Why do I suffer from flaky skin?

Our outer layer of skin has cells that renew themselves every day, but we normally do not feel this process. However, if something goes wrong during the cell renewal process, your skin can begin to flake off. Aging, chemicals and excessive exposure to the sun can also cause flaky skin. It can also be caused by a few diseases. Here are the major ones:

If you see red, itchy spots on your skin, this may be a sign of eczema. People often confuse eczema with dry, sensitive skin. In children, this skin condition is often accompanied by dry spots on the chin and cheeks. However, eczema can also appear on other parts of the body. Eczema usually goes away on its own over time. In adults, it can even suddenly appear due to the use of a particular soap, perfume or make-up. Cigarette smoke and wool are also other causes of eczema.

If you suffer from red lumps and flaky skin, you probably have psoriasis. According to research, psoriasis can be due to a poor immune system. This causes skin cells to renew more quickly and the old skin cells do not disappear quickly enough. As a result, the old and the new cells stick together and you get red, itchy spots. It can also become aggravated which causes the red spots to turn into ulcers.

You can also suffer from flaky and itchy skin on your scalp. The telltale signs of dandruff are a greasy scalp and white flakes that cling to your hair and fall on your shoulders. To tackle dandruff, you can use a special shampoo.

This skin condition mainly appears during old age and is caused by excessive exposure to UV radiation. People sometimes refer to it as “sun damage”. Actinic keratosis is considered a preliminary stage of skin cancer, which is why it is particularly important to follow this up properly. If you suffer from this condition, you will see rough spots on your skin that turn yellow-brown and red. They may occasionally be painful and start to flake.

Hives is an itchy rash that causes lumps to appear on the body. This condition can be caused by a variety of things, such as a particular allergy or infection, but it may also have an emotional cause. Hives is also more prevalent among women than men. It is important to check when the condition started so that you can identify the cause and make adjustments to your behaviour or diet. If hives does not go away on its own and you cannot find the cause, you are advised to consult a doctor. Chronic hives is a longer-lasting and recurring form of this condition. In this case, the skin may be affected so badly that it begins to flake.