What should I do for dry, itchy skin?

Skin dryness and itching may result from low environmental humidity, excessive skin cleansing, asteatotic eczema, contact dermatitis, or neurodermatitis. These conditions can be improved by adjusting indoor humidity, modifying bathing habits, and using targeted medications. If itching persists or worsens without improvement, prompt medical consultation is advised.

1. Low Environmental Humidity: Dry ambient air accelerates moisture loss from the skin surface and impairs the protective function of the sebum film. This leads to dry, flaky skin and diffuse pruritus. It is recommended to use a humidifier appropriately indoors, minimize prolonged exposure to wind, and protect the skin when outdoors to reduce water loss.

2. Excessive Skin Cleansing: Frequent bathing and the use of strong-cleansing personal care products strip away the skin’s protective sebum layer. This compromises the skin barrier, resulting in dryness and varying degrees of pruritus. To mitigate this, reduce bathing frequency, choose mild cleansers, and avoid excessively hot bathwater.

3. Asteatotic Eczema: Insufficient sebum secretion and reduced stratum corneum hydration compromise the skin barrier. The skin becomes dry and rough, with fine scaling; pruritus often intensifies at night. Under medical guidance, topical clobetasol propionate cream (e.g., desonide cream), urea-vitamin E cream, or oral loratadine tablets may be used to alleviate symptoms.

4. Contact Dermatitis: Exposure to irritants triggers inflammatory responses in the epidermis and disrupts normal keratinocyte turnover. Affected areas become dry and itchy, sometimes accompanied by localized erythema; discomfort typically worsens upon re-exposure to the irritant. Under physician supervision, treatment options may include mometasone furoate cream, cetirizine hydrochloride tablets, or calamine lotion to relieve symptoms.

5. Neurodermatitis: Repeated friction or scratching of localized skin increases cutaneous nerve excitability and induces epidermal changes. Lesional skin becomes dry and thickened, with recurrent pruritus that intensifies further after scratching. As prescribed by a physician, halometasone cream, ebastine tablets, or compound camphor cream may be used to improve symptoms.

In daily life, wear soft, loose-fitting clothing; apply moisturizing body lotion regularly; avoid irritating cleansers; refrain from scratching; and maintain overall skin barrier integrity.