The problem of cracking and peeling of the skin is quite common.

And not all women know how to solve it. What to do if the skin peels off and how to protect the skin from cracking?

Is it worth immediately sounding the alarm and consult a doctor?

Let's understand the most important characteristics of these skin conditions and what are the ways to treat them.

What happens to the skin during peeling and cracking

Your skin is regularly exposed to environmental elements that can irritate and damage it. These include sun, wind, heat, dry air and excessive humidity. Re-interaction with them can lead to peeling of the skin.

As you age, you may notice that your hands have become much drier and crack easier. In medicine, dry skin is called xerosis. As a rule, this is a natural part of aging, but sometimes dryness is associated with the development of a disease such as dermatitis. Most often, the skin becomes dry and irritated during the winter months.

The most common signs of dry skin are peeling or scales on the skin. You may also notice redness or discoloration of the skin (dark or gray), the appearance of itching and cracks. Worst of all, the cracks can start to bleed and the pain intensifies.

Which doctor to contact to determine the diagnosis

In case of skin damage, you should consult a dermatologist. He will study the patient's medical history and symptoms and prescribe laboratory tests to make an accurate diagnosis. The doctor will also send for laboratory tests (skin-allergic tests, bakposev, scrapings). All procedures are safe and help to accurately determine the cause of skin problems and the method of treatment.

Consultation can also be obtained from a certified cosmetologist.

• When to consult a doctor for peeling of the skin:

Peeling caused by dry skin or a slight sunburn can be cured with over-the-counter ointments. Usually this problem does not require medical attention. If you have any doubts about the cause of peeling skin or if the condition is serious, call your doctor before using medications or home remedies. Alarming are symptoms such as severe itching, inflammation, the appearance of scales on the skin.

• When to see a doctor if the skin cracks:

See your doctor immediately if your skin is swollen, bleeding, a honey-tinted crust has formed on your cracks, or if you see red streaks moving upwards. These can be symptoms of a serious infection.

External causes of skin damage

The causes of skin damage may not be related to internal health problems, but to external sources – the environment. Potential causes include:

• Weather. The skin is usually dry and vulnerable in winter, when temperature and humidity drop sharply.
• High temperature. Central heating, wood stoves, heaters and fireplaces reduce humidity and dry the skin.
• Hot tubs and showers. Taking a long hot shower or bath, you can deprive the skin of moisture. Also dry and vulnerable will be the skin of a person who often swims in chlorinated pools.
• Hard soaps and scrubs. Many popular detergents, scrubs, and shampoos deprive the skin of moisture as they are designed to remove sebum.
• Frequent use of rigid washcloths leads to mechanical damage to the protective barrier of the skin.
• Household chemicals. If you use aggressive products not in gloves when cleaning, washing dishes and washing, this is also fraught with skin damage.
• Wearing plaster. After you remove the cast, you may find that the skin is flasking, dry and sensitive. Sweat accumulates moisture under the plaster, creating an ideal environment for a bacterial or fungal infection. See your doctor immediately if you have exposed areas on your skin after removing the cast, or if you have increased pain, redness, or swelling.

Other external sources of the problem:

• Demodicosis mite
• The effect of toxic ivy toxins
• Improper skin care

If you do not take care of dry and damaged skin, this can lead to unpleasant consequences:

• Atopic dermatitis (eczema). If you are prone to developing this condition, excessive dryness can lead to the activation of the disease, causing redness, cracking, and inflammation.
• Infection. Dry skin can crack, which is why bacteria penetrate inside and lead to the appearance of infectious diseases.

These complications most often occur when the normal defense mechanisms of your skin are severely impaired.

How to solve the external causes of peeling and cracking of the skin