An epidermis-specific slit in the skin known as a crack or fissure can be shallow or deep, bleed occasionally, and cause discomfort. Cracks and fissures are caused by excessive dryness and thickened skin.
In most cases, dry skin develops gradually; at first, it doesn’t hurt much, but as it gets worse, the skin becomes tight, scaly, rough, and itchy. Extreme dryness causes the skin to shrink and eventually develop cracks, especially in areas where the skin must flex during movement, like the soles of the feet.
Etiology
Both internal and external factors can contribute to rough and cracked skin.
Dry skin can be brought on by external factors like:
Environmental
Unfavorable conditions: The humidity of the skin’s surface is impacted by too much heat, cold, or dry air.
The effects of skin dryness are exacerbated by peak summer and winter temperatures.
UV sun rays: UV rays cause the skin to age prematurely and become more prone to dryness as it ages.
Inappropriate skincare practices
The natural oils that make up the skin barrier are removed by frequent washing, including frequent hand washing and long hot baths.
Using harsh detergents or alkaline soaps can dry out your skin by removing its natural oils.
Medications
Dry skin is a side effect of a number of drugs, including those used to treat acne and diuretics, which lower blood pressure. Other drugs and medical procedures include radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and dialysis, which are used to treat kidney problems, as well as dialysis.
Occupational risks
Certain professions, such as those involving excessive exposure to hot or cold air, chemicals, or frequent use of soap and detergents, such as those held by farmers, fishermen, cleaners, mechanics, and medical professionals, increase the risk of developing dry skin.
Internal causes of dry skin include:
·Genetic factors:Many medical conditions, including psoriasis, keratosis polaris, ichthyosis, and atopic dermatitis, are inherited and have symptoms like dry skin.
·Hormonal influences:In the case of women, this is particularly noticeable during pregnancy or after menopause. Changes in the levels of certain hormones, such as thyroid hormones, as well as estrogen and testosterone, strongly influence the lipid levels of the skin and cause dryness.
·Age:The production of lipids in the skin declines with age, which causes the skin to age and wrinkle as a result of a decrease in the skin’s moisture content and capacity to retain moisture. Age-related declines in thirst sensation and thirst perception also occur with skin aging.
·Diet:For healthy skin, the right amount of vegetable oils and vitamins, especially vitamin E and vitamin C, are essential. It is clear that, like other organs in the body, skin requires a certain adequate amount of nutrients to function normally.
·Smoking:Smoking contains toxins that slow down the skin’s metabolism and reduce blood flow to the skin, which may be a factor in skin dryness.
Clinical features
Any part of the body can experience dry skin, but certain areas are more prone than others to experiencing extremely dry skin, even to the point of becoming rough and cracked.
·Hands:Frequent hand washing, varying weather conditions, and the use of alkaline cleaners cause the skin on the hands to become dry, which results in cracks, especially where the skin is tight around the knuckles.
·Feet:Cracks appear in the skin around the heels as it dries out.
·Lips:Cracks frequently appear on dry lips.
Diagnosis
Physical examination is used to make the diagnosis based on how the skin looks, any history of exposure to an allergen or irritant, and the presence of any other comorbid symptoms.
Management
General measures
If an allergen is to blame for the cracked skin, it is best to stay away from it in order to stop future outbreaks of rough skin.
Stress, smoking, and scratching irritated skin should all be avoided because they can exacerbate symptoms.
It is recommended to use high-quality, fragrance-free laundry detergents and body washes.
Using high-quality, fragrance-free moisturizers to keep the rough skin well hydrated helps to make the cracked skin look less noticeable.
To lower the likelihood of contracting an infection, the affected area should be kept clean.
One should wear mittens to prevent scratching while sleeping and keep the affected area well moisturized to prevent scarring from cracked and rough skin.
Homeopathy medicines
When it comes to treating allergic rhinitis, homoeopathy has a number of potent medications available, but the choice depends on the patient’s individuality, taking into account their mental and physical health. Homoeopathy is a growing system that is currently used throughout the world. Its strength lies in its evident effectiveness as it adopts a holistic approach towards the sick individual by promoting inner balance at mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical levels.
Alumina
Unbearable itching when it gets warm in bed, chapped, dry, and scaly skin that is painful to scratch.
Anthracokali
Chronic cracks, mostly on the hands, feet, and nostrils; ulcerations; cracks; and itching, which is worse at night.
Bryonia alb
Dryness of mouth, tongue, and throat; cracked, parched, and dry lips; excessive thirst.
Calcarea fluorica
Chaps and fissures, fissures or cracks in the hands’ palms or on tough skin, and fissures on the anus.
Condurango
Fissures form around the muco-cutaneous outlets, leaving deep, uncomfortable cracks on the corners of the mouth.
Cistus canadensis
Hands have rough, dry, fissured skin that is hard to the touch. They also have deep cracks and intense itching that keeps them awake.
Graphites
Dry, rough, irritable skin that breaks easily and exudes a gluey moisture. Raw skin in cracks. Unhealthy skin, very slow to heal. Cracks in the nipples, mouth, between toes, bends of limbs, anus, groins, and behind eras.
Lycopodium
Painful callosities on the soles and toes, deep, itchy cracks on the heels that are also very painful, and foot and heel itching and perspiration.
Malandrinum
Skin that is dry, scaly, and itchy; cold weather and after washing can cause rashes on the hands and feet.
Mercurius iodatus flavus
Cracks that are painful, with pressure and pricking pain that is worse at night.
Mercurius iodatus ruber
Small, numerous, painful cracks, mostly on the palms; discharge from the crack is yellow, sticky, and foul; cracks are prone to suppuration.
Petroleum
Deep cracks in folds, nipples, and finger tips. Dry, constricted, very sensitive, rough, cracked, and fissured skin. Every winter, the tips of the fingers become rough, cracked, and fissured. Burning, itching, redness, and raw skin. Eczema and psoriasis with cracks. Worse in winter.
Pix liquida
Cracked skin, excruciating itching that results in bleeding when scratched, and hand eruptions.
Sarsaparilla
Skin complaints in the summertime include cracked skin on the hands, feet, and deep cracks on the fingers and toes.
Sulphur
Dry, cracked, and scaly skin. Dry lips. Skin that is sensitive to heat and has a tendency to have hot feet. Cracked skin with itching and burning that is made worse by scratching and washing. Itching made worse by warmth, evening, and night.
Xerophyllum
Extreme itchiness, stinging, and burning. Rough, cracked skin that feels like leather.
X-ray
Dry, cracked skin with intense itching that is worse in bed, in the evening, and at night is better in the open air. Painful cracks on hands, feet, knees, and the extensor surfaces of joints.
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