If a person notices that the skin on the lower extremities has begun to peel and look dry and unhealthy, then they definitely need proper care. However, before starting any action, it is recommended to go for a consultation with a doctor, who will make a preliminary diagnosis and, if necessary, prescribe additional examination.
After all, it also happens that such symptoms are not only cosmetic in nature, but also show signs of serious disorders in the body. It is worth noting that human skin is a kind of protective barrier, thanks to which it remains healthy, due to the fact that it does not allow many unfavorable factors to enter: toxins, bacteria, etc.
With the right attitude towards your own health, you first need to figure out why the skin on your legs is peeling below the knees, and only then begin therapeutic or cosmetic measures to restore its normal appearance. Of course, first of all, dry skin of the lower extremities is unsightly, but this condition is often accompanied by unpleasant sensations: itching, pain, peeling, redness, burning, etc.
In total, doctors identify 5 groups of reasons why such changes occur - these are the influence of external factors, age-related changes in the body, progression of diseases, infectious diseases and unhealthy diet. Let's look at each point in more detail.
Peeling of the skin of the legs below the knees
It’s worth saying right away that most of the factors that lead to peeling of the skin on the legs below the knees can be eliminated without much effort and specific treatment. Many people who have a fairly sensitive epidermis have peeling feet when exposed to aggressive exposure to wind, sun, cold or sea, water and air, but people with dry skin type suffer the most under such conditions.
The solution to the problem may be to use a rich cream when you go outside in frosty weather, but if it’s summer outside, then cosmetics with increased ultraviolet protection will come in handy (men should also not neglect these recommendations). If the indoor air is dry, then you need to install several humidifiers or wash the floor three times a day.
If a person uses a foot cream that is not suitable for their skin type, peeling may also occur. Therefore, before buying any cosmetics, it is better to carefully read the recommendations and instructions of the manufacturer. When girls often exfoliate their legs, the function of their sebaceous glands is inhibited, so such products should be used only when absolutely necessary.
Peeling of the legs below the knees can be a symptom of the body's reaction to a food irritant. Simply put, a person has an allergy. In this case, peeling is accompanied by itching. Artificial and natural materials from which clothes are made (shoes, dust, animal hair, household chemicals and much more) can also be a provocateur. To solve the problem, you need to limit contact with the irritant, or completely eliminate it, and also consult with your doctor about which antihistamines are best to take.
The cause of peeling legs may be insufficient fluid intake, that is, dehydration. To prevent this, you need to drink at least one and a half liters of clean water per day. If you do not heed this recommendation, gradually, starting from the shin area, the peeling will reach the thigh, and even then the process will become irreversible, and it will be impossible to cope with it.
In addition to a small amount of fluid, legs in this condition can be due to the abuse of anti-cellulite products, violation of the rules of visiting the sauna, etc.
Peeling of feet after aggressive exposure to ultraviolet radiation
Your feet, or rather the skin, will not start to become dry and flaky just like that. There are many external factors that provoke the development of this condition, but their complex impact is considered the most dangerous.
Reasons of this type include:
In most cases, eliminating external negative factors is not difficult.
Unfortunately, no person can influence the natural processes of the body and stop aging. After 50 years, and for some people even earlier, changes in the structure of the skin begin to occur: they become thin, lose moisture, which leads to peeling of the legs and other areas. This condition is caused by changes in collagen fibers, which are the main building element of the epidermis.
To solve the problem, it is recommended to eat more foods that contain collagen, and also not to neglect drinking clean water, which will help normalize lipid and fat metabolism in tissues.
Peeling below the knees due to fungus
Peeling of the skin of the legs can occur due to the penetration of pathogenic infections and microorganisms into the epidermis. In this case, there are a lot of factors for dry skin, and one of the most common is a fungal infection, which can be “caught” in any public place through contact with a carrier of the infection. In addition to dryness and peeling, the feet are very itchy, especially between the toes, involving the foot and lower leg in the process.
For such a disease, therapy is prescribed only by a doctor, but the patient is first advised to undergo an examination and tests that will help determine the type of fungal infection.
In addition to fungus, dryness and flaking of the lower extremities can be a symptom of eczema, dermatitis, psoriasis or Kawasaki disease. Therapy should also be prescribed by a qualified dermatologist and after laboratory diagnosis.
In addition to skin diseases, itching, dryness, redness and peeling of the legs occur in the presence of concomitant pathologies, including:
Speaking about medications, it is worth noting that if a person takes a lot of hormonal drugs, then the legs can also peel very much below the knees. But more complex conditions are observed with short-term use of ointments with hormones, which lead to dysfunction of the stratum corneum of the epidermis.
Feet can become cracked in people who neglect a balanced diet. The diet of a healthy person always contains large quantities of fresh vegetables and fruits, vegetable oils, fish and seafood.
But if vitamin deficiency is observed in the body, then peeling of the skin below the knees cannot be avoided. Excessive consumption of drinks containing alcohol and caffeine (black tea and coffee) can also lead to a similar change in the epidermis of the leg.
If you don’t want your feet to start cracking, flaking, itching, and if an infection develops, then you don’t want to get sick, then it is recommended to follow the standard rules of prevention. If a person visits a swimming pool, sauna, wears someone else’s slippers, or buys shoes to try on in a store, it is recommended that he always put on disposable socks first. This way you can avoid direct contact with pathogenic bacteria, because your foot will be protected. You still can’t use the same personal hygiene items, as the fungus is transmitted very quickly.
As for the condition of the body, first of all it is necessary to promptly treat all skin diseases. You definitely need to fill your diet with healthy foods and give up fast food. If a person is allergic, then he should take care to reduce the time he spends with the irritant. During autumn, winter and spring, when there is a serious lack of nutrients, you need to take vitamin complexes. And always remember that low fluid intake will lead to dehydration, which in turn will cause dry and flaky skin on your feet.
Girls should carefully approach the choice of cosmetics; do not neglect the suitability of skin type and recommendations for creams. If possible, it is necessary to find a replacement for peeling if peeling of the skin of the legs below the knees is observed after it.
Peeling of the skin is considered a normal mechanism of the human body, because this is how the epidermis is cleansed of dead particles and restored. However, there are cases when the process goes into a pathological state, then the skin dries, itches and peels. To begin preventative measures and treatment with medications, you need to know the reasons why the skin dries and itches in different parts of the body.
Dry scalp
Nowadays, a normal type of scalp is much less common than a problematic one. This is due to an incorrect lifestyle, urbanization, and incorrectly selected care products.
The main reasons why the scalp becomes dry, itchy and flaky:
Dry hand skin
The most harmless reasons why the skin on your hands dries, itches and peels is the use of aggressive detergents without special rubber gloves, excessive hand washing, especially in hot water, and lack of gloves in cold autumn and winter.
Other factors that cause itching and dryness:
Dry skin on feet
Beautiful and well-groomed legs are the dream of every person. The more the skin dries and flakes, the more exposed it is to the environment. Reasons why the skin on your feet dries and itches:
Dry skin on the body is usually caused by poor hygiene procedures, an allergic reaction, and diseases of the internal organs.
Dry body skin
Causes of unwanted symptoms:
In case of prolonged unpleasant sensations in the skin, dryness, itching and flaking, it is advisable to contact a specialist in order to make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe individual therapy.
Manifestations of any external skin ailments cause anxiety in people. Especially for women. One of these fairly common phenomena is peeling skin on the legs. This thing is quite annoying in two respects. Firstly, this sore is unpleasant purely in terms of physical sensations. Secondly, the legs lose their presentable appearance. Taken together, a lot of additional problems and inconveniences are created for a person.
There is no need to fall into panic stress (especially for women). This misfortune has its own reasons, which should be identified during a consultation with a doctor (possibly several specialists of different profiles). Only after clarifying the details can you begin to eradicate peeling skin on your legs. The accuracy of the causes is also important to exclude the possible consequences of more serious diseases that require special inpatient treatment rather than the elimination of ordinary cosmetic defects.
There can be many reasons for peeling skin on the legs, and it is important to understand this issue in order to properly eliminate the problem.
First of all, flaking of the skin of the legs can be caused by excessive dryness. Let's say, with the onset of cold weather, many average citizens begin to overheat their homes. But the trouble is, for some reason, lovely ladies often completely forget about additional hydration. Ultimately, the moisture from the skin gradually evaporates, the skin becomes irritable and dry, and now there is peeling of the skin of the legs. In addition, since the water-lipid balance is disturbed, cracks in the heels may also form. Anyone who has met them knows how painful and uncomfortable this sore is.
In other, quite common cases, the appearance of peeling skin on the legs is facilitated by prolonged exposure to tight synthetic shoes and clothing.
Last but not least, the cause of the disease in question may be the changes that occur in the body with age. To these should be added the occurrence of a deficiency of certain groups of microelements and vitamins. For the skin, say, zinc plays an important role. Omega-3 fatty acids should also be included here. A lack of B vitamins contributes to dry skin, just like A, E, D. It should be noted right away that in such a situation, after consultation with a doctor, of course, you will have to carefully monitor the nutritional balance in combination with a comprehensive intake of multivitamins.
In some situations, peeling of the skin of the legs (especially the feet) is provoked by an infection in the form of a fungus. A sore of this kind will immediately manifest itself as persistent itching in different places, especially on the foot; the area between the toes often suffers. If you have such strong symptoms, you should immediately go to the nearest medical facility to see a dermatologist. The tests ordered by him in the medical laboratory will firmly confirm or exclude the fact of infection.
In addition to this, alas, ubiquitous infection, certain skin diseases can trigger the appearance of peeling skin on the legs. These include exfoliative dermatitis, erythoderm, psoriasis, eczema, as well as Kawasaki disease, the latter is more common in children and adolescents. There is no way to do this without specific treatment using complex methods with the direct participation of specialist doctors.
In the modern world, peeling of the skin of the legs is increasingly caused by the patient’s allergic reaction to medications, cosmetics, and certain types of food. Moreover, we must firmly remember that underestimating allergic manifestations and attempts at self-medication can lead to very unfortunate consequences. To these are added stressful situations, severe nervous disorders, constantly repeating and accumulating nervous overloads of an emotional nature. And again, proper help and advice in such cases can only be obtained at the nearest medical institution from a qualified specialist doctor. Perhaps it is precisely the fight against the problem from the inside, the bringing into proper order of the psychological state that will help to quickly resolve the situation.
In the summer, when everyone, if possible, is in a hurry to bask in the sun by the sea, the harmful effects of tanning can become apparent. To prevent peeling of the skin on your legs in such a situation, you must first lubricate the skin with special moisturizing and protective ointments and creams. Citizens with problem skin will need to obtain appropriate advice from a dermatologist in advance.
Current fashion trends lead to causes of peeling skin on women's legs, such as the consequences of depilation. When the skin is not pre-steamed, if regular soap is used and not special shaving foam, and in addition the razor has not been changed for a long time, then it is time to lament the manifestations of peeling. And the technology of the shaving process itself must be studied and meticulously followed (movements are made in the direction of hair growth). The process must be completed with specially selected sedatives.
Water in modern city apartments is known to be hard, combined with excessive chlorine saturation. When hot, such a liquid causes peeling of the skin on the legs. Such water must be softened with lemon juice, vinegar or soda. Other beneficial additives are also possible.
In any case, only a full investigation into the causes of peeling skin on the legs can lead to a positive outcome. Otherwise, all efforts to get rid of signs of peeling skin on the legs can lead to a pointless waste of money, effort and time. And, of course, a properly structured diet, regular exercise and sports, and taking care of the immune system from peeling skin will help get rid of it and improve overall health.
Dry foot skin is not a rare phenomenon. Skin that is very dry becomes rough and begins to peel. In this case, the body certainly does not look beautiful.
In an effort to look aesthetically pleasing from head to toenails, women are buying up moisturizers. However, the improvement from them can be temporary, since before you fight dry feet, you should learn about its causes. So why does the skin on your feet dry out and peel?
The first thing to check is whether dry feet are a symptom of any serious disease. Especially when it comes to feet. Peeling and other damage should be carefully examined to rule out accompanying symptoms such as rash or itching. Listed below are some symptoms and their corresponding diseases, if you see them, you need to go to the doctor:
1) Hyperkeratosis is a disease due to which the stratum corneum of the skin becomes quite thick and the dead layer of the epidermis is more difficult to peel off.
2) Allergy. Peeling or rash begins abruptly, most often the dry area is limited. May be accompanied by itching. The reason may be hidden in the food or detergents used to wash hosiery, as well as in cream or other cosmetics for the feet.
3) Fungal infection. In 99.9% of cases, this disease is accompanied by itching. It is necessary to carefully examine the feet and nails. Fungal infections most often affect the areas between the fingers and nails, which may turn yellow, become thicker and looser.
4) Eczema, psoriasis. The symptoms of this disease are as follows: on clearly defined areas of the legs, dry and flaky skin , dense dead skin scales of the epidermis of an unusual color, cracks in dry areas.
If any symptoms are similar to those described above, then you should visit a doctor to confirm or deny the diagnosis. Self-medication can cause even more harm.
Why does the skin on the legs dry and peel if diseases are excluded. If there is no disease, then you can hope to solve the problem yourself.
Considering that the legs do not have as many sebaceous glands as, for example, the face, it dries out faster. Therefore, the most common cause of dryness, and as a result, peeling, of the skin of the legs is precisely insufficient hydration of the stratum corneum of the epidermis.
When faced with the problem of dryness, you should, without debugging it for a long time, take action, namely, get into the habit of regularly moisturizing your skin, familiarizing yourself with some of the features of this procedure:
Beautiful well-groomed legs are a woman’s pride. But, as a rule, it is not easy to care for your feet, since they are the ones who suffer from lack of moisture. The drier and itchy the skin on your legs is, the more susceptible it is to the negative influences of the environment.
If there is not enough moisture in the stratum corneum of the skin, it can cause dryness, tightness, flaking and itching. Very dry skin on the legs is not a disease, but a symptom and can occur for a variety of reasons.
Some of the reasons listed below can also lead to increased dryness of the skin on your hands. Let's look at how to properly and comprehensively care for dry skin on your feet and what products will help get rid of this problem.
If you are worried about dry skin on your legs, there may be different reasons. To determine the cause of dryness and itching, you need to pay attention to the accompanying circumstances and symptoms.
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So, if you have dry skin on your feet, what should you do? After finding out the reason why the skin on your legs itches, you need to take measures to eliminate this symptom. The problem of dry skin on your feet is quite easy to get rid of - there are many ways to do this.
The very first recommendation is to try not to scratch the area that itches, so as not to further damage the skin. Regular skin care and moisturizing should not be neglected. Try to always keep your feet clean and choose the right socks and tights - comfortable and made from natural materials.
If irritation of the skin of the legs occurs due to poor circulation, then rest, massage and therapeutic exercises will help improve the situation. When sitting or standing, you need to provide the body with additional movement, do exercises and train your blood vessels with a contrast shower. Venotonics can also be used, but they can only be applied to intact skin.
If the skin on your feet is dry not from time to time, but constantly, you should reconsider your diet. Fruits and vegetables provide essential vitamins. Fatty acids contained in fish and vegetable oils nourish the cells under the epidermis, so they will help the skin become soft.
Vitamin A will give your skin smoothness. It is found mainly in orange vegetables and fruits: apricots, carrots, pumpkin, mango, and also in spinach. Vitamin E is found in nuts, grains and vegetable oils; it relieves flaking and itchy skin.
It is necessary to drink enough (1.5–2 liters per day) of clean drinking water, which moisturizes the skin. After all, it is the lack of moisture that most often causes excessive dryness, especially after forty years.
Chips, fast food, fatty and spicy foods can lead to dry skin.
In winter and during the off-season periods, multivitamin complexes will help improve the condition of the skin, including essential nutrients and minerals, primarily vitamins A and E. The same tips are relevant for maintaining the beauty of facial skin.
When buying a cream, make sure that it contains vitamin E and one of the following oils - patchouli, macadamia, jojoba or grape seed oil. They are the ones who will protect the skin of your feet from drying out better than others.
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You can relieve your feet from dryness with the help of creams, peelings and other products, both ready-made and prepared yourself. Medicinal baths made from natural herbal decoctions will help eliminate dry feet even in children.
Baths made from various herbs have special healing properties: mint soothes irritation and itching, hops and chamomile relieve inflammation and protect the skin of the feet from various infections, yarrow softens chapped skin, pine needles moisturize the skin and relieve fatigue, wild chestnut strengthens blood vessels, oak and sage relieve sweating, wormwood and rosemary accelerate blood circulation and refresh, calendula heals wounds.
The plant needs to be poured with hot water and left for two hours, then the infusion should be heated and the feet should be steamed in it for 15-20 minutes. Do herbal foot baths twice a week.
Burdock, castor, peach and almond oils will help soften dry skin on your feet. Wipe your feet with them, after holding them in water with sea salt.
If your skin is dry and itchy mainly on your toes, you can try the following method. Steam your feet thoroughly for about 15 minutes in warm water with two tablespoons of sea salt. Then wipe your feet dry and carefully treat them with pumice stone or a special scraper spatula.
Exfoliate - mix a spoonful of sugar and honey in a cup and then gently massage each toe, then the heel and the entire foot with the sugar-honey mixture. At the end of the procedure, wash your feet, dry them, apply nourishing cream to the skin and put on cotton socks until the morning. You can do this peeling two to three times a week.
Itching between the toes is usually caused by the development of foot fungus. It is necessary to make antibacterial baths with the addition of soda and salt, as well as iodine or celandine juice. Keep your feet in this bath for 15 minutes, and then wipe them with tea tree oil or propolis tincture.
Apple butter will help get rid of dry feet. The first way is to finely chop an apple and boil it in a small amount of milk. The resulting paste is cooled and applied to the feet for half an hour. The second is to grate a couple of peeled apples on a fine grater, add 4 teaspoons of olive oil and half a glass of curdled milk. Apply for half an hour and rinse.
Sour cream, kefir or whey perfectly soften the skin. You just need to smear your feet with them twice a week for a month. The simplest cream can be made from full-fat, unsweetened yogurt and a few drops of olive oil.
You can also prepare the cream from regular baby cream, adding 3 drops of glycerin and 1 drop each of an oil solution of vitamins A and E. There will definitely not be an allergy to such a product.
If the skin on the lower legs is dry, it is often due to improper shaving. In this case, the situation will be corrected by special shaving creams, sharp blades and moisturizing the skin. After depilation, you can massage regular vegetable oil (preferably olive) into slightly damp skin.
If the skin is very dry, especially on the feet, you can apply a nourishing mask. Mix raw chicken yolk with one teaspoon of softened butter, add 2 teaspoons of finely grated potatoes and 4 teaspoons of baby cream. Apply a thick layer to steamed feet, wrap them in cling film and put on thick socks for 20 minutes. Then wash off the mask. You can do it 2 times a week.
Dry skin on the legs and itching is a completely solvable problem. After trying different methods, you can choose the one that suits you best and get rid of dry skin on your feet.
Women always carefully take care of themselves from head to toe. However, the most effort is spent on facial care. Although beautiful, smooth, tanned legs also require special attention. No man can resist a girl in a short skirt.
Very often, insufficient humidity and improper care lead to the skin on the feet becoming very dry, flaky and cracking. Regular hair removal can make the situation worse. Why does this happen and how to get rid of it?
There are many factors that trigger the appearance of scales on the skin.
The most common causes of dry and cracked feet.
1. Insufficient moisture. With excessive dryness and dehydration, the epidermis on the legs peels off, especially in the area below the knees. The causes of dryness in summer are high air temperatures, in winter – prolonged stay in a heated room.
2. Wearing tight, uncomfortable or rubber shoes, synthetic stockings or tights. Poor quality clothing leads to skin irritation. An impaired water-lipid balance provokes the appearance of cracks in the skin below the knees. If the irritants are not removed in time, dryness can spread to other areas of the body.
3.Impaired drinking regime. This is a fairly common cause of dryness. It is recommended to drink at least a liter of clean drinking water daily.
4.Use of cosmetics. Very often, the active use of deodorants or other alcohol-containing preparations for sweating on the feet can dry out the skin. The feet begin to peel. In order to get rid of problems, you need to abandon such drugs and use more gentle means. Avoid hard washcloths and unnatural shower gels.
5. Impact of natural factors. In some cases, itching and dryness on the feet may occur due to climate change or after prolonged exposure to the sun. The same effect can be caused by prolonged exposure to frost.
6Psychological factors. The skin can change its structure due to nervous strain, stress and negative emotions. Very often, anxiety is the answer to the question of why the skin on the legs or arms peels. To get rid of discomfort, just relax and switch to positive emotions.
7. Age-related changes in the body. During menopause and age-related changes, women may experience dry skin on their legs.
8. Excessive sweating. Due to hypothermia, wet skin dries out and cracks begin to appear on it. This leads to severe peeling.
9. Poor nutrition and lack of vitamins. It is very important to eat foods containing vitamins A, B, D, E, zinc and omega acids.
10. Fungal infection. If the skin is peeling and itching at night, this may indicate foot fungus. You can get rid of the problem only with the help of medications. Treatment is best carried out under the supervision of a dermatologist. Otherwise, irritation may spread to other parts of the body.
11. Allergic reaction. If you suspect you have an allergy, consult your doctor. He will be able to identify the causes of the disease and prescribe the correct treatment.
12. Other reasons. Working with chemistry, poisons, frequent visits to the pool, heavy mechanical loads.
The causes of dry skin may be associated with impaired regenerative abilities of cells.
This symptom manifests itself in the following diseases:
With a sedentary lifestyle, subcutaneous blood circulation and other physiological processes are disrupted, which affect the condition of the skin, especially on the legs in the area below the knees. To get rid of cosmetic defects, it is recommended to play sports and move more.
For the listed diseases, treatment is required under the supervision of a physician. Traditional methods are powerless for such problems. In some cases, peeling of the skin below the knees may be associated with side effects from long-term use of medications.
Itching and dryness of the lower legs appear with the following diseases:
As a rule, with such lesions, rashes appear on the skin, which subsequently merge into a single spot.
Peeling of the feet can be associated with an allergic reaction and diseases of the circulatory system.
The skin between the fingers becomes irritated due to low humidity and the use of low-quality cosmetics. In order to prescribe treatment, you need to find out why the irritation appeared? To do this, it is recommended to consult a dermatologist who will diagnose and help get rid of dryness.
It's easier to avoid a problem than to get rid of it.
To maintain healthy skin, it is recommended to follow the following rules:
We hope our advice will help you overcome this unpleasant symptom and get rid of the disease. Be healthy!
As cells grow, they are constantly renewed: old ones die off, and new ones come to replace them. This is what allows the skin to remain elastic and soft. If some kind of disorder appears in the body, then too frequent and intense death of epidermal cells is observed, which leads to peeling, and ultimately ends in the formation of foci of inflammation. In this article we will talk about situations when a child has peeling skin on his arms or legs. We will identify possible causes and diseases, you will learn what diagnostic methods can be used, and what therapy should be resorted to in such cases.
Depending on the area of the body in which peeling is observed, the reasons that triggered this process differ.
If your child has peeling skin on his toes and feet:
If a child has peeling skin on his fingers, then this is due to:
If the skin of a toddler peels off on the palms, then most often this occurs for the following reasons:
A newborn may experience peeling of the skin between the fingers when:
Therapy will be based on getting rid of the causes that influenced the development of peeling.
You should not decide on your own how to help your child. It is better to consult a doctor. If necessary, the specialist will prescribe medications, which may be accompanied by traditional medicine.
As you can see, if the skin on a child’s legs or arms peels, this may be preceded by various factors. That is why it is so important to consult a doctor in time to identify the cause in a timely manner and begin appropriate therapy. Remember that self-medication can lead to serious consequences, so if necessary, go to the clinic for an appointment.