Does scaly skin make you itchy or uncomfortable? It may just be regular dry skin. But if over-the-counter (OTC) products don't help, you may need medical care.
There are many reasons for scaly skin. Whether you have a flaky scalp from time to time or scratchy patches all the time, medical treatment can help. A doctor can tell you if your symptoms are from moisture loss or something more serious.
What Causes Skin Lesions?
Normally, your body sheds about 30,000 to 40,000 skin cells each day and replaces them with new ones. You don't feel the skin cells growing and shouldn't see them falling, or flaking off.
The outer layer of your skin contains a mixture of dead skin cells and natural oils. This layer helps hold in water. If this layer is damaged, moisture can get out. This can hamper your skin's ability to repair itself. And your skin can get flaky or scaly. Aging, exposure to sunlight and harsh chemicals, some medicines, and certain diseases can also be to blame.
Dry skin patches
Everyone gets dry skin (also called xerosis), but some things can raise your chances for flaky patches. As you get older, your skin makes less oil and can lack moisture. Certain medical conditions, such as hypothyroidism, diabetes, or vitamin deficiency, can also cause scaly skin.
Other things that can dry your skin out include:
- Being exposed to the environment like windy weather, sunburn, or dry air.
- Using skin irritants such as harsh soaps.
- Exfoliating with retinol or direct acid products.
- Overbathing or scrubbing too much.
- Being diagnosed with other skin conditions such as allergies, dermatitis, or eczema.
- Getting medical treatments that can thicken your skin.
- Using heaters such as a gas fireplace, central heat, or wood-burning stove.
Dry skin usually goes away after using OTC treatment. But sometimes, dry patches can need medical care. If you're prone to dry skin, it can crack and allow bacteria to enter, causing infection. Get medical help if your dry skin isn't getting better after OTC treatment.
Flaky skin
Moisturizing dry skin usually gives you relief. But if your skin is flaky, you could have another condition. If you've got flakes, try to avoid foods and drinks that can dehydrate you. Don't drink alcohol and stay away from caffeine, sugar, and salt. You can also try a warm bath, pat yourself dry, and use mild, fragrance-free products.
Keep your stress low and stop smoking. And stay out of the sun because it can dry out the surface of your skin. To add moisture back, especially in the winter, use a humidifier. But if your flaky skin bothers you all the time or keeps you up at night, you might need to see a dermatologist, a doctor who specializes in skin.
Eczema Skin Lesions
If you or your child has red, scaly patches that itch a lot, it might be eczema. This common condition is often mistaken for dry, sensitive skin. Babies and children can get crusty spots on their chins and cheeks.
Scaly skin can show up anywhere on the body. Hand eczema can cause the skin on your palms and fingers to get dry, thick, and cracked. The skin may burn or bleed.
Children often outgrow eczema. But adults who've never had it can also get it. Doctors don't know what causes it. They think it's a mix of genetics and things in your environment that your skin reacts to, such as:
- Wool
- Soap
- Perfume
- Makeup
- Chlorine
- Cigarette smoke
You might notice these symptoms:
- Red, irritated, or swollen skin
- Crusting or oozing
- Scaly patches that feel rough or leathery
- Severe itching
Psoriasis Skin Lesions
Silvery white scales that cover thick red, raised patches of skin are a telltale sign of plaque psoriasis. Doctors think it results from a faulty immune system. New skin cells grow faster than normal, but old skin cells fail to fall off. The new and old cells clump together, causing thick, itchy patches, sores, and flakes.
There are several different types of psoriasis. The condition may also cause your nails to pit, crumble, or fall off. It isn't contagious, but psoriasis can be passed down through families. Infections, stress, obesity, and smoking can raise your risk for psoriasis.
Plaque psoriasis
Scaly skin is most common with plaque psoriasis. This chronic autoimmune condition causes thick, scaly patches of skin that may itch or hurt. The scaly patches can show up on your:
- Knees
- Elbows
- Lower back
- Scalp (head)
If you have a more serious case, you can get plaques anywhere on your body, such as your legs, hands, or the soles of your feet. Some people get itchy patches on their genitals or face, too.
Diaper Dermatitis
Red, irritated, or scaly skin on your baby's bottom is likely due to diaper dermatitis, better known as diaper rash. This common condition is usually seen in infants aged 9-12 months. It shows up around the folds of the thighs and genitals — places covered by a diaper.
Diaper rash can result from an allergy or irritated skin. It could also be a yeast infection. Yeast thrives in warm, moist environments. Signs include a reddish irritatedskin rash.
At-home care may be fine for irritation rashes. But if your baby's rash won't go away, get medical help to find out the cause and best treatment.
Seborrheic Dermatitis
This skin condition is the most common cause of dandruff. The signs of regular dandruff can mean white, oily flakes of dead skin in your hair or on your shoulders. It can also cause an itchy scalp.
If you have seborrheic dermatitis, your scalp and nearby skin may feel greasy. It might also be dotted with yellow or white crusty scales. You may even find flakes in your eyebrows. This type of dandruff can also affect the skin behind your ears and on the sides of your nose.
Actinic Keratosis
A flaky, scaly patch that comes and goes could be actinic keratosis (AK), a precancerous condition. You can get this scaly skin problem if you spend too much time in a tanning bed or unprotected in the sun.
Without treatment, it can turn into squamous cell skin cancer. It's a type of skin cancer made up of flat cells on the outer layer of your skin. If you get one actinic keratosis, you'll usually get another. The main symptom is a thick, scaly, discolored patch of skin.
Sometimes, the area can feel rough or like sandpaper but looks normal. It may be painful to touch. It can flake off, and your skin may feel normal again. However, the problem spot typically comes back with continued sun exposure. If you have a flaky spot that concerns you, ask your doctor or dermatologist about it.
Lichen Planus
This common condition begins as shiny, reddish-purple bumps. As more grow, they create thick clumps of rough, scaly skin, usually on your ankles and shins. The bumps may also show up on your wrists, lower back, and genitals. They often itch and might blister. Lichen planus can also affect the inside of your mouth and your nails.
Middle-aged adults are most likely to get it. Doctors aren't sure what causes lichen planus. It may be an autoimmune disorder. It’s often seen in people who have hepatitis C. If you get it, ask your doctor about screening for hepatitis, too.
Ichthyosis
It's a group of scaly skin conditions that are most often passed down through families. There are several forms. This lifelong condition usually appears in childhood. A genetic problem causes skin cells to build up, creating thick, dry areas that look like fish scales.
Certain medicines or diseases, including kidney failure, some cancers, and HIV, can trigger it. If this happens, it's called acquired ichthyosis.
Ichthyosis vulgaris (fish scale disease) is common and may be mild. It can go undiagnosed if you keep your skin well-moisturized.
Pityriasis Rosea
Women or girls aged 10 to 35 are more likely to get this skin condition. The main sign is a single round, rose- or tan-colored spot (called a herald patch) on the trunk (torso), arms, or legs. A cluster of scaly patches follows about a week or two later.
The round spots have raised borders. There may be little or no scaly skin symptoms in children or pregnant women. Doctors think a viral infection (such as herpesvirus 6, 7, or 8) causes this scaly rash. It's easy to mistake for ringworm (a common fungal infection). Other symptoms may include fatigue and headache.
Dermatomyositis
A reddish-purple, scaly rash followed by muscle weakness are the main symptoms of this inflammatory condition. Women are more likely to get it. It can occur at any age. It is a rare disease that causes inflammation in your muscles and skin.
You may notice a rash on your eyelids, nose, cheeks, elbows, knees, knuckles, upper chest, or back. Muscle weakness typically affects areas close to the middle of your body, such as your hip, back, neck, and shoulders. Although muscle pain isn't a main symptom, some people do report muscle aches.
Skin Lesions: When to See a Doctor
If you have dry, scaly skin that doesn't go away, jot down any other symptoms you have and when they happen. Moisturizers can help soothe some types of scaly skin, but not all. If OTC treatments aren't working for you, get medical help or make an appointment to see a dermatologist. Ask your doctor about treatments for your specific condition.
Takeaways
Our skin can get dry and scaly from time to time. If OTC products aren't helping, you may need to see a doctor. You can see one that specializes in skin, a dermatologist. Depending on your symptoms, it could be as common as dandruff, or something more serious like actinic keratosis. Get medical help to figure out why you have flaky skin and treat your specific condition.
Skin Lesions FAQs
What is dry scaly skin called?
Dry skin is also known as xerosis. Everyone gets it sometimes, and OTC moisturizers usually work. But if your OTC treatments aren't helping, you may need to see a doctor or get medical help.
What are white scaly patches on the skin?
Many different skin conditions can cause white scaly patches. It can be from a common skin condition like eczema or a more serious skin infection like yeast. Depending on your skin color, some skin conditions can also discolor your skin.
If you have white scaly patches on your skin, it's best to get medical help. Your doctor can help you figure out what's causing them and offer the best treatment.
Why is human skin scaly?
If your skin looks scaly, the outer layer of your skin may be too dry. If so, it can peel or flake off. There are many reasons why this can happen. You may be dehydrated. Or maybe you went outside in dry, windy, or sunny conditions. Harsh soaps and detergents can also cause scaly skin.
Try to keep your skin moisturized and take warm baths or showers. Avoid scrubbing your skin too hard, and lock in moisture with an ointment. But if your scaly skin is not going away, get medical help for your specific condition.
What diseases cause scaly skin?
You may have a skin condition, such as eczema, psoriasis, dandruff, or pityriasis rosea, or a genetic condition called ichthyoses. Or perhaps you have a fungal infection or autoimmune condition. If you're not sure, talk to your doctor and get medical help to figure it out. They can offer you specific treatment for your skin condition.
