Dry scaly patch of skin on arm

Several treatments can help you manage flare-ups, including creams, drugs, and light therapy. A fungal infection causes this condition, which usually affects the area between your toes. It can be spread through sharing personal items or walking on floors where the fungus lives. Sometimes, dry, cool air can strip your skin of moisture and cause you to develop dry skin patches.

In the summer, higher humidity levels can help stop your skin from drying out. But too much sun exposure can also leave you with dry skin. The Institute of Medicine looked at average water intake levels in a study.

To avoid dehydration, they recommended drinking:. Not consuming enough calcium, vitamin D, or vitamin E may cause dry, white or light-colored patches to form on your skin.

Dry patches caused by nutritional deficiencies are usually harmless. But a medical professional may suggest that you need to eat a more balanced diet or take supplements. Smoking can be a trigger for dry skin, according to the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology. It can also lead to wrinkles and a dull skin tone. As you age, your pores naturally produce less oil, and you may notice that your skin becomes dryer. Stress can affect your body in many ways.

Some people develop dry skin. If you have a condition like psoriasis or eczema, stress can make your symptoms worse or bring on a flare-up. Using or overusing harsh soaps, perfumes, or antiperspirants may dry out your skin.

Additionally, taking long, hot baths or showers can make the problem worse. Cradle cap is a common condition in babies and toddlers. It causes itchy, discolored skin to form on the scalp, face, and chest. The American Academy of Dermatology says that cradle cap usually goes away between 6 months and 1 year of age. Your doctor may recommend over-the-counter or prescription creams, ointments, or lotions.

In some cases, pills or infusions of stronger medications are used to clear up the skin condition. Seeking out early treatment for your skin condition may lead to a better outcome. If you have dry patches of skin, your doctor will probably conduct an exam and ask about your medical and family history. With time they may become hard with a wartlike surface. An actinic keratosis ak-TIN-ik ker-uh-TOE-sis is a rough, scaly patch on the skin that develops from years of sun exposure.

It's often found on the face, lips, ears, forearms, scalp, neck or back of the hands. Also known as a solar keratosis, an actinic keratosis grows slowly and usually first appears in people over You can reduce your risk of this skin condition by minimizing your sun exposure and protecting your skin from ultraviolet UV rays. It can be difficult to distinguish between noncancerous spots and cancerous ones.

So it's best to have new skin changes evaluated by a doctor — especially if a scaly spot or patch persists, grows or bleeds. An actinic keratosis is caused by frequent or intense exposure to UV rays from the sun or tanning beds. If treated early, actinic keratosis can be cleared up or removed. If left untreated, some of these spots might progress to squamous cell carcinoma — a type of cancer that usually isn't life-threatening if detected and treated early.

Sun safety is necessary to help prevent development and recurrence of actinic keratosis patches and spots. Use sunscreen. Before spending time outdoors, even on cloud days, apply a broad-spectrum water-resistant sunscreen with a sun protection factor SPF of at least 30, as the American Academy of Dermatology recommends. Use sunscreen on all exposed skin, and use lip balm with sunscreen on your lips. Apply sunscreen at least 15 minutes before going outside and reapply it every two hours — or more often if you're swimming or perspiring.

Sunscreen is not recommended for babies under 6 months. Scaling skin is a symptom of many medical conditions, including psoriasis , contact dermatitis, eczema , and fungal skin infections. Some causes can lead to health complications if left untreated. Commonly affected areas include the face, legs, and hands. Continue reading to find out what causes scaling skin, how to identify the condition with our picture guide, treatment options, and when to see a doctor.

Contact dermatitis is a form of eczema that develops after someone has come into contact with an allergen, irritant, or toxic substance. People can develop contact dermatitis anywhere on the body, but it typically appears on exposed body parts, such as:. Psoriasis is a common autoimmune disorder that causes patches of thick, scaly skin to develop.

Psoriasis usually affects the following body parts:. People with psoriatic arthritis , a condition related to psoriasis, often experience swelling, stiffness, or pain in the joints.

Eczema is a common skin condition that affects 30 percent of people in the United States. It is most common in children and adolescents. Atopic dermatitis. Dyshidrotic eczema. Seborrheic dermatitis. Varicose eczema. Asteatotic eczema. Ichthyosis is a family of rare skin disorders characterized by thick, scaling patches of skin. Actinic keratosis , also known as solar keratosis, is a thick, crusty bump that forms on the skin.

People can develop actinic keratosis after exposure to ultraviolet light from the sun or artificial tanning. People should keep an eye on actinic keratoses as they can be the first sign of skin cancer. According to the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology , active lesions that are redder and more tender than others may develop into a skin cancer called squamous cell carcinoma. Lichen planus is an inflammatory skin condition in which many small bumps develop on various parts of the body.

Ringworm , or tinea, is a fungal infection that affects the top layer of the skin. Ringworm causes red, scaly rashes that can spread to other parts of the body.