Onset Mechanism and Pharmaceutical Management of Dry Skin

• Published in: Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin Vol. 44; no. 8; pp. 1037 - 1043
• Main Author: Ooi, Kazuya
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Japanese
• Published: Japan The Pharmaceutical Society of Japan 01.08.2021; Pharmaceutical Society of Japan; Japan Science and Technology Agency
• Subjects: Age Factors; Animals; Deficiency Diseases - complications; Deficiency Diseases - drug therapy; Deficiency Diseases - pathology; Dermatologic Agents - therapeutic use; Dietary Supplements; dry skin; Eczema; Eczema - etiology; Eczema - prevention & control; Female; Hemodialysis; Humans; Hydration; Lidocaine; Male; moisturization; Needles; Nutrient deficiency; Pain; Pain - etiology; Patients; Pruritus; Pruritus - etiology; Pruritus - prevention & control; Renal Dialysis; Sex Factors; Skin; Skin - pathology; Skin Diseases - drug therapy; Skin Diseases - etiology; Skin Diseases - pathology; Supplements; varicose vein; Varicose Veins; zinc; Zinc - deficiency; Zinc - therapeutic use; varicose vein; moisturization; dry skin; zinc
• ISSN: 0918-6158; 1347-5215
• DOI: 10.1248/bpb.b21-00150

Dry skin is a common symptom of various conditions, and elderly individuals commonly exhibit this physiological symptom. Dry skin develops owing to sebum deficiency; however, the use of moisturizers can typically overcome this issue, particularly in patients in whom there are no other skin problems. If dry skin is left untreated, itching and eczema can occur, resulting in skin damage. Additionally, hemodialysis patients exhibit reduced barrier function and can experience pain associated with repeated needle insertion; the repeated use of lidocaine tape to manage the pain can cause further skin damage. To reduce the occurrence of dry skin, the skin is hydrated using moisturizers. Dry skin is also prominent in patients with varicose veins in the lower extremities, and many biochemical studies have shown that skin immunity is altered in patients with dry skin. Moreover, the incidences of dry skin and pruritus differ in male and female patients. Furthermore, in elderly patients, zinc deficiency is likely to cause dry skin, and zinc supplementation may maintain skin hydration. To date, few reports have described dry skin from a clinical point of view. In this review, research on dry skin is presented, and the findings of basic research studies are integrated.