# Dry Skin: Causes, What to Do and When to See a Dermatologist > Dry skin feels tight, flakes and itches. Most often it comes from washing habits, climate and skin care, but sometimes dermatitis or a metabolic condition is behind it. Here is what helps and when to see a doctor in Georgia. ## When to see a doctor urgently - Skin cracks until it bleeds, weeps or forms crusts - Redness, warmth, pain or pus around the cracks - Dryness and strong itching disturb sleep or do not ease after 2 to 3 weeks of care - Dry skin together with tiredness, hair loss, thirst or marked weight gain or loss - A child has dry flaky patches on the cheeks or the folds of the elbows or knees and itches badly - Cracked heels or toes in a person with diabetes - Dryness began after a new medication or cosmetic and comes with a rash If you have any of these signs, call 112 or go to emergency care. ## Which doctor to see - Dermatologist: https://bigmed.ge/en/doctors/dermatologist ## What dry skin is Skin is dry when it loses more moisture than it holds on to: it feels tight, rough and dull, may flake, develop fine cracks and itch. It is a very common symptom, and most of the time it comes from outside conditions and care routines, not from illness. But sometimes dryness is the first sign of a skin condition, so it helps to tell ordinary dryness from the kind that needs a doctor. ## Why skin becomes dry The most common causes are very hot water and frequent washing, harsh soaps and gels, alcohol-based products, dry air from air conditioning and heating, wind, sun and sea salt, and age, since skin produces less oil over the years. Some medications, hormonal changes, too little water and smoking can add to it. If dry skin comes with redness and strong itching, it may be [dermatitis](https://bigmed.ge/en/diseases/dermatitis) or eczema. Persistent dry, flaky, itchy skin in a child from the first months of life is a typical picture of atopic dermatitis. Sometimes the cause is an [allergy](https://bigmed.ge/en/diseases/allergy) to cosmetics or household products. ## Dry skin on the face The face dries and flakes from washing with hot water, scrubs, alcohol toners, heating, wind and sun. If dryness comes with redness, itching around the eyes, or stinging after you apply a normal cream, the skin may be reacting to your routine. Strip it back: keep a gentle cleanser and a fragrance-free moisturizer, and give the skin two to three weeks to settle. If it is better, an irritant was the cause. If not, see a dermatologist. ## Dry skin on the hands and feet Hands suffer from frequent washing, sanitizers, cold and household chemicals, while heels and shins suffer from footwear, dry air and hot water. Fine cracks on the fingers and heels hurt and let infection in. If cracks bleed, the skin is thickened or splits deeply, or you have diabetes, do not put off seeing a doctor. ## Dry skin on the body, and itching Dryness on the shins, thighs and sides that gets worse in winter often brings itching. If itching is strong, disturbs sleep or will not go away, read [Itchy skin](https://bigmed.ge/en/symptoms/itching). If a rash appears on dry skin, see [Skin rash](https://bigmed.ge/en/symptoms/rash). ## Dry skin in a child Children's skin, especially a baby's, dries out faster because the protective layer is thinner. The usual causes are frequent baths in hot water and harsh products. If dry, flaky patches stay on the cheeks and the folds of the elbows and knees, and the child itches and sleeps badly, see a pediatrician or a dermatologist. It may be atopic dermatitis. ## What you can do before the visit - Wash in lukewarm rather than hot water and keep it short. Use mild products without fragrance or alcohol. - Apply a moisturizer or ointment right after washing, while the skin is still damp. Moisturize your hands after every wash. - Choose fragrance-free emollients (products for dry skin). For very dry skin, thick ointments work better than light lotions. - Humidify the room, especially during the heating season and with air conditioning. - Wear cotton and avoid wool next to bare skin. - In hot weather and at the sea, drink more water and protect the skin from the sun. - Do not peel off flakes and do not use scrubs on dry or inflamed skin. ## When it is more than just dryness See a doctor if the skin does not improve after 2 to 3 weeks of proper care, the dryness keeps coming back, the skin cracks and weeps, turns red or looks infected, or if dryness comes with tiredness, feeling cold, hair loss, thirst or marked weight change. Thyroid disease, diabetes and other conditions can be behind it. ## How a doctor finds the cause A dermatologist examines the skin and asks about your routine, washing, medications and any family history of allergy. If needed, blood tests (glucose, thyroid hormones, iron) or allergy tests are ordered. Treatment usually means choosing the right moisturizers and, for dermatitis, anti-inflammatory ointments prescribed by the doctor. ## Doctors - Nana Sekhniashvili — Dermatologist, Venereologist: https://bigmed.ge/en/doctors/nana-sekhniashvili (markdown: https://bigmed.ge/en/doctors/nana-sekhniashvili.md) ## Frequently asked questions ### Which doctor should I see for dry skin? A dermatologist. If an allergy is suspected, they will refer you to an allergist, and for general symptoms such as tiredness, thirst or hair loss, to a general practitioner or an endocrinologist. ### How often should I moisturize dry skin? Apply moisturizer right after washing and again through the day as needed, especially on the hands. The drier the skin, the thicker the product should be. ### Can dry skin be a sign of illness? Sometimes. Dryness goes with dermatitis, eczema, thyroid disease and diabetes. If it does not improve with proper care or comes with other symptoms, get it checked. ### What if my child's skin is always dry and flaky? Bathe the child briefly in lukewarm water, use mild products and moisturize after the bath. If the patches are red, itchy and keep coming back, see a pediatrician or a dermatologist. ## Related articles - Scalp seborrhea: symptoms, causes, diagnosis, treatment: https://bigmed.ge/en/blog/scalp-seborrhea-symptoms-causes-diagnosis-treatment (markdown: https://bigmed.ge/en/blog/scalp-seborrhea-symptoms-causes-diagnosis-treatment.md) - How to determine your skin type?: https://bigmed.ge/en/blog/how-to-determine-your-skin-type (markdown: https://bigmed.ge/en/blog/how-to-determine-your-skin-type.md) - Dry skin on your face and hands: how to help yourself at home: https://bigmed.ge/en/blog/dry-skin-on-your-face-and-hands-how-to-help-yourself-at-home (markdown: https://bigmed.ge/en/blog/dry-skin-on-your-face-and-hands-how-to-help-yourself-at-home.md) ## Possible Causes - Dermatitis: https://bigmed.ge/en/diseases/dermatitis --- Canonical: https://bigmed.ge/en/symptoms/dry-skin Country: Georgia (GE), the country in the South Caucasus Updated: 2026-10-04T21:13:51+04:00