At times, the only symptom of dry skin is itching, though most people will also notice that their skin is flaky and slightly more wrinkled than normal.  Dry skin is caused by a lack of natural moisturizers within our skin or by damage to the protective film that prevents moisture loss from within our skin.  How our skin feels is influenced by many factors- the weather, our age, our work, contact with certain substances, medication, frequent washing, or our genetic makeup.   Dry skin is a very common skin problem but the degree of suffering varies from person to person.

Symptoms:

• Your skin is thin and dry
• Your skin may be flaky
• Your skin feels tight and chapped in certain weather conditions
• You are experiencing scaling or itching from a chemical peel, microdermabrasion, or liposuction
• Fine lines are showing at an early age
• You are suffering from Xerosis and/or Eczema
• You have Keratin problems
• May also experience some symptoms from the "Sensitive" and the "Environmentally Damaged" skin types

The Good News:  Once you begin to take care of your skin properly, the flakiness and itch of dry skin should improve within one to two weeks.  In many cases, a good moisturizer will begin to make your skin look softer and more supple within minutes.