Winter itch: This is an alternative name for dry skin condition that occurs more frequently in winter when the moisture content in the atmosphere is very low causing the skin to become dry and dehydrated that leads to itching sensations.

Eczema: This is also referred to as ‘atopic dermatitis’. Eczema is a common symptom associated with excessive dry skin characterized by scaly and itching rashes.

Scaling: This is also referred to as ‘skin flaking’. This condition is widely associated with extremely dry skin conditions in which case the outermost skin covering begins to peel off visibly.

Xerosis: It is an alternative name for dry skin conditions.

Chapping: This is a common problem associated with dry and dehydrated skin when the skin starts to crack as a result of inadequate hydration of the skin.

Sebum: Oily secretion secreted by the oil glands of the skin that makes the skin oily and helps to hydrate skin keeping it soft and supple.

Sebaceous glands: Glands situated in the dermis of the skin secreting sebum that helps to lubricate the skin. Commonly called ‘oil-glands’ of the skin.

Psoriasis: It is a chronic skin disease that can attack both men and women especially those with dry skin conditions. Psoriasis is actually an autoimmune disorder that can affect people of any skin type but particularly dry skin people are most vulnerable.

Anti-histamines: These are special drugs specifically prescribed for various allergic symptoms. These drugs are capable of contributing to dry skin conditions to a great deal.

Moisturizer: Agents/formulations that will provide adequate moisture or water to dry and dehydrated skin. Moisturizers come in the form of creams, lotions and gels that can be applied to replenish and enhance the water content of the external layers of the skin.

Crow’s feet: Fine lines that develop in areas surrounding the eyes as a result of excessively stretched and dry skin.

Humidifier: An instrument or set up that humidifies or boosts up the moisture levels within a room, especially in winter. This set up helps to reduce the amount of moisture lost from the skin through evaporation.

Aloe Vera: It is a natural herb that has immense soothing, healing and moisturizing properties that helps to remove dead skin cells and hydrate dry skin. Used extensively in dry skin care products.

Comfrey: It is a natural herb containing skin-softening properties that acts as a natural healer for dry skin conditions as it reduces redness and itching, the common symptoms of dry skin. Ideally used in facial sauna and dry skin care oils and lotions.

Free radicals: These are unstable molecules that are formed within the body cells due to various intrinsic and extrinsic factors that cause massive cell destruction. These free radicals are thus extremely harmful to the body. Free radicals are responsible to speed up aging. Anti-oxidants combine with free radicals and destroy them.

Anti-oxidants: These are healing agents that oxidize harmful free radicals by combining with them and nullifying their toxic effects and arresting their formation altogether in the body. Vitamin E, beta-carotene, vitamins B2, B3, and B6, Coenzyme Q-10, bilberry, grape seed, pine bark, ginkgo biloba, selenium, zinc, copper, and many others act as anti-oxidants or help in the production of anti-oxidants in the body.

Dermabrasion: Surgical procedure to remove heavy wrinkles and smoothen out skin texture.

Dermatitis: Inflammation of the skin that is quite common in dry skin conditions.

Ichthyosis vulgaris: It is a skin disease associated with serious dry skin conditions and the formation of fish-like scales on the skin’s surface. Cold wintry climate aggravates this dry skin disorder.

Goeckerman treatment: This is a safe and effective treatment for serious dry skin disorder psoriasis combining coal tar ointment with light therapy.

Pruritus: One of the significant symptoms of dry skin commonly referred to as itching.

Asteatotic eczema/Eczema craquele: This condition causes dry, scaly, deeply fissured skin .The affected skin may become inflamed, itchy and bleed.

Hypothyroidism: A condition in which the thyroid gland secretes insufficient/less amount of hormones thus reducing the activity of your oil glands leading to rough and dry skin.

Solar elastosis: Caused due to excessive exposure to sun’s UV rays that have a tremendous drying effect on the skin aggravating dry skin symptoms by destroying collagen and elastin fibers much more quickly than they should, leading to deep wrinkles and loose, sagging skin.

Cellulitis: Complication that occurs when dry, damaged skin is totally uncared for. Cellulitis is a bacterial infection of the skin. Excessive itching and scratching associated with dry skin causes the skin to crack paving the way for bacterial infiltration.

Stratum corneum: It is the outermost layer of the skin forming the junction between the inside of the body and the outside environment that helps to conserve water in the skin. In dry skin conditions this particular layer of the skin retains less than 10% of water.

Exfoliation: It is the artificial procedure of removing the outer layers of the skin by the cosmetic process of peeling that helps in removing dead skin cells that are eventually replaced by new cells from beneath.

Ceramides: The lipids of the epidermal skin layer help the stratum corneum to regulate natural water loss. If they are removed by harsh soaps or detergents, or by damage such as sunburn, the skin loses its ability to retain water partially or fully, becomes dry. One very important group of these lipids is the ceramides, which are also ingredients of some skin care products.

Exfoliant: Skin care cosmetic products in the form of cream or gel containing micro beads or micro granules that clean/peel away dry/dead skin.

Scrub: Exfoliants are popularly called as scrub that literally means to ‘scrub’ the dry/dead skin away and expose fresh looking radiant skin.

Toner: Skin care product usually water based that stabilizes skin pH and makes dry parched skin more receptive to the application of moisturizer.

Xeroderma: Another alternative terminology for dry skin conditions.

Seborrhea sicca: This is an inherited skin disorder causing excessive production of dry flakes of skin. Seborrhea sicca is aggravated in dry skin conditions.

Burrow’s solution: Common name for aluminum sulfate solution that eases dry skin itching.

Cracking: A very common symptom associated with dry skin conditions in which the skin develops gaping fissures or ‘cracks’ that can be quite painful.

Chapping: Skin gets cracked or breaks due to excessive dryness and lack of moisture.

Rash: Very dry skin (xerosis) can lead to skin rash which are reddish ‘bumps’ on the skin especially during cold, dry months of the year.

Dandruff: Shedding of dead skin cells from the scalp at an excessive rate that gets substantially aggravated by extreme dry skin conditions.

Allergens: Allergy-causing agents are called allergens. Allergens are diverse such as different types of food substances, air-borne allergens such as pollen, dust, etc., and chemical allergens all that aggravate dry skin conditions.

Lamellar ichthyosis: Severe form of dry skin disorder where skin becomes covered with dry thick scales.

Folliculitis: Commonly referred to as Barber’s itch is a type of dry skin infection affecting the hair follicles of the skin damaged by clothing or shaving.

ALA: This is the abbreviation of alpha linoleic acid, a natural substance found in many plants and herbs that has proved to be effective in the treatment of dry skin.

Skin Peeling: This is a common symptom associated with dry skin that occurs more prominently during dry, cold winter season when the outermost layer of the dry skin is shredded.

Lanolin: It is natural oil occurring in the skin as well as in the fiber of sheep’s wool. Lanolin has the ability to enhance the moisture content of the stratum corneum imparting a smooth softening effect and is widely used in many skin care products.

Emollients: Creams, ointments and lotions that have a soothing and moisturizing effect when applied to the skin as well as prevent trans epidermal water loss.

Anti-pruritics: Topical creams, lotions or ointments that reduces itching sensations commonly associated with dry skin.

Hydration: providing adequate moisture/water to the skin.

Emu oil: It is a natural plant oil that is highly moisturizing, natural skin softener that soften rough and dry skin.

Flaking: A common symptom associated with dry skin also referred to as scaling refers to the appearance of scales which is a form of skin shedding aggravated during dry, winter months.

Occlusive agents: These are hydrophobic agents such as Petrolatum, Silicones that form an occlusive film on the skin thus reducing trans epidermal water loss by arresting water from stratum corneum. Retains skin moisture.

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