Dry Skin On Elbows

Dry skin in the elbow area is usually accompanied by flaking, cracking and itching, which leads to even more damage to the affected areas.

Why does the skin on the elbows dry. Diseases in which it appears

Most often, the appearance of dry skin on the elbows is caused by a combination of several factors.

1. Constant mechanical impact. This happens when you spend most of your time at the computer. In this case, the elbow constantly moves along the surface of the desktop or chair handle.

2. Using shower gels with harsh ingredients (especially those with antibacterial effect) can lead to dry skin, especially in the elbow area.

3. Cold and windy weather reduces the level of humidity in the air, which in turn reduces the amount of moisture needed by the skin. In these conditions, you need to use moisturizers more often.

4. Heat from heating elements can cause dryness and cracking of the elbows and knees. A home or office humidifier will help solve the problem.

5. Excessive exposure to chlorine (when swimming in a pool) can also lead to dry skin, including elbows and knees.

6. Dermatitis herpetiformis is an inflammatory skin disease associated with gluten-sensitive enteropathy (chronic damage to the small intestine), one of the manifestations of which is a localized skin lesion (including the elbow joints).

7. Specific skin formations - peeling, silvery scales, which often appear on the outer surface of the elbows - one of the manifestations of psoriasis.

8. Deficiency of fatty acids, fat-soluble vitamins and minerals leads to dry skin. First, dryness occurs in certain areas (for example, on the elbows or on the face), and then, if measures are not taken in time, this process can spread to the entire skin of the body.

It is with a deficiency of fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K that dry skin is primarily associated. The hands and elbows are especially affected.

Why do deficits occur? The reasons:

• lack of high-grade animal and vegetable fats in the diet;
• problems with the health of the gastrointestinal tract - low acidity of the gastric juice, lack of pancreatic enzymes (lipase), insufficient production of bile and impaired bile flow, reduced absorption capacity of the intestine due to inflammation;

• with hypothyroidism (decreased thyroid function), vitamin A metabolism is disturbed. Iodine and zinc deficiency in the body can also lead to peeling, eczema, dry skin;
• often dry skin, changes in the condition of the nails, hair loss are a manifestation of anemia.

9. Endocrinological causes. If the skin on the elbows becomes rough, rough, this may be a sign of hormonal imbalance.

Lack of estrogen is manifested by dryness, thinning and early withering of the skin.

Lack of progesterone leads to brittle nails and hair, contributes to dry skin.

The thyroid gland secretes hormones that help control the amount of moisture in the skin. With hypothyroidism, cracks and dry skin appear.

By the way, in women, an imbalance of thyroid hormones occurs 8 times more often than in men.

Insulin resistance and diabetes are common causes of dry and cracked elbows.

How to soften skin on elbows

If dry skin appears on the elbows, contact a specialist to identify the possible cause, draw up an individual nutrition program and correct this condition.

An integrated approach gives good results.

1. Make a complete diet

Healthy fats - avocados, unrefined vegetable oil, olives, coconut, nuts or urbechi from them, fish, caviar, butter or ghee - are important for maintaining skin health. In addition, these are also sources of fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K. Vitamins A and D contribute to the renewal of the epidermis and reduce the number of keratinized skin particles.

Vitamin A is found exclusively in animal tissues - cod liver, animal liver (rabbit, duck, beef, chicken), eggs, butter from the milk of grass-fed cows. Precursors of vitamin A (carotenoids from which vitamin A is formed) are found in plant foods - carrots, sweet potatoes, persimmons, apricots, tomatoes, leeks, broccoli, melon, sorrel and spinach, sea buckthorn.

Zinc can keep the skin hydrated. The need for an adult in this element is 15–25 mg per day.

Zinc is rich in legumes, sesame, peanuts, bran (up to 10 mg / dl), but in all these products, it, unfortunately, is associated with phytic acid and is poorly digestible. Fermentation, pickling meat and fish in an acidic environment (with the addition of citrus fruits, for example), sprouting cereals, seeds and legumes activate phytase, which neutralizes phytic acid.

Higher zinc content - in shellfish, mushrooms, egg yolk, liver, meat (10-30 mg / dl).

Zinc absorption is impaired in people who suffer from any infectious diseases for a long time and often, especially in children. Hyperglycemia in diabetes mellitus and even with a simple glucose load in a person who has eaten a piece of cake with sweet tea is accompanied by hypozincemia (low zinc in the blood).

2. When replenishing deficiencies, consider the state of the gastrointestinal tract

Maintain healthy gastric acidity - marinate meat and fish in an acidic environment (vinegar, lemon, kiwi), add greens and vegetables to the diet.

Monitor the quality of bile and avoid stagnation in the ducts - you can add lecithin in supplements, it is also found in some products (eggs, sunflower seeds and sunflower oil, liver). Start your morning with a glass of warm water and don't forget to keep drinking throughout the day (30-35 ml per 1 kg of body weight), because bile is 98% water!

Avoid pancreatic enzyme deficiency by eating a varied diet. Natural enzymes (enzymes) are found in plant foods - greens, vegetables, fruits, berries.

The “glued” villi of the intestinal mucosa reduce the absorption capacity, nutrients from food are not fully absorbed. This condition is facilitated by excessive consumption of gluten - it is found in products made from white flour.

Excessive bacterial growth does not allow enzymes to activate, the absorption of fats and fat-soluble vitamins is disturbed. Bloating is not the norm, but a symptom of dysbacteriosis. This state needs to be corrected.

3. Remember sleep hygiene

In cases of dry skin, it is especially important to pay attention to the quality of sleep. Poor sleep can exacerbate insulin resistance and increase stress symptoms over time.

The thyroid gland also reacts sensitively to lack of sleep, so getting enough sleep is very important. The best time to sleep is between 22:00 and 06:00.

4. Exercise

Lack of exercise can cause insulin resistance. A sedentary lifestyle is stressful for the body, the level of cortisol increases, which has a destructive effect on the mucous membranes of the gastrointestinal tract and thereby reduces the absorption of nutrients from food.

The goal of exercise is to build muscle mass, help increase resting energy expenditure, improve insulin sensitivity, and increase metabolism.

Working out in the gym helps reduce cortisol levels and stress.

5. It is necessary to eliminate the factors that provoke the appearance of dry skin on the elbows:

• during the heating season, a humidifier will come in handy;
• to get rid of rough skin on the elbows, you can use natural scrubs, mild detergents. Moisturizers should be carefully chosen.

There are different types of moisturizers, each with a specific function for the skin.

Moisturizers containing ceramide and hyaluronic acid or petroleum jelly help the skin retain moisture. Moisturizers with dimethicone and glycerin attract moisture to the skin.

Along with the use of moisturizing and nourishing creams, organic honey can be used. Natural oils from avocado, shea butter, olive and coconut provide good skin hydration, reduce the number of cracks and dryness of the skin.

Without a doubt, one of the most effective ways to deal with dry skin is to change your diet and lifestyle. Choose nutritious foods, avoid pro-inflammatory foods, learn to manage stress, get healthy sleep, and practice adequate exercise.