Randy Jacobs, MD
Dermatology
Dry Skin and Skin Barrier Education
What is Dry Skin?
Quite simply, dry skin is skin that has lost its moisture. This loss of moisture is, most commonly, the result of inadequate daily moisturization in personal skin care habits, plus, the overuse of strong soaps, plus, exposure to dry air. All of these factors ead to a damaged skin barrier. So you can learn more, I have put together an explanation, below, with diagrams.
The answer to dry skin and a damaged skin barrier, is to moisturize on a regular daily basis with a heavy cream or ointment like Vaseline. Also, avoid harsh soaps like Ivory, Dial, Zest, and Irish Spring. And, if this is not enough, try adding a room humidifier for your bedroom. I suggest that you download my booklet, “The ABC’s of Dry and Sensitive Skin.”
What is Dry and Sensitive Skin?
What is dry and sensitive skin? Dry skin is common
problem, especially in cool weather when hot furnaces are turned on and the air
is dry. Young and old, infants and adults, millions of people suffer with dry
and sensitive skin. It may be you or your spouse, your children, your parents,
or even a friend. At highest risk are babies, seniors, diabetics, frequent hand
washers, eczema prone people, atopics, psoriatics, and people on water pills, acne meds, or
wrinkle creams. These people usually suffer with dry and extra sensitive skin.
If you look in the dictionary, there is no good
definition for the term" sensitive skin," but those of you who have
it sure know what it is. Sensitive skin dries out ever so easily, can ignite
like a hot match, and any allergic thing can set it off. If this skin type is
neglected and exposed to soap, dry air, and allergens, simple dry skin can
deteriorate into itchy eczema or the "Dry Skin Rash." Eczema, the Dry
Skin Rash, and most dry and sensitive skin problems can be traced to an easily
damaged skin barrier located in the upper layers of the skin. Microscopically,
the skin barrier resembles tiny bricks and mortar. Here is a simplified diagram
of the human skin barrier.
If you are a dry and sensitive person and you neglect
your skin barrier, you will have problems forever. The truth is, your skin
barrier needs daily care, but ironically, most dry and sensitive people are
unaware of their skin barrier organ. A well-tuned skin barrier will keep body
water inside and will prevent allergens and microbes from entering your body.
The "bricks" are the corneocyte skin cells.
The "mortar," situated between skin cells, is made of three
lipid-oils: Free fatty acids, ceramide, and
cholesterol. For normal skin barrier functioning to occur, the three lipids
must be "organized" into precise layers called "lipid
bilayers."
How Do You Get Dry Skin?
They don't realize that soap and alcohol are only
stripping more lipids and causing more skin barrier damage. Finally, the dry
person goes to a local urgent care and gets cortisone pills. But, cortisone is
only a short-term fix for a long-term skin problem. What this suffering dry and
sensitive soul really needs is the ABC Skin Care System.
These are before and
after photos showing extremely dry skin in a diabetic leg treated with Guitar
Hands Lotion six times per day for three weeks. Please see dates on photos.
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