Skin xerosis. Solving the problem externally

05/06/2021 Doctors at our clinic successfully treat many skin diseases, including xerosis (flaking) of the skin. If you encounter this problem, please contact us, we will try to help you.

Peeling of the skin, or xerosis, is a disease that occurs when the cells of the surface layer of the skin (epidermis) become keratinized. Skin cells, keratinocytes, are constantly renewed and exfoliated under physiological conditions. This happens unnoticed by humans, since normally the rate of their division is low. In case of certain malfunctions in the body (infections, metabolic disorders, etc.), the regulation of cell reproduction is disrupted, and they begin to intensively exfoliate, sticking together into scales. Their prolonged presence on the skin can cause itching, pain, tightness or burning.

Possible causes of xerosis

Dermatologists divide conditions that provoke the formation of scales into two groups: physiological and pathological. Physiological factors:

• ultraviolet radiation: summer cottage work, beach season;
• in people over 50-60 years old, age-related decrease in the function of the sebaceous glands;
• cold temperature;
• irritation from chemicals: dishwashing detergents, frequent use of soap or other household chemicals.

Diseases leading to excessive keratinization of the skin:

• allergic: contact and atopic dermatitis, eczema;
• fungal and bacterial infections: pityriasis versicolor, staphylococcal dermatitis;
• autoimmune diseases: psoriasis, Lyell-Stephen-Johnson syndrome;
• metabolic disorders: seborrheic dermatitis, xerosis in diabetes mellitus;
• other conditions: skin cancer, etc.

Most people do not immediately notice signs of increased skin activity, especially those that arise under the influence of external factors. When discomfort or dry skin occurs, all kinds of creams and ointments are used, which at best will not bring relief. Self-medication is dangerous because, without knowing the cause, you can trigger the disease or worsen its course. Therefore, at the first signs of skin damage, you should immediately contact a specialist.

Skin thickening, or hyperkeratosis

Diabetes mellitus

Human papillomavirus (HPV)

Fungus

Menopause

Climax

15731 August 16

IMPORTANT!

The information in this section cannot be used for self-diagnosis and self-treatment.
In case of pain or other exacerbation of the disease, diagnostic tests should be prescribed only by the attending physician. To make a diagnosis and properly prescribe treatment, you should contact your doctor. Thickening of the skin: causes of occurrence, what diseases it occurs with, diagnosis and treatment methods.

Definition

Hyperkeratosis is an abnormal thickening of the top layer of skin (epidermis) as a result of excessive sun exposure, exposure to chemicals, frequent friction or pressure. In addition, hyperkeratosis can occur against the background of certain diseases.

Thickening of the skin occurs in the stratum corneum of the epidermis, which is the end point of the differentiation process of keratinocytes - cells containing the protein keratin. It is in the stratum corneum that keratinocytes lose water and their nucleus and turn into scales of the stratum corneum - corneocytes.

Normally, corneocytes are gradually exfoliated, due to which the skin is renewed.

With hyperkeratosis, accelerated differentiation of keratinocytes occurs, and the physiological exfoliation of horny scales from the skin surface, on the contrary, slows down.

Types of hyperkeratosis

Depending on the origin, acquired and hereditary hyperkeratosis are distinguished.

According to clinical manifestations.

• Calluses are a common type of hyperkeratosis. There are several types of calluses, but they all appear due to thickening of the skin in places most susceptible to mechanical stress. Moreover, such skin changes can be associated both with increased physical activity and with various chronic diseases, which is typical for elderly patients.
• Horny (tilotic) eczema manifests itself as hyperkeratosis of the palms and soles.
• Psoriasis is an autoimmune inflammatory disease in which hyperkeratotic scaly plaques form on the skin.

• Actinic keratosis usually appears as small, reddish, scaly bumps that appear after excessive sun exposure. Actinic keratosis is a serious condition with a high probability of malignancy and requires mandatory consultation with a doctor.

• Seborrheic keratosis is characterized by small brown or black patches, usually located on the face, neck, shoulders and back. This is one of the most common benign skin tumors in adults.
• Follicular hyperkeratosis (“goose bumps”) is characterized by blockage of the mouths of the follicles with keratinized epidermal cells.
• Epidermolytic hyperkeratosis is a rare hereditary disease that appears immediately at birth. Newborns have reddish skin, sometimes covered with small blisters.

Possible causes of skin thickening
Skin hyperkeratosis can occur in people who neglect regular skin care procedures, as a result of which dead cells of the stratum corneum accumulate and form keratomas - benign neoplasms.

Our skin is constantly exposed to adverse external factors, such as chlorinated water and detergents, and UV radiation. As a result, the protective lipid layer of the skin is damaged, and moisture begins to rapidly evaporate from its surface, and corneocytes lose their ability to physiologically exfoliate.

In diabetes mellitus, hyperkeratosis becomes a consequence of metabolic disorders and deterioration of skin microcirculation.

Wearing tight or uncomfortable shoes, especially with flat feet, congenital foot pathologies, and obesity, can cause thickening of the skin on the feet.

The development of cervical hyperkeratosis (leukoplakia) is promoted by the human papillomavirus.

The cause of hyperkeratosis can be chronic fungal infection, as well as herpes zoster.

It is believed that symptoms of thickened and dry skin may be caused by a deficiency of vitamins A, E, D and C.

Hyperkeratosis often results from a lack of the hormone estrogen in women during menopause.

Diseases and conditions in which hyperkeratosis develops

1. Diabetes.
2. Obesity.
3. Flat feet.
4. Ichthyosis.
5. Psoriasis.
6. Eczema.
7. Menopause.
8. Fungal skin infection.
9. Shingles.
10. Erythroderma.
11. Atopic dermatitis.
12. Seborrheic keratosis.

Which doctors to contact for hyperkeratosis
Most often, the first consultation regarding skin thickening is addressed to a dermatologist. After a thorough examination, collecting complaints, finding out the patient’s medical and family history, conducting laboratory and instrumental studies, a consultation with an infectious disease specialist may be required.

Diagnosis and examinations for thickening of the skin

A thorough history taking, taking into account all the patient’s complaints, examination and additional diagnostic methods will help determine the cause of hyperkeratosis.

• Clinical blood test with a detailed leukocyte formula to identify inflammatory processes in the body.

How is skin xerosis treated?

At the appointment, the dermatologist will conduct a thorough medical history to determine the possible cause of the disease.

Next comes an inspection of the damaged area. If ulcers are found along with the scales, the doctor may take a swab to identify bacteria or fungi.

Based on clinical and laboratory signs, a diagnosis is established and treatment is prescribed. If, with external influences, it is enough to eliminate the irritating factor, then in case of diseases, treatment is selected individually, taking into account the original cause of the severity of the skin lesion.

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• Symptoms of the disease

For certain reasons, not enough fat is produced in the upper stratum corneum, as a result of which moisture is lost and strong susceptibility to any external irritant appears. As a rule, excessive dry skin is accompanied by noticeable itching, which forces a person to scratch and thereby injure the skin, making it open to infectious agents.

Xerosis can be congenital (or atopic) and acquired. The main factors provoking acquired xerosis of the skin are:

• certain climatic and weather conditions (for example, dry frost, heat, low humidity combined with strong wind, etc.);
• increased air dryness during heating in winter;
• constant long-term water procedures (constant bathing, swimming in a pool with chlorinated water, can lead to disruption of lipid metabolism of skin cells);
• ultraviolet radiation, which penetrates the skin, dries it out, making it flabby and wrinkled;
• household chemicals with aggressive components that destroy the fat layer;
• various dermatological diseases (atopic dermatitis, seborrhea, ichthyosis, eczema, psoriasis);
• age-related skin changes associated with a slowdown in cellular metabolic processes.

Skin xerosis can develop in any person. Therefore, any manifestations of symptoms should be considered as an alarming signal and appropriate measures should be taken immediately. After all, many people consider severe dry skin to be a temporary phenomenon and do not pay due attention to it.

Xerosis in children

The causes of skin xerosis in children are different, and treatment depends on their nature.

So, the causes of skin xerosis in children may be as follows:

• allergy;
• endocrinological disorders;
• weak immunity.

In most cases, all this is transmitted with genes. To identify the cause, it is worth visiting the appropriate specialists.

It is acceptable to use special children's cosmetics. For example, moisturizing and soothing creams. Sometimes the doctor may prescribe medications.

To combat the scourge on their own, parents can be recommended to use “improvised” measures. This will improve the condition of the child’s skin texture (examples of skin xerosis in children photos).

• start hardening (if there are no contraindications);
• instill a love of hygiene;
• improve nutrition (fresh natural foods, more vegetables, eating at the same time);
• establish a routine (wake up and go to bed at the same time every day);
• ensure healthy sleep (8-9 hours a day, in absolute darkness, in a pre-ventilated room);
• get interested in sports (for example, enroll in some sports section).

Regular spending time outdoors will also benefit your growing body. However, it is better to avoid active sun.

In general, skin xerosis in children is similar to that in adults, regardless of the cause, so the approach to therapy is similar.

What is it and what do the signs of the disease look like?

xerosis of the skin in the photo
Xerosis of the skin is a critical drying out of the epithelial layer with the destruction of a large number of its cells. Some scientific dermatologists who deal with the problem of the occurrence of this disease believe that xeroderma refers to the initial stage of skin ichthyosis. Xerosis is also present when the patient has certain types of infectious diseases.

Dry skin occurs when the sebaceous glands stop producing sebum or do so in reduced tone. The first symptoms of the disease are as follows:

• abnormally dry skin that does not show any external signs of hydration;
• as the condition of the skin deteriorates, its surface layer begins to form scales that peel off greatly;
• the affected areas of the epithelium become rough to the touch and it seems that the skin has become one continuous calloused neoplasm;
• mild itching, which gradually becomes simply unbearable, is present day and night, significantly reducing the patient’s quality of life;
• swelling of the epidermal tissues, inflammation and redness, on which xeroderma develops;
• loss of elasticity of diseased skin, as well as the disappearance of pores that cannot be seen during visual inspection;
• very strong drying out of individual parts of the body with the formation of cracks from which lymphatic fluid is released.

In addition to the skin, xerosis can spread to the mucous membrane of the oral cavity, nasal canals and organs of vision. People at risk are between 45 and 80 years old. The danger of the disease lies in the fact that its first signs are often confused with an allergic reaction to external environmental factors or banal dehydration of the surface epithelial layer.

Clinical manifestations of vaginal dryness

The first sign of the development of skin xerosis is increased peeling in a certain area. As the process progresses, patients begin to complain of skin redness, a feeling of tightness, and itching. In some cases, small bleeding cracks may form, accompanied by pain. The skin becomes dull and becomes rough to the touch.

The severity of xerosis manifestations depends on many reasons: age, time of exposure to the provoking factor, lifestyle, nutrition, and general condition of the body.

Clinical picture

Newborn children have no symptoms of the disease. The first signs of xeroderma pigmentosum begin to be noticed between the ages of 3 months and 4 years. In rare cases, the onset of the disease is possible in adulthood. The literature contains data on the appearance of symptoms in patients aged 25-30 years.

Xeroderma pigmentosum is characterized by seasonality and stages of progression. An exacerbation of the disease occurs in the sunny season (spring - early autumn). The first stage is called inflammatory and is manifested by a specific triad of symptoms:

• photosensitivity - intolerance to direct sunlight;
• erythema - redness of the skin of exposed areas of the body after exposure to the sun;
• foci of hyperpigmentation - the appearance of areas of excess color.

Erythema of the skin is persistent. It is often accompanied by severe swelling, peeling and the formation of small bubbles with transparent contents. After the inflammatory processes subside, at the site of the erythema, foci of hyperpigmentation appear in the form of light or dark brown spots of different sizes. In most cases, they resemble a scattering of freckles, but can be large (lentigines).

The second stage is poikilodermic. It begins at the age of 3-7 years and is characterized by pronounced changes in the skin in the form of telangiectasia (spider veins), areas of hyperkeratosis with abundant peeling, areas of atrophy and thinning of the skin. A typical manifestation of the second stage is also the formation of small, smooth, whitish scars with a shiny surface. Upon careful examination, areas of skin atrophy have an uneven, rough appearance and resemble a burn surface.

Pronounced changes in the skin lead to a number of serious consequences:

• deformation of the external nose and nasal passages, resulting in difficulty breathing;
• curvature of the mouth;
• deformation of the ears due to cartilage atrophy;
• eyelash loss;
• eversion or inversion of the eyelids.

In patients with xeroderma pigmentosum, areas of hyperpigmentation persist, and as the disease progresses, hypopigmented spots appear. As a rule, they are localized on the back and wings of the nose, on the chin.

In 75-80% of patients at the second stage, signs of damage to the organ of vision are also determined: lacrimation and photophobia, blepharitis, ulceration of the conjunctiva and its inflammation, clouding of the cornea and the appearance of spots on it. In 20% of patients, symptoms of dysfunction of the central nervous system are detected in the form of decreased sensitivity, mental retardation, changes in coordinated muscle function (ataxia) and decreased or absent unconditioned reflexes (for example, tendon reflexes).

The disease enters the third (tumor-like) stage in adolescence. It is characterized by the appearance of benign or malignant neoplasms of various shapes and sizes on the affected areas. Benign tumors can be represented by papillomas, nevi, fibromas, angiomas and have a high risk of oncological transformation. Often, neoplasms are also detected on the mucous membrane of the mouth and nose.

De Sanctis-Cacchione syndrome has a severe clinical course. Its main symptoms are impaired mental development (idiocy) due to a decrease in the size of the brain and skull, dwarfism and typical skin manifestations of xeroderma pigmentosum. Additional signs of the syndrome are delayed sexual development and severe disturbances of the nervous system (paresis, paralysis, ataxia). Skin manifestations appear early in patients with De Sanctis-Cacchione syndrome. They are pronounced, rapidly progress and develop into oncological neoplasms already in childhood.

Itchy and “hot” sensations in neuroses

Neurosis is a psychogenic nervous disorder associated with emotional, behavioral and somatovegetative disorders. What distinguishes it from other mental illnesses is that the patient is fully aware of the severity of his condition and strives to get rid of it.

A distinction is made between mental and physical neurosis. Physical neurosis, along with psychogenic disorders, also has physical symptoms. There are several varieties of it.

Skin neurosis is manifested by burning and itching of the skin against the background of its bluish, marbled tint. The skin of the joints and legs becomes rough and tightens.

This condition is characterized by changes in sensitivity. It can be reduced or, conversely, increased when unpleasant sensations appear at the slightest touch. With physical neurosis, the skin itches and “burns” in certain areas or throughout the body, becomes wet or dry. Tactile hallucinations are characteristic.

The patient is so bothered by these manifestations that he scratches his body until it bleeds, leaving wounds and abrasions.

The reasons for this condition are:

• mental and physical stress;
• stress;
• conflict situations;
• brain injuries;
• hormonal disorders;
• infections.

Muscular neurosis . This condition is preceded by physical overexertion, as well as prolonged monotonous activity.

The disease is accompanied by a burning sensation throughout the body or in certain areas against a background of muscle tension and spasms. Another characteristic symptom is pain in the chest, neck and face.

Neurosis of the genital organs . The main manifestations of this syndrome are itching and burning in the genital area, which occur after sexual intercourse, during the menstrual period and for a number of other reasons.

The culprits of the disease are:

• mental infantility;
• chronic fatigue;
• conflicts in the family.

Symptoms of the disease

First stage: The protective function of the skin is impaired, which is expressed by symptoms such as tightness, dryness, which are especially felt when the facial muscles contract. These symptoms can be easily and quickly eliminated with moisturizers (lotions, creams).

Second phase. Hyperkeratosis is observed, that is, the skin is covered with scales of dead epithelium, and its peeling begins. Moisturizers no longer help, the skin remains tight, itching often occurs, and sometimes sensitivity to external irritation is added to it.

Third stage. The dermis undergoes noticeable changes: it becomes thinner, the upper layer atrophies, while the peeling becomes lamellar (large structures peel off), and expression wrinkles become pronounced. The skin becomes inelastic, hardens, bursts, and reacts to external irritants with redness, itching, and an erythematous rash. Negative processes affect the papillary layer of the dermis.

Fourth stage. The skin layers—epidermal and dermal—are greatly thinned (which is even visually noticeable), and various pronounced trophic changes (to the point of erosion) appear.

Xerosis is not so difficult to notice. And here it is important to begin the fight against abnormal dryness at the very initial stage, when the earliest symptoms appear, which will avoid the development of the disease and its negative consequences.

Kinds

Depending on the damaged chromosome, there are 8 subtypes of the disease: A, B, C, D, E, FG and Young's pigmented xerodermoid. The first 7 types of xeroderma pigmentosum have a similar clinical course and are determined only after molecular genetic analysis. Young's xerodermoid pigmentosa has a more favorable prognosis - the symptoms of the disease appear later, and the pathological process itself is mild.

An independent clinical form of the disease is De Sanctis-Cacchione syndrome. It is considered the most aggressive type of xeroderma pigmentosum and is characterized by pronounced changes in the central nervous system. The syndrome can develop with any chromosomal variant of the disease, but most often occurs with subtype A.

Psychogenic nature of burning and itching

The term “psychosomatics” is quite common these days. It is defined as the occurrence of bodily manifestations based on psychological factors.

If during the examination of the patient it is not possible to find objective reasons causing such impressions, the matter is most likely in the mental sphere of the person. Or rather, in its negative manifestations.

For example, itching and burning sensations in the body develop against the background of a stressful situation . If it was a one-time problem, then after it is eliminated, the unpleasant manifestations also disappear.

As for chronic stress , these symptoms may persist or even intensify. This, in turn, increases nervous tension and aggravates the situation. It turns out to be a vicious circle.

There is an understandable explanation for the appearance of skin paresthesias in psychological disorders. With negative emotions, the body increases the production of serotonin and dopamine. It is these neurotransmitters that provoke the occurrence of itching and burning, usually without visible skin elements. But sometimes a rash, dryness and peeling may appear.

Xerosis. Diet

To make dry skin feel better, you should include these products in your menu:

• seafood (contains a lot of polyunsaturated fatty acids);
• vegetables and fruits rich in vitamin C (an antioxidant responsible for skin renewal);
• vegetables and fruits of red and green colors (contain beta-carotene, which is converted into vitamin A. This is a serious antioxidant that does not allow cells to be destroyed);
• clean, fresh water (daily intake for women - from 30 ml per kg of weight, for men - from 40 ml per kg of weight per day).

Traditional recipes:

1. Glycerin bath. Restores the epidermal cover. Add 0.5 cups of natural glycerin (non-technical) to a bath of warm water. Take 10-15 minutes.
2. Honey-oil bath. A liter of milk is heated without boiling. Add 200 g of natural honey (not store-bought, it is better to purchase it from beekeepers). Mix and gradually add 1 tablespoon of almond oil. The mixture is poured into a bath of warm water. Take - 10-15 minutes. Softens the skin.
3. Olive mask. Mix 2 tablespoons each of olive oil and honey. Apply to damp skin after shower or bath. Keep for 20 minutes. Rinse off with warm water. Softens and moisturizes the skin.

Treatment

Methods for moisturizing the skin are different and are largely determined by eliminating the source - the catalyst of the problem. If the cause is a specific disease, then treatment of dry skin of the body includes all the necessary measures that can stop the pathology, and hence remove its accompanying symptoms.

If the reason is different, then it is necessary to take measures to protect the skin from the negative influence of external irritants, which can be eliminated independently. It is necessary to keep the skin clean, but you should not overdo it with the amount of washing and taking baths and showers. Cosmetics for washing must be of high quality and match your skin type. You should use only high-quality, non-expired cosmetics. In winter, it is necessary to use protective creams. In everyday life, prefer clothes and shoes made from natural materials. This will protect against the occurrence of allergic reactions to artificial material and protect against thermal overheating of the skin. Anti-inflammatory agents must be used along with moisturizers. It is recommended to use anti-allergy medications or general health-improving medications internally, which will be prescribed by your dermatologist.