Scaly Skin

Dry scaly skin can be quite an irritating condition, and it occurs mostly during the winter season. Also, people who tend to frequently take baths or long baths, experience dry even scaly skin. If you are suffering from dry skin patches too, then you can easily get rid of them by maintaining a good skin care regime. Let us look at the causes, symptoms and treatment of scaly skin.

Symptoms

Scaly rough skin depending upon the severity of the skin condition will differ. Here is a list of the symptoms of scaly skin.

• Dry scaly skin of arms
• Dry scaly skin of legs
• Dry scaly skin on sides of waist
• Dry scaly skin patches on back
• Dry rough skin on forehead and cheeks
• Extremely dry skin
• Itching of skin
• Reddening of skin
• Cracks on skin

Causes

Dry scaly skin can be caused due to various reasons. However, if a person is getting scaly rough skin, due to extremely dry skin, then it can be treated at home. But, if the skin condition is due to some kind of infection then you need dermatologist help. Common causes of dry scaly skin are:

• Cold weather
• Frequent bathing
• Not moisturizing the skin
• Poor diet
• Use of air conditioners or heater

Treatment

Thinking, how to get rid of dry skin then first follow a skin care routine and a healthy diet to nourish your skin.

• The first step to further prevent the skin from losing excess moisture is to limit the bath time. So, avoid taking bath for longer than 15 minutes. When taking a bath use soap free cleanser or a mild soap for dry skin like Dove.
• Then after you are done having bath, pat your skin with a soft towel. The best way to moisturize dry scaly skin is to use an oil. Buy a bottle of 100% natural olive oil and apply it all over the skin. You can use it even for your face, but if you feel it is too greasy then go with jojoba oil. Be generous on the areas which have dry scaly patches. If you have scaly skin on face, then apply oil on those areas and in circular motions apply the oil so it penetrates better.
• Oils work best when it comes to moisturizing dry scaly skin. Also, oils are good for extremely dry skin as they are natural and don't contain any chemicals, so don't harm the skin further. This is the best solution for sensitive skin. However, if you have acne prone skin, then in olive oil mix tea tree oil in 10:2 proportion respectively, and then apply on the acne prone areas.
• For skin care keep a bottle of oil in the bottle and use it after every time you take bath. However, if you are going out and need a nice moisturizer, then oils are not a practical option. In such a case carry a small jar of shea butter or cocoa butter with you. You can use it to moisture your face and lips. If you feel like washing your face to get rid of dust, then use a mild soap free cleanser for dry skin, like Neutrogena face wash then pat the skin and apply moisturizer.
• To get rid of the dry scaly skin, use a mild scrubber like a loofah to get rid of the dry skin. The fresh layer of the skin will be softer and better. Remember, to moisturize after the bath.
• If you experience that some areas on the body are more dry than others, then apply moisturizer to them twice a day at the least. Areas on the face like near the mouth or near eyes or lips tend to be more dry, so keep applying moisturizer. Also, we tend to frequently wash our hands. So, apply a moisturizer after you are done washing your hands, to avoid dry scaly skin of hands.
• Sometimes, dry scaly skin can cause itching, in such a case apply aloe gel to soothe the skin and moisturize the dry skin patches. You can also use a cool compress to soothe the skin, and then apply a regular moisturizer. Also, wear natural material clothes like cotton or silk, to prevent any itching.
• To treat this skin disorder from within, eat a healthy diet which contains lots of fresh fruits and vegetables. Also, keep drinking plenty of water to keep yourself hydrated.

So, follow the above measures on skin care and you will be able to get rid of the dry scaly skin soon. With the above home care measures if your skin doesn't get better after a week, then seek a dermatologists help.