Winter xerosis

Rawlings, A.Y., et al. 1994. Abnormalities in stratum corneum structure, lipid composition, and desmosome degradation in soap-induced winter xerosis. J Soc Cosmet Chem 45 203. 

Likewise, my experience shows that general practitioners are in no better position than their patients regarding selection of the most effective moisturizers for treating the common everyday dry skin disorders, such as winter xerosis. It should be emphasized that the prevalence of dry skin among the elderly in northern climates approaches 100%. Leaving aside appearance, rough feel, and various discomforts, the most important sensorial component of xerosis is persistent itching which can ruin the quality of life. 

It should be appreciated that the generic term dry skin denotes a diverse family of conditions ranging from relatively benign disorders such as winter xerosis to devastating, life threatening... 

Simon, M., Bernard, D., Minondo, A.M., Camus, C., Fiat, F., Corcuff, P., Schmidt, R., and Serre, G. Persistence of both peripheral and non-peripheral corneodesmosomes in the upper stratum corneum of winter xerosis skin versus only peripheral in normal skin, J. Invest. Dermatol., 116, 23-30, 2001. 

El-Kadi, K., Rawlings, A.V., Feinberg, C., Nunn, C., Battaglia, A., Chandar, P., Richardson, N., Sabin, R., and Pocalyko, D. Broad specificity alkaline proteases efficiently reduce the visual scaling associated with soap induced winter xerosis, Arch. Dermatol. Res., 293, 500-507, 2001... 

Other researchers104-106 have also shown that racemic mixtures of lactic acid ameliorate the common problem of winter xerosis. Typical effects of lactic acid in moisturization efficacy studies... 

Abnormalities in lipid lamellar structure or corneodesmolysis are apparent in scaling disorders like X-linked Ichthyosis, atopic dry skin, or in winter xerosis.2,10 Susceptibility to dry skin also shows a tendency to increase with age.3 Exposure to dry environment or extreme shifts in external humidity produces important alterations in underlying skin. Dry environment stimulates epidermal hyperplasia and early markers of inflammation. Shift in external humidity induces a profound defect in... 

The S ACD can be employed to sample and quantify loose corneocytes and squames from the skin surface. Such a procedure is only valid for conditions where the intercorneocyte bonds are weaker than the SACD adhesion to the SC.14 In fact, tiny scales found in the common type of facial dry skin, dandruff, and seborrheic dermatitis come off quite easily.31-42 By contrast, thick compact adherent scales found in ichthyosis and severe winter xerosis of the lower legs12 31 are not reliably harvested using SACD. This represents a classical pitfall of the method.14... 

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