skin care routine as the years pass to compensate for these changes.

Bathing Habits/Hand Washing

When water evaporates from the skin, it takes beneficial skin oils with it. Washing too much can make dry skin worse, as can hot water. Soaps and detergents worsen water’s drying effects, particularly products that contain ingredients which strip the skin of its natural oils and potentially irritate the skin.

Don’t wash any more than necessary and keep your washing sessions brief. If you cleanse your face at night, you may not need to cleanse it again in the morning but can apply specially formulated moisturizers and other products as recommended by your aesthetician. Take short showers and avoid using cleansers that contain harsh ingredients. Choose gentle cleansing products and pat your skin dry instead of rubbing with a towel.

Dermatitis

Dermatitis is a common skin condition which presents itself in many forms. When skin is irritated, has a rash or is otherwise itchy, reddened or swollen, it could be classified as dermatitis. The two most common types are contact dermatitis and atopic dermatitis.

When the skin comes into contact with an allergen or irritant, it can develop contact dermatitis. People in occupations that require frequent hand washing or exposure to chemical irritants are often affected with raw, cracked and dry skin as a consequence. Atopic dermatitis is a condition people are born with, and its signs and symptoms, though exhibited at any age,often first occur in childhood. Dry skin can worsen the condition.

Seasonal

Seasonal conditions commonly cause or exacerbate dry skin. Winter is especially tough on skin. The cold outdoor air has less moisture than warm air, indoor heating removes moisture from the air and can similarly pull moisture from the skin and attempting to escape harsh winds outside by cozying up to a fire only leads to other drying effects. Also, many people enjoy taking hot showers or baths on chilly days, but the heat and water rob skin of its moisture.

It’s not only cold weather conditions that make skin dry. Living in a low-humidity climate, like the desert, can lead to dry skin problems. Spending a lot of time indoors in an air-conditioned environment is also drying because air conditioning units remove moisture from the air. Dry seasonal conditions can create a new problem with skin dryness or make an existing problem worse.

Swimming/Chlorine Exposure

Chlorine is effective at sanitizing water in hot tubs and pools but, when it’s added to water, it forms an acid that strips skin of its natural oils causing irritation. The longer your skin is in contact with chlorinated water, the more irritated it can become, resulting in itchiness and dryness. These symptoms are especially severe if you’re exposed to chlorinated swimming water a lot and also have a chlorine sensitivity.

Exposure to water and chemicals while swimming sometimes leads to contact dermatitis, and it can aggravate sensitive skin and conditions like psoriasis and eczema. Signs of chlorine sensitivity are redness, tenderness and/or hives (itchy bumps). The presence of lesions, a rash, crust or scales on the skin are more severe signs of a reaction to chlorine.

When to See a Dermatologist for Dry Skin Symptoms

Using the proper skincare products on a regular basis can help to relieve and manage dryness. However, if you have chronic dry skin, your dry skin often returns, or you’re experiencing severe or sudden dryness, you should be assessed by a dermatologist. They can determine the cause of your signs and symptoms and recommend an effective treatment plan.

Itching and Flaking

You might find flakes of skin on your dark clothes after itching. Perhaps your skin has lost the natural glow of moisture-rich skin now appearing gray and/or ashy. Whatever the experience, if your skin is itching and flaking, you may be experiencing signs of severely dry skin and would benefit from additional care. Y A dermatologist can help determine the cause and provide effective relief from those symptoms.

Skin Breaks and Infections

If you have cracks in the skin, also known as skin fissures, you should see a dermatologist. Without treatment, skin fissures can worsen and bleed due to lost moisture and elasticity. It’s common to experience cracks from dry skin on the heels and knuckles during cold, dry seasons. Anytime you have breaks in the skin you run the risk of getting an infection, so it’s important to resolve cracked skin and restore your skin to its healthy state where it can properly serve as a protective barrier.

Nothing Else Is Working

In rare cases, dry skin can be a sign of a more serious condition. Psoriasis, eczema, diabetes and allergies can all be underlying causes of dry skin. It is important to understand there’s a good chance your dry skin is NOT caused by anything serious; your current products are simply proving ineffective for your skin needs. If treatment at home doesn’t seem to be working, it is worthwhile to visit a dermatologist who will listen to your concerns, evaluate your skin health, and recommend a solution that will work for you.

Possible Treatments for Dry Skin

Dry skin can be treated and managed once you have a proper diagnosis. At the Laser and Skin Surgery Center of Indiana, we offer a variety of treatments to improve dry skin and treat underlying issues. Your treatment plan is based on your diagnosis and could include the following:

• High-quality moisturizers with skin-hydrating ingredients
• Non-irritating, dye and fragrance-free skin care products
• Professional facials for sensitive skin

High-Quality Moisturizers With Skin Hydrating Ingredients

Our skin care products, such as our high-quality moisturizers, help retain moisture already present in your skin and soften and soothe with skin-hydrating ingredients. Our medically certified aestheticians recommend specific products with the active ingredients that your skin needs to heal and hydrate. Many of our select products are available by prescription only and have benefits that you can only get from professional care. They are all clinically proven brands which have delivered amazing results to our patients.

Non-Irritating, Dye and Fragrance-Free Skin Care Products

Dry skin tends to be sensitive skin which requires the use of specialized skin care products so our team offers personalized, at-home care regimens with medical-grade skin care products. We only provide formulas that are well-researched and clinically proven to work. Non-irritating, dye and fragrance-free skin care products soothe, smooth and hydrate your skin to restore it to the way that healthy skin should look and feel.

Professional Facials for Sensitive Skin

Our sensitive skin facials soothe and hydrate dry, sensitive skin. Using gentle products and techniques, a skilled, licensed aesthetician will apply medical-grade skin care that calms and smooths your skin while reducing flaking and redness. We use non-irritating, customized blends and moisturizing formulas to address your sensitive skin concerns and restore a youthful glow. For some patients, a soothing HydraFacial can help with dry, sensitive skin.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Dry Skin Conditions

If you have persistent flaking, redness or other issues that don’t lessen with moisturizers, you may have more than a simple case of dry skin. Many patients dismiss their symptoms as a seasonal issue when an irritating skin rash is actually an indication of condition requiring official diagnosis and prescription treatment.

Get Help for Your Dry Skin in Indianapolis

If you have dry skin that’s ongoing, severe, or otherwise concerns you, please contact us for a consultation today. Our full-service dermatology practice will provide a diagnosis and treatment plan to provide relief from your symptoms and a resolution of any underlying condition. Discover why so many patients choose the Laser and Skin Surgery Center of Indiana to care for the beauty and health of their skin.