Skin xerosis: Symptom, syndrome or disease?

Dry skin is a very common problem in certain life periods of every person. This condition may be both transient and permanent, generalized and local. Trigger of xerosis is negative influence of meteorological factors, household chemicals, water, medicines, cosmetic procedures, etc. Skin xerosis occurring after exposure to irritants may be considered as symptomatic. Background factors affecting skin hydration include genetic determinants and age. Hereditary xerosis underlies the development of various dermatoses and, above all, atopic dermatitis. Skin xerosis is an important syndrome in this case predisposing to severe course of disease. The most severe manifestation of hereditary xerosis is ichthyosis. Natural factors and mechanisms of protection of the stratum corneum from dehydration are under special attention in the article: water-lipid mantle; filaggrin, natural humectants (components of the natural moisturizing factor, glycerin, and hyaluronic acid), epidermal lipids, etc. It is advisable to use modern moisturizers consisting of physiological lipids and natural humectants for the treatment of skin xerosis of any genesis. These medicines effectively restore epidermal barrier. © 2019, Media Sfera. All rights reserved.