Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Xerosis Means “Dry Skin”: Mechanisms, Skin Conditions, and Its Management

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Book cover Filaggrin

Abstract

Dry skin is common in the general population. In this chapter, epidermal homeostasis will be reviewed as well as the fundamental basics to understand the mechanisms by which the skin becomes dry or xerotic. Dry skin can be a simple status of the skin and does not necessarily reflect any cutaneous disease. Very dry skin, common at certain ages or environmental conditions, can, however, induce skin disease. Certain cutaneous diseases show scaly and dry skin as a primary clinical manifestation. These diseases are mentioned too. Finally, I will review how to prevent and how to manage dry skin, a common objective if I want to achieve a healthy skin.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 79.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 99.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Burdette-Taylor SR. Eczema, ichthyosis, psoriasis: conditions of cornification. Ostomy Wound Manage. 1995;41:36–8.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Proksch E, Lachapelle JM. The management of dry skin with topical emollients–recent perspectives. J Dtsch Dermatol Ges. 2005;3:768–74.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Feingold KR, Mao-Quian M, Menon GK, Cho SS, Brown BE, Elias PM. Cholesterol synthesis is required for cutaneous barrier function in mice. J Clin Invest. 1990;86:1738–45.

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Grubauer G, Feingold KR, Harris RM, Elias PM. Lipid content and lipid type as determinants of the epidermal permeability barrier. J Lipid Res. 1989;30:89–96.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Elias PM. Stratum corneum defensive functions: an integrated view. J Invest Dermatol. 2005;125:183–200.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. McAleer MA, Irvine AD. The multifunctional role of filaggrin in allergic skin disease. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2013;131:280–91.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Matsui T, Miyamoto K, Kubo A, Kawasaki H, Ebihara T, Hata K, Tanahashi S, Ichinose S, Imoto I, Inazawa J, Kudoh J, Amagai M. SASPase regulates stratum corneum hydration through profilaggrin-to-filaggrin processing. EMBO Mol Med. 2011;3:320–33.

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Sandilands A, Brown SJ, Goh CS, Pohler E, Wilson NJ, Campbell LE, et al. Mutations in the SASPase gene (ASPRV1) are not associated with atopic eczema or clinically dry skin. J Invest Dermatol. 2012;132:1507–10.

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Bonnart C, Deraison C, Lacroix M, Uchida Y, Besson C, Robin A, et al. Elastase 2 is expressed in human and mouse epidermis and impairs skin barrier function in Netherton syndrome through filaggrin and lipid misprocessing. J Clin Invest. 2010;120:871–82.

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. List K, Szabo R, Wertz PW, Segre J, Haudenschild CC, Kim SY, et al. Loss of proteolytically processed filaggrin caused by epidermal deletion of Matriptase/MT-SP1. J Cell Biol. 2003;163:901–10.

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Leyvraz C, Charles RP, Rubera I, Guitard M, Rotman S, Breiden B, et al. The epidermal barrier function is dependent on the serine protease CAP1/Prss8. J Cell Biol. 2005;170:487–96.

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Böhme M, Söderhäll C, Kull I, Bergström A, van Hage M, Wahlgren CF. Filaggrin mutations increase the risk for persistent dry skin and eczema independent of sensitization. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2012;129:1153–5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Sergeant A, Campbell LE, Hull PR, Porter M, Palmer CN, Smith FJ, et al. Heterozygous null alleles in filaggrin contribute to clinical dry skin in young adults and the elderly. J Invest Dermatol. 2009;129:1042–5.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Nakagawa N, Sakai S, Matsumoto M, Yamada K, Nagano M, Yuki T, et al. Relationship between NMF (lactate and potassium) content and the physical properties of the stratum corneum in healthy subjects. J Invest Dermatol. 2004;122:755–63.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Clark C. How to choose a suitable emollient. Pharm J. 2004;273:351–3.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Rawlings AV, Matts PJ. Stratum corneum moisturization at the molecular level: an update in relation to the dry skin cycle. J Invest Dermatol. 2005;124:1099–110.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Thyssen JP, Elias PM. Xerosis is latitude dependent and affects the propensity to develop atopic disease. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2012;130:820.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Rycroft RJG. Low humidity and microtrauma. Am J Ind Med. 1985;8:371–3.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Rawlings AV, Voegeli R. Stratum corneum proteases and dry skin conditions. Cell Tissue Res. 2013;351:217–35.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Di Nardo A, Werz P, Giannetti A, Deidenari S. Ceramide and cholesterol composition of the skin of patients with atopic dermatitis. Acta Derm Venereol. 1998;78:27–30.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Morar N, Cookson WO, Harper JI, Moffatt MF. Filaggrin mutations in children with severe atopic dermatitis. J Invest Dermatol. 2007;127:1667–72.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Takahashi M, Tezuka T. The content of free amino acids in the stratum corneum is increased in senile xerosis. Arch Dermatol Res. 2004;295:448–52.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Katagiri C, Sato J, Nomura J, Denda M. Changes in environmental humidity affect the water-holding property of the stratum corneum and its free amino acid content, and the expression of the filaggrin in the epidermis of hairless mice. J Dermatol Sci. 2003;31:29–35.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Elias PM, Ansel JC, Woods LD, Feingold KR. Signaling networks in barrier homeostasis: the mystery widens. Arch Dermatol. 1996;132:1505–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Elias PM, Woods LD, Feingold KR. Epidermal pathogenesis of inflammatory dermatoses. Am J Contact Dermat. 1999;10:119–26.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Rycroft PJG, Smith WDL. Low humidity occupational dermatoses. Contact Dermatitis. 1980;6:488–92.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Agner T, Serup J. Seasonal variation of skin resistance to irritants. Br J Dermatol. 1989;121:323–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Engelke M, Jensen JM, Ekanayake-Mudiyanselage S, Proksch E. Effects of xerosis and ageing on epidermal proliferation and differentiation. Br J Dermatol. 1997;137:219–25.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Cork MJ, Robinson DA, Vasilopoulos Y, Ferguson A, Moustafa M, MacGowan A, et al. New perspectives on epidermal barrier dysfunction in atopic dermatitis: gene environment interactions. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2006;118:3–21.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Werner Y, Lindberg M. Transepidermal water loss in dry and clinically normal skin in patients with atopic dermatitis. Acta Derm Venereol. 1985;65:102–5.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Thune P. Evaluation of the hydration and water binding capacity in atopic skin and so-called dry skin. Acta Derm Venereol. 1989;144(Suppl):133–5.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Heimall J, Spergel JM. Filaggrin mutations and atopy: consequences for future therapeutics. Expert Rev Clin Immunol. 2012;8:189–97.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Brown SJ, McLean WHI. One remarkable molecule: filaggrin. J Invest Dermatol. 2012;132:751–62.

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. McGrath JA. Profilaggrin, dry skin, and atopic dermatitis risk: size matters. J Invest Dermatol. 2012;132:10–1.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Kubo A, Nagao K, Amagai M. Epidermal barrier dysfunction and cutaneous sensitization in atopic diseases. J Clin Invest. 2012;122:440–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Smith FJ, Irvine AD, Terron-Kwiatkowski A, Sandilands A, Campdell LE, Zhao Y, Liao H, Evans AT, Goudie DR, Lewis-Jones S, Arseculeratne G, Munro CS, Sergeant A, O´Regan G, Bale SJ, Compton JG, DiGiovanna JJ, Presland RB, Fleckman P, McLean WH. Loss –of –function mutations in the gene encoding filaggrin cause ichthyosis vulgaris. Nat Genet. 2006;38:337–42.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Chen H, Ho JCC, Sandilands A, Chan YC, Giam YC, Evans AT, Lane EB, McLean I. Gene in Singaporean Chinese patients with ichthyosis vulgaris. J Invest Dermatol. 2008;128:1669–75.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Shapiro LJ, Weiss R, Frances JT, Webster D. X-linked ichthyosis due to steroid sulphatase deficiency. Lancet. 1978;1:70–2.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Sato J, Denda M, Nakinishi J, Nomura J, Koyama J. Cholesterol sulphate inhibits proteases that are involved in desquamation of stratum corneum. J Invest Dermatol. 1998;111:189–94.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Hoppe T, Winge MCG, Bradley M, Nordenskjöld M, Vahlquist A, Berne B, et al. X-linked recessive ichthyosis: an impaired barrier function evokes limited gene responses before and after moisturizing treatments. Br J Dermatol. 2012;167:514–22.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Thyssen JP. The association between filaggrin mutations hand eczema and contact dermatitis: a clear picture is emerging. Br J Dermatol. 2012;167:1197–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Ramírez C, Jacob SE. Dermatitis de manos. Actas Dermosifiliogr. 2006;97:363–73.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Thyssen JP, Ross-Hansen K, Johansen JD, Zachariae C, Carlsen BC, Linneberg A, et al. Filaggrin loss-of-function mutation R501X and 2282del4 carrier status is associated with fissured skin on the hands: results from a cross-sectional population study. Br J Dermatol. 2012;166:46–53.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. Kaae J, Menné T, Carlsen BC, Zachariae C, Thyssen JP. The hands in health and disease of individuals with filaggrin loss-of-function mutations: clinical reflections on the hand eczema phenotype. Contact Dermatitis. 2012;67:119–24.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Chamlin SL, Kao J, Freiden IJ, Sheu MY, Fowler AJ, Fluhr JW, et al. Ceramide-dominant barrier repair lipids alleviate childhood atopic dermatitis: changes in barrier function provide a sensitive indicator of disease activity. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2002;47:198–208.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. Hara M, Verkman AS. Glycerol replacement corrects defective skin hydration, elasticity and barrier function in aquaporin- 3-deficient mice. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2003;100:7360–5.

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  47. Paubert-Braquet M, Lefrançois G, Picquot S. Etude in vitrodupouvoirantiprurigineux du glycocolle: effetsur la dégranulation des mastocytes. Therapeutique. 1992;95:2–3.

    Google Scholar 

  48. Weimann BI, Hermann D. Studies on wound healing: effects of calcium pantothenate on the migration, proliferation and protein synthesis of human dermal fibroblasts in culture. Int J Vitam Nutr Res. 1999;69:113–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  49. Lacroix B, Didier E, Grenier JF. Effects of pantothenic acid on fibroblastic cell cultures. Res Exp Med. 1988;188:391–6.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  50. Girard P, Beraud A, Goujon C. Effect of bepanthen ointment on the graft-donor site wound-healing model: double-blind biometrological and clinical study, with assessment by the patient versus the vehicle. Nouv Dermatol. 1998;17:559–70.

    Google Scholar 

  51. Barco D, Giménez-Arnau A. Xerosis: a dysfunction of the epidermal barrier. Actas Deramtosifilogr. 2008;99:671–82.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology, Hospital del Mar Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Passeig MAritim 25-26, Barcelona, Catalunya, 08003, Spain

    Ana M. Gimenez-Arnau MD, PhD, MB BS

Authors
  1. Ana M. Gimenez-Arnau MD, PhD, MB BS
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ana M. Gimenez-Arnau MD, PhD, MB BS .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermato-Allergology, National Allergy Research Centre, Gentofte Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Hellerup, Denmark

    Jacob P. Thyssen

  2. Department of Dermatology, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA

    Howard I. Maibach

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2014 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Gimenez-Arnau, A.M. (2014). Xerosis Means “Dry Skin”: Mechanisms, Skin Conditions, and Its Management. In: Thyssen, J., Maibach, H. (eds) Filaggrin. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-54379-1_22

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-54379-1_22

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-54378-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-54379-1

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation