Dry skin can be serious. It will depend on what the cause for dry skin is. There is ordinary dry skin that is uncomfortable and unsightly, and then there is the more serious conditions such as ichthyosis. Ichthyosis is a type of dry skin that is disfiguring. It can cause the cells to shrivel as well as cause the dry skin to bleed. Most commonly dry skin is due to environmental factors due to hot or cold water, humidity levels, air conditioning or heat, and over bathing.

When treating dry skin it is important to know the environmental factors. Below is a list of questions to help you determine what causes your dry skin.

Excessive bathing can be a problem because you are drying out your skin with the soaps you use as well as the hot water. You skin needs to be clean and needs some of the natural oils it produces so bathing more than once a day can strip your body of the replenishing nutrients it needs. If you find you need to shower twice a day due to your job then try using moisturizers to re- hydrate.

Are your hands most affected by dry skin? If you wash your hands constantly because of your job or find dish soap harms your hands you can use other products or gloves. Most people alternate between water and soap when washing their hands more than twenty times a day and using anti bacterial products. If dish soap is harmful to your hands you might try switching to soaps without fragrances or just wearing gloves.

When you bath is the water temperature close to scalding? Hot water is known for drying out the skin because the skin cells are sensitive. They can die under hot water, its kind of like burns only very mild with leaving you with dry skin. Cold water is also detrimental. Cold water restricts oxygen flow, which our bodies need. Dry skin can be a result of excessive cold temperatures even with water.

What kind of environment do you live in? If you are in a less humid, colder climate you are probably suffering from dry skin. Prevention can be the best treatment. Bring lotions and moisturizes to work, apply them throughout the day and before you go to bed.

Are you working in doors? Heat or air conditioning units can harm our skin. This is because the air is drier than what we might find outside. Humid places often help dry skin because we produce oils.

Do you scrub the dead skin cells with a soft sponge? It is easier to renew your skin when you use a sponge rather than a bath cloth. The sponge helps scrap away the dead skin cells with a little more abrasive action than your washcloth. A washcloth is usually soft and does not have the grip a sponge can maintain. Sponges or loofahs are more common everyday and will help you rid your body of the dead skin cells so new ones can form. This will also help eliminate dry skin.

Dry skin can be a stressor depending upon the condition. If your dry skin is a result of environmental factors than you can solve your troubles fairly easily with changing your routine and skin care products. If you have a disease it is best to seek a dermatologist to help you figure out the best course of treatment. They can prescribe medical soaps and lotions that can help you reduce the dry skin and moisturize it.