If you lot've noticed dry patches of skin on your torso, you're non alone. Many people experience these dry spots. They can have a number of causes, including contact dermatitis, psoriasis, and more.

Dry skin patches can experience rough and scaly in just certain areas, which is dissimilar from just having overall dry skin.

While dry out peel patches can crop upward anywhere, they oft appear on the:

  • elbows
  • lower arms
  • hands or wrists
  • feet or ankles
  • chest
  • knees or lower legs
  • face up
  • eyelids

Read on to learn more about what could be causing your dry out patches.

Dry out patches can have several possible causes, many of which can be effectively treated.

Contact dermatitis

Contact dermatitis is a condition that occurs when y'all come into contact with a substance that causes a pare reaction. It oftentimes causes a discolored, itchy rash. If you have it on your hands, the American Academy of Dermatology says that you might develop scaling on your fingers.

Some triggers for contact dermatitis tin can include:

  • perfumes
  • chemicals in skincare or makeup products
  • latex
  • gilded or nickel jewelry
  • toxicant ivy or toxicant oak

Contact dermatitis can exist treated, ordinarily with steroid creams or oral medications. It'due south not contagious, meaning you can't requite it to others or catch it from other people.

Psoriasis

Psoriasis is an autoimmune disorder that causes pare cells to multiply too quickly. People with psoriasis may develop scaly, itchy patches of peel on their bodies.

This chronic condition causes flare-ups. According to the National Psoriasis Foundation, flare-ups may be triggered past:

  • stress
  • smoking
  • alcohol
  • infections
  • skin injuries
  • sure medications

Many treatments are available to help manage symptoms of psoriasis, including:

  • topical creams
  • lite therapy
  • oral or injected medications

Your doctor will recommend 1 of these options based on how serious your condition is.

Eczema

Eczema, which is also known as atopic dermatitis, tin occur at any historic period. But the National Eczema Association says that it's about common in children.

The status causes itchy patches that tin can range in color from reddish chocolate-brown to grayish brown, depending on your skin color. These patches may crust over when you scratch them.

Eczema tends to course on the:

  • hands
  • feet
  • ankles
  • wrists
  • neck
  • upper breast
  • eyelids
  • elbows
  • knees
  • confront
  • other areas

Eczema isn't contagious. Several treatments can help you manage flare-ups, including creams, drugs, and calorie-free therapy.

Athlete's pes

Yous don't have to exist an athlete to get athlete's foot. A fungal infection causes this condition, which usually affects the area between your toes.

Symptoms include a scaly rash that causes itching, stinging, or burning.

The National Health Service says that athlete's human foot is contagious. It can be spread through sharing personal items or walking on floors where the fungus lives.

Doctors usually recommend antifungal ointments or creams to get rid of the infection.

Dry air

Sometimes, dry out, cool air can strip your skin of moisture and crusade you to develop dry skin patches.

In the summertime, higher humidity levels tin assistance stop your skin from drying out. But too much sun exposure can also leave you with dry skin.

Dehydration

If yous don't drink enough fluids throughout the mean solar day, you lot might develop patches of dry out skin.

The Establish of Medicine looked at average water intake levels in a 2005 written report. To avert aridity, they recommended drinking:

  • 13 cups of fluid per day for men between the ages of 19 and 30
  • 9 cups of fluid per day for women between the ages of nineteen and 30

Nutritional deficiencies

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Not consuming enough calcium, vitamin D, or vitamin E may cause dry, white or light-colored patches to form on your skin.

Dry patches caused by nutritional deficiencies are usually harmless. But a medical professional person may suggest that y'all need to consume a more than balanced diet or take supplements.

Smoking

Smoking can exist a trigger for dry out skin, according to the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology. Information technology can also lead to wrinkles and a dull peel tone.

Older age

Every bit you age, your pores naturally produce less oil, and you may detect that your skin becomes dryer.

Dry out patches of pare in older adults frequently announced on the:

  • lower legs
  • elbows
  • lower arms

Stress

Stress can affect your body in many ways. Some people develop dry out skin.

If you have a condition similar psoriasis or eczema, stress can make your symptoms worse or bring on a flare-up.

Soaps and overwashing

Using or overusing harsh soaps, perfumes, or antiperspirants may dry out your skin. Additionally, taking long, hot baths or showers tin make the trouble worse.

Cradle cap is a common condition in babies and toddlers. Information technology causes itchy, discolored pare to form on the scalp, face, and chest.

In many cases, symptoms can exist managed with special shampoos, creams, and other therapies.

The American Academy of Dermatology says that cradle cap usually goes away between 6 months and ane year of historic period.

Treatment for your dry patches of skin will depend on what's causing your symptoms.

Your doc may recommend over-the-counter or prescription creams, ointments, or lotions. In some cases, pills or infusions of stronger medications are used to clear upward the skin condition.

Talk with a healthcare professional person about which treatment is best for what's causing your symptoms.

You should contact a doctor if your dry peel becomes severe or doesn't get abroad. It'southward also a skillful idea to get checked out if yous think your dry skin might be a sign of an underlying illness.

Seeking out early handling for your skin status may lead to a better outcome. The Healthline FindCare tool can provide options in your expanse if you don't already have a dermatologist.

If you lot take dry patches of pare, your doctor will probably comport an test and inquire near your medical and family history.

They'll likely refer y'all to a dermatologist. A dermatologist is a md who specializes in pare issues.

Depending on the possible status, you might need lab tests or peel biopsies.

Y'all may be able to help forestall dry, itchy skin past doing the post-obit:

  • Apply moisturizers every day to keep skin hydrated.
  • Limit baths and showers to no more one a day.
  • Limit the time you spend bathing.
  • Avoid hot baths or showers. Instead, accept showers and baths in warm or lukewarm h2o
  • Employ a humidifier to add moisture to the air in your abode.
  • Employ moisturizing body and hand soap.
  • Cover upwardly your peel, especially in cold or sunny conditions.
  • Avert itching or rubbing your dry out skin.
  • Potable plenty of fluids throughout the day.

Dry patches of skin tin can accept many possible causes. You may take a skin condition, or the dryness could be related to other habits or things you're exposed to.

About of the time, you tin can finer manage symptoms with the correct medications or home remedies. Talk with your doctor if the dry patches get-go to carp you or become worse.