Dry Skin: Could It Be More Than It Seems?

Do you have dry skin that needs a ton of moisturizer to stop it from cracking and flaking? There can be a few factors involved in causing dry skin, but sometimes, it can be linked to autoimmune disease. Psoriasis is one example of an autoimmune condition that primarily affects the skin (although it can sometimes affect the joints too). It can also be a symptom of other autoimmune conditions. Here’s how to know if your dry skin could be one of the signs of an autoimmune condition.

 

Woman scratched her neck with red scratch marks on it.

 

Psoriasis

Psoriasis is caused by an overproduction of skin cells, which turn over much faster than usual. These new skin cells build up more quickly than your body can shed, resulting in raised areas of dry, red, and itchy skin. This can happen anywhere on the body. Some people with psoriasis will develop a type of arthritis called psoriatic arthritis.

Other symptoms of psoriasis include:

  • Dry skin that is prone to cracking and bleeding
  • Itching and burning feelings in affected areas
  • Thick, pitted nails

 

Eczema

There has been some debate about whether eczema is an autoimmune condition, but research has started to suggest that it is. Like psoriasis, it’s an exaggerated inflammatory response that triggers symptoms. This inflammation results in red, dry, itchy, and scaly skin. According to the results of the study, eczema symptoms can be reduced a lot through medications that target the immune proteins that target healthy tissues and set the scene for the autoimmune reaction. Eczema can occur anywhere on your body, but it’s common for it to affect the elbows, backs of the knees, and hands.

Symptoms of eczema include:

  • Skin that is dry, red, itchy, sore, and prone to cracking
  • Very itchy skin that may also burn
  • Oozing and crustiness that can often occur if you scratch affected areas

 

Scleroderma

Patches of thick, hard, and dry skin can be a symptom of scleroderma, which develops due to the hardening of the body’s connective tissues. An autoimmune response means that collagen is produced to the same extent that it would if there was an injury to the skin.

Depending on the severity, it can potentially be pretty serious and sometimes even life-threatening. This is because it can go far deeper than just the localized type that affects the skin. The systemic sclerosis type of scleroderma can also affect the blood vessels, muscles, and vital organs.

 

Other Autoimmune Conditions That Can Affect the Skin

Some other autoimmune conditions can cause dry skin, although this is rarely their only symptom. Some of these include:

Thyroid problems can cause dry skin, especially hypothyroidism. This autoimmune condition develops when the thyroid gland doesn’t produce high enough levels of thyroid hormones. This generally reverses when you start taking thyroid medication to restore your thyroid levels.

Type 1 diabetes is another autoimmune condition that can affect the skin. It can cause dry, itchy skin that is also prone to infections, especially on your feet. Other symptoms include being thirsty more than usual, needing to go to the bathroom frequently, and feeling tired.

Sjögren’s syndrome can cause dry skin. It also tends to make your eyes and mouth dry and affects the joints, muscles, and salivary glands. You can be more likely to develop Sjögren’s syndrome if you already have an autoimmune condition such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis.

 

Natural Relief 

If autoimmune conditions such as psoriasis or eczema are the reason for your dry skin, you’ll often be given medications and topical creams to tackle the inflammation and make symptoms less severe. Though these can have side effects, you may wonder if you get some natural relief for symptoms instead. The answer is definitely “yes!” and here are a few options that you can try out:

  • Olive oil can be used as a natural facial cleanser and helps nourish dry skin. Sunflower seed oil has also been tested in studies and was shown to be an excellent option for moisturizing dry skin on the body. And if you want to get the effects of using petroleum jelly in a more natural form, studies say that coconut oil works in much the same way. This is probably because the fatty acids give it emollient properties.
  • An avocado face mask can soothe your face. It’s simple to whip up too. Mash up around half an avocado and mix with a teaspoon of olive oil. Adding a teaspoon of honey can also work for very dry skin. Leave it on your skin for up to 20 minutes and wash off with warm water. Don’t use very hot water to wash it off; this can dry the skin even more.
  • For dry skin that affects the rest of your body, try adding oatmeal to a warm (but not hot!) bath. It can help to soothe dry skin’s discomfort and moisturize. Oatmeal can also be used as a face mask too. To use it in your bath, whizz up some oatmeal in a blender or food processor and mix it into warm water.
  • Applying honey to your skin helps to soothe and hydrate it. It’s also anti-inflammatory, which can be great for autoimmune skin conditions such as psoriasis.
  • Dry brushing helps to unclog pores and detoxify your skin by promoting blood flow and lymph drainage.

 

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About Tara Kuchta