Chapped skin develops when the skin:
- is extremely dry
- and cracks form.
This may be the result of reduced humidity by:
- frequent washing,
- dry climate,
- Air conditioning.
Usually, however, this occurs in cold weather.
It is important to be examined by a dermatologist, as some diseases such as psoriasis can also be confused with cracked skin, especially on the elbows and knees.
Chapped skin in newborns
After birth, the newborn has a red skin, is bluish, gray and bruised due to the passage of the birth canal.
The skin of the newborn is so subtle that the veins shine through.
The infant’s skin may flake or tear slightly as it gets used to the environment outside the uterus.
The skin of the newborn is not yet able to optimally regulate the production of sebum (hydration).
Because of this, it can become dry and cracked.
One can apply a moisturizer that is fragrance-free to avoid stimuli.
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Hands with dry and cracked skin
In winter, many people suffer from dry, reddened, cracked and scaly skin on their hands.
Cracks on the fingers can be painful during the simplest tasks, such as:
- To write
- turn pages,
- Press buttons.
This is a seasonal problem that increases with age.
Due to the heating heat during the winter months, the air in the living room becomes extremely dry, even if a humidifier is used. The worst thing is that as you age, the skin produces less fat, making the dryness extremely worse over time.
Symptoms of chapped skin
Those who suffer from cracked skin may have some or all of these symptoms:
1. dry skin, 2. itching,
3. small unpleasant skin lesions.
Therapy and home remedies for cracked skin on the hands
- Keep the skin moist several times a day with a rich, oiling cream or lotion.
Use substances such as shea butter. - Anyone in a profession where their hands are frequently washed or wet (for example, a nurse) should wear latex or vinyl gloves to protect the skin from water and chemicals.
When working in the dry (for example, gardening) you should wear cloth gloves. - A mild and hypoallergenic laundry detergent (such as Cetaphil) irritates the skin less than a highly foaming soap.
- If disinfection of the skin is necessary, a disinfectant and antibacterial gel can be used. These gels contain alcohol, but many patients with dry skin tolerate them better than soaps for hand washing.
Chapped skin between the toes
Athlete’s foot (tinea pedis) is a condition that causes:
- cracked and red skin,
- Itch
- bad smell,
- formation of blisters between the toes,
- Thickening and nail injuries.
Chapped skin on the face
- Skin cracks around the mouth, eyes and face can be caused by various factors, but they are always attributed to the problem of dehydration of the skin.
- Hydration is key for chapped lips and chapped skin.
- The skin under the beard can become dry and cracked very easily, because shaving can irritate the skin, especially in the chin area, where shaving is most complicated.
Applying a cream or natural product after shaving solves the problem. - Makeup can cause an allergic reaction to cheeks and in the eye area, causing red spots and cracks, especially makeup.
- To solve this problem, it is necessary to do natural peeling to eliminate dead cells. For example, you can make a paste of baking soda, water and lemon juice, which is applied to the skin for 10 minutes.
Then rinse with lukewarm water. Success would have to be immediate. - In pregnancy, the skin tends to dryness. This is where a good moisturizer helps, for example:
- Trixéra+ Selectiose Emollient Cream by Avène,
- Almond oil
- Hydrationist by Estée Lauder.
Slightly cracked skin Every chapped skin
needs moisture.
If scaly and reddened skin is kept moist, the disorder disappears.
One way to keep skin moist is to apply a moisturizer containing glycerin twice a day. Glycerin attracts the water and retains it in the skin.
After a few days, you can see that the irritated skin zones become better.
Highly cracked skin If the skin does not respond to the cream and is quite irritated, another solution to the problem of cracked skin
must be found.
Usually, a 1% hydrocortisone-containing cream is effective for irritated and reddened skin.
A light layer of cream on the affected area twice a day shows a significant improvement on the following two days.
Chapped skin on the nose
Cracked skin exists when small skin cracks appear in the vicinity of the nose.
Even if the nose is only gently sniffed, the skin becomes dry and subjected to rubbing.
If you have a cold, an allergy or even just a runny nose, blowing your nose can damage the delicate skin of your face. Even very soft fabrics can cause discomfort to the nose if they rub against the skin. The result is then irritated and painful nostrils.
Young children often suffer from this disorder because they have a runny nose for many months of the year.
Symptoms
Irritated skin around a cracked nose area is often bright pink to red.
The skin may appear :
- dry
- scaly,
- with small spots.
Since the cracks often extend into the deeper layers of the skin, they can irritate the nerves in this layer of skin. That’s why a cracked nose is often quite painful.
The pain is aggravated by rubbing against the skin, for example, with fabric, or when this area is exposed to cold temperature.
Therapy for cracked skin in the nose area
- If the nose is cracked, the use of hot water and harsh soaps to clean the skin should be avoided.
Hot water and soap remove natural fats from the skin, leaving it dry and irritated. - You can, especially after blowing the nose, apply a fine oil film to the cracked skin during the day.
- Ointments against cracked skin include:
- Vaseline
- Aloe vera,
- Vitamin E oil,
- dense lotions without fragrances.
Chapped skin on the body
If you are at the sea, then you stay on the beach in the sun or near the sea.
If you do not protect yourself sufficiently with sunscreen, dry and cracked skin easily develops, especially on:
- Legs
- Shoulder
- Poor
- Forehead
- under the armpits (if you put your hands behind your head while sunbathing).
On the first days with extensive sun exposure, you should use a cream with a high sun protection factor (30 or 50).
After sunburn or slight burn on the skin:
- refrain from spending any further time in the sun (or under a tanning lamp),
- an after-sun lotion can be applied to the solar erythema (for example from Bilboa, Nivea or Collistar).
Chapped skin on the penis
What are the most common causes?
There are several causes of dry skin on the penis and testicles (scrotum). Some of these are treatable by a simple change in daily hygiene.
Other causes are more serious and treatments are needed to fix the problem.
In some cases, cracked patches of skin on the scrotum may be a reaction to the soap used during washing.
Chapped skin may not be observed immediately after using another soap. It takes a few days or weeks to see the effects.
Washing with aggressive soap and hot water can cause dry and cracked skin on the glans, foreskin and scrotum.
To solve the problem, the shower water should be lukewarm.
Another common reason for dry skin in the male genital area is related to a change in the product used to wash the laundry that comes into contact with the skin.
As with bath soap, there can be a reaction to the detergent that remains in the clothes worn during the day.
By switching back to the detergent that has not caused any problems in the past, the dry skin of the penis can begin to heal.
Along with benign causes of dry penile skin, one can also have a sexually transmitted disease.
If a man was sexually active and observed dry spots on different parts of the penis, then the presentation to a doctor is extremely important.
Lichen sclerosus (or balanitis xerotica obliterans) is a skin condition associated with cracked skin on:
- Acorn
- Foreskin
- urethral outlet,
- area.
Those who suffer from this disease are at greater risk of contracting a malignant penile tumor. Therefore, an early medical assessment is essential.
Natural remedies for chapped skin
- Cocoa butter
If the skin is cracked, moisture is important for the skin. Cocoa butter is a natural vegetable fat known to be well absorbed by the skin. Thanks to its moisturizing properties and delicate fragrance, it is present in many moisturizing products. It is enough to apply a little of the cocoa butter to cleansed skin and allow enough time to absorb, preferably overnight. This is particularly useful after exposure to the sun. - Vitamin E Vitamin E
can be purchased in the form of a thick, viscous oil.
It is an effective moisturizer that can make a big change in the case of cracked skin.
It is recommended to apply vitamin E oil before bedtime: due to its consistency, it may be necessary to leave the oil on throughout the night. It can thus give the skin a greasy appearance for several hours.
Vitamin E gives the skin a high content of moisture and antioxidants and is very effective in treating chapped facial skin. - Self-made mask made of aloe vera & avocado for dry skin.
An effective face mask can keep skin moist and soften dry skin.
Mix the gel of aloe vera and avocado with honey and add a few drops of olive oil for a particularly moisturizing effect.
Avoiding chapped skin
- Keeping the skin well moisturized is the best protection to counteract dryness.
- It is recommended to apply a creamy lotion to the skin twice a day.
Cream prevents the skin from cracking. - Applying an exfoliating cream once a week keeps the skin smooth and healthy.
Prevent chapped lips and chapped nose
- It is important to take care of the lips so that they do not become chapped. Simply apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly or delicate lip balm.
This builds up a protective barrier against cold and reduces the risk of chapped lips. - Apply petroleum jelly or a baby lotion such as Eucerin Aquaphor under the nose area several times a day.
This product can do wonders in preventing cracked skin with a runny nose.
