Children’s Clinical Hospital, Lublin

Etiopathogenesis and treatment of dry skin Up to now there is no one commonly accepted definition of dry skin. Although the term dry skin (xerosis) is frequently used in medicine, its definition is based on symptomatology and subjective symptoms reported by the patient. Clinically, dry skin shows the symptoms of contraction, roughness, dryness and desquamation. Ruptures in the epidermis are also present. The lesions usually occur on the erythemous background. These clinical symptoms are accompanied by subjective discomfort and itching. Dry skin is very sensitive to physical and mechanical stimuli, prone to eczema and can be easily damaged. It is not only a problem of a cosmetic nature but may be indicative of numerous diseases. Nowadays, it is a very common problem which affects 15–20 % of the population (15). Various endogenous and exogenous factors can be the cause of dry skin. Endogenous factors include genetically determined dermatological diseases such as atopic dermatitis, psoriasis and ichtyosis (12). Systemic diseases which lead to dry skin include diabetes, hypothyroidism, chronic renal failure, neoplastic diseases or cachexy. Many conditions whose symptoms include disorders of sweat or sebum secretion, such as neurological disorders or AIDS, are also characterized by the presence of dry skin. In states of dehydration induced by fever, diarrhoea, vomiting or drugs