Dry skin is a very common condition, which occurs to anyone at any time but more so during the colder seasons. This condition is caused due to the lack of water in the epidermal layer of the skin. Dry skin is more likely to occur in older people in comparison to teenagers or young children. This is due to the reduced amount of skin oils and natural lubricants in the skin of elderly people. Dry skin also gives rise to various other infections in individuals.

Causes

• Winter season s the time when most of us will suffer from dry skin if we do not provide proper moisturization to our skin. In this season the temperature is very low and humidity levels also tend to decrease causing the skin to dry further.
• Heat is another cause for dry skin. Most of the times, the heating systems like the central heating system, space heaters, wood-burning stoves, and fireplaces reduce humidity causing dry skin.
• Taking regular hot showers or bathing for a longer period of time will cause dry skin since it leads to the moisture in the skin evaporating.
• Many soaps and detergents are considered as bad for dry skin. This is because a lot of soaps contain harsh agents that strip the skin of essential oils along with dirt and dust, making them very dry.
• Various skin infections can also cause dryness of the skin.

Symptoms

• You may experience rough, flaking, or scaling skin when you suffer from dry skin.
• There is also an increase in the itchiness in the affected area of dry skin.
• Some people with dark skin may also experience gray and ashy skin while having a dry skin condition.
• Sometimes, a lot of people have cracks in the skin due to the dry skin, which may also bleed in severe conditions.
• Several individuals may also experience cracked lips when they have a dry skin issue.

Treatments
Treatment methods for dry skin differ based on the problem being faced. A lot of individuals have combination skin, making picking out the right kind of treatment tricky.

• Moisturizer
  When you suffer from a dry skin condition, you must apply an intensive moisturizer daily and frequently throughout the day so that your skin will get its required oils. This will make your skin less likely to crack due to dryness and restores the moisture lost or lacking. These moisturizers are available in different forms in the market such as creams, ointments, oils, and lotions. If your skin is very dry, then you can utilize a moisturizer which contains lactic acid or urea. These components are very beneficial in maintaining the water content of the skin.
• Medicine
  There are certain medicines, which are prescribed by your doctor that you can apply on your dry skin to improve its condition. These medicines can be an immune modulator or a corticosteroid. You can also use moisturizer alongside these medicines for early improvements in your skin condition.

You can also make certain lifestyle changes to enhance your dry skin condition.