Dry skin of the feet is due to impaired metabolism

Excessively dry skin of the feet worries the beautician's patients not only because of its unaesthetic quality, but also because of painful cracks that are difficult to treat. This condition is called xerosis of the skin, and the problem with its overdrying occurs due to a change in the state of the hydrolipid mantle of the skin. The skin on the feet is especially prone to xerosis, since there are very few sebaceous glands, the skin is vulnerable to adverse external factors and has a slow exchange of epithelial cells. Dry skin of the feet can cause cracks, which become a predisposing factor for infection.

 Why does dry skin of the feet appear

Xerosis of the skin is usually caused by a lack of moisture, which causes the skin to peel, irritate, itch, crack.

Dry skin of the feet is due to the following factors:

• impaired sebum secretion;
• deficiency of amino acids and trace elements in the stratum corneum;
• impaired circulation;
• increased loss of skin moisture;
• alkalinization of the skin with low-quality hygiene products;
• use of harsh abrasive products for maintenance;
• synthetic materials for shoes, socks, tights.

Dry skin of the feet is aggravated in summer – exposure to the active sun and high temperatures, walking barefoot, and in the cold season – constant contact with tight shoes and rough fabrics. Intensive loss of skin moisture & nbsp; stop leads to her xerosis.

The main pathogenetic mechanisms of xerosis of the skin of the feet are as follows:

reduction of the barrier function of the skin of the feet due to the destruction of the lipids of the stratum corneum and an increase in transepidermal water loss;

decrease in the content of free amino acids, urea and other components that form the hydrolipid mantle in corneocytes;

violation of water metabolism and moisture ingress from the lower layers of the skin to the upper – dermis and epidermis.

All these reasons lead to dehydration of the skin of the feet and the development of skin xerosis, which is accompanied by peeling, hyperkeratosis, itching, microcracks.

Diagnosis and treatment of dry skin of the feet

According to the observations of dermatologists, about 85% of adult patients complain of dry skin, including dry feet. For successful treatment, it is necessary first of all to find out the cause of dry skin.

Xerosis of the skin, increased dryness of the skin of the feet can be caused by the following reasons:

• fungal infection;
• various skin diseases;
• endocrinological pathologies, metabolic disorders;
• taking certain medications.

First, the patient's condition caused by a specific disease, due to which dry skin of the feet appeared, is corrected, and then skin moisture is restored.

In case of severe inflammation of the skin of the feet, caused by its overdrying, glucocorticoid preparations may be needed. It has been clinically proven that xerosis of the feet is treated much more effectively when anti-inflammatory drugs are used in combination with cosmetic moisturizers than when corticosteroids alone are prescribed.

Great expectations are associated with the use of drugs based on topical steroids with the addition of urea, panthenol, various oils, and alkaloids. This will enhance the healing, antipruritic, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effect of the remedy, designed to treat dry skin of the feet.