What Is Dry Type Eczema?
When the seasons change, does your skin become not only dry but also rough, red, and unbearably itchy in patches? This may not be ordinary dry and itchy skin but rather “dry type eczema”. This article will help you understand this common skin condition in depth, covering its root causes, typical symptoms, and the latest treatment and daily care strategies to give you a complete guide for managing it.
Table of Content
What is dry type eczema? How is it different from general dry and itchy skin?
Many people confuse dry type eczema with winter itch, but the key differences are:
General dry and itchy skin: Mainly caused by dry environments or insufficient moisturising. It usually improves after proper hydration and moisturising.
- Dry type eczema: An inflammatory skin condition. Its core issue is a “defective skin barrier”, which results in very poor moisture retention and makes the skin easily penetrated by external irritants. This triggers a chain reaction of immune inflammation. It is not only “dry” but also “inflamed”, which means it requires targeted anti inflammatory and repairing strategies.
The five main causes of dry type eczema
Dry type eczema is the result of the interaction between internal factors and external environmental conditions.
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Item |
Explanation of Cause |
Detailed Description |
Impact |
|
1. Genetic defects and weak skin barrier |
Fundamental physiological factors |
Key moisturising components in the skin, such as ceramides, are insufficient, leading to an incomplete skin barrier and rapid moisture loss |
Skin becomes prone to dryness, cracking, itching, and sensitivity |
|
2. Environmental irritation |
External climate and environmental factors |
Low humidity, cold wind, sun exposure, and long hours in air conditioned environments accelerate moisture evaporation from the skin |
Dryness, flaking, and worsening itchiness |
|
3. Improper cleansing and skincare |
Using the wrong products or over cleansing |
Strong cleansers, frequent exfoliation, or alcohol based products damage the natural lipid barrier |
Skin barrier becomes compromised, causing eczema flare ups |
|
4. Frequent physical friction |
External mechanical irritation |
Wearing rough fabrics, excessive scratching, or repeated rubbing |
Local redness, inflammation, and skin thickening |
|
5. Internal factors |
Physiological and psychological stress |
Stress, lack of sleep, and hormonal fluctuations lead to immune imbalance and increased inflammation |
Eczema worsens, itching intensifies, and healing slows |
Symptoms of dry type eczema
The symptoms of dry type eczema usually progress gradually:
Early stage: The skin feels tight and rough with fine flaking.
Middle stage: Patchy or net like redness appears, along with obvious cracking that resembles dry, cracked soil, noticeable flaking, and intense itching.
Severe stage: Continuous scratching leads to skin thickening and lichenification, and may even cause wounds or oozing, increasing the risk of infection.
Common areas: The front of the lower legs (where sebaceous glands are fewer), the outer arms, and the waist are particularly common sites.
Recommended creams for dry type eczema
When the skin is already dry and itchy, choosing skincare products with the right ingredients becomes essential.
Mild eczema:
Organic Baby Lotion
Organic Baby Lotion is a rich and nourishing humectant for chapped and dried skin on the hands, face and body. The combination of organic cocoa butter, shea butter, aloe vera, oatmeal colloidal, calendula and chamomile oils work to soothe dry and itchy skin as well as to help skin replenish and nourish.
Severe Eczema:
All Purpose Body Lotion
All Purpose Body Lotion is an organic rich and nourishing humectant for chapped and dried skin on the hands, face and body. The combination of organic cocoa butter, shea butter, aloe vera, oatmeal colloidal, calendula and chamomile oils work to soothe dry and itchy skin as well as to help skin replenish and nourish.
No No Itchy Gel
This natural gel helps soothe itchiness, and ingredients such as aloe vera, tea tree oil, calendula and chamomile oil moisturise skin and promote healing.
If there is a wound:
Moisturising Zinc Oxide
This plant-based, 100% natural and gentle Hydrating Zinc Oxide Cream creates barrier to protect skin from moisture damage, it's functions are: 1. helps to sooth conditions such as weeping eczema that oozes, speed up recovery 2. soothes itchiness, anti-flammatory, antifungal, antibacterial 3. works for acne skin.
Body Wash:
Nourishing Body Wash
This plant-based organic body wash doesn't only nourish and soothe skin but also promote cell renewal to make your skin glow. Natural enzymes such as Tamarind Extract with enzyme, vitamins and minerals that strengthen body's skin barrier and hydrate skin, and Baobao protein that helps repair UV damages done to skin.
Severe Dryness:
Baby Bath Oil
Suitable for the whole family; use on face and body, Baby Bath Oil helps soothe itchy skin and moisturises dried skin.
Recommended treatment and skincare
To effectively manage dry type eczema, you need both active treatment and consistent daily repair.
Recommended moisturising and repairing ingredients:
Ceramides: The top recommended ingredient. They replenish missing intercellular lipids and are essential for repairing the skin’s “brick wall structure”.
Essential fatty acids: Such as evening primrose oil and macadamia oil, which nourish and strengthen the skin barrier.
Hyaluronic acid and glycerin: Excellent humectants that draw and retain moisture in the stratum corneum.
Oat and vitamin B5: Provide soothing and anti irritation benefits to calm discomfort.
Conclusion
Dry type eczema is a chronic condition that cannot be completely cured, but it can absolutely be controlled. The key to success is using prescription medication during flare ups to reduce inflammation, and during stable periods, maintaining consistent daily use of moisturisers with barrier repairing ingredients. By developing the habit of combining treatment and skincare, and avoiding known irritants, you can significantly reduce flare ups and maintain a peaceful relationship with your skin.
Cindy Chu
A chemical engineer specialises in cosmetic science who is passionate about green chemicals (i.e. chemicals that are environmentally friendly) and fanatic about what goes into the products that she uses, eats, and consumes daily.
Graduated from the University of Toronto Applied Science and Chemical Engineering, she has been formulating her own skin care and personal care using naturally derived and environmental friendly ingredients. More and more of her friends and families benefited from the natural skincare regime ever since.
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