For decades, maybe centuries, African American mothers have been slathering a variety of creams, lotions, and oils onto their children’s skin (and their own) hoping to drive away what is known as “ashy” skin.
“Ashy” skin is really just dry skin that is exacerbated in people of darker skin tones. It can make skin look dull, grey, or chalky and can feel tight and even painful.
The worst part for most people is the itchiness which can be both uncomfortable and embarrassing.
Dry skin is one of the most common problems people have. Barney Kenet, MD, a dermatologist from New York Presbyterian Hospital and Weill Cornell Medical Center, estimates there are about 100 million people who suffer from dry, itchy skin in this country.
Though it sounds like a superficial or cosmetic problem, itching dry skin can cause many breaks in the skin which can let in bacteria and create a much more serious problem.
One can have patches of dry, itchy skin anywhere on their body but it is most commonly found on one’s arms, hands, legs, and abdomen. Knees and elbows seem to get the worst of the “ashy” phenomenon.
On some people, dry skin is more about how their skin feels, than it is about how it looks, but on others, including African Americans, it can be quite noticeable and a source of embarrassment.
Causes
Dry skin can be caused by a variety of issues, most of which are easily rectified. The main cause is that one’s skin does not have the necessary moisture on the top layer of their skin.
Laundry soap, bath soap, fabric choices, long, hot showers and dry weather can cause this lack of moisture and create “ashy” or dry skin. It can also be caused by certain medications, especially those for diabetes, malnutrition, hypothyroidism, and psoriasis.
One can even have a genetic predisposition for dry skin. Also drinking alcohol or exercising without replenishing fluids can cause dry skin as well.
It is important to isolate the cause or causes of dry skin to try to eliminate it from one’s life if possible. For example, if a particular soap dries out someone’s skin each day, perhaps it is time to move on to a fragrance-free body wash.
Cures
Since dry skin is caused by the lack of moisture, it makes sense that the first “cure” would be to moisturize the skin. This is best done when the skin is moist, like after a shower. Putting moisturizer on damp skin helps to trap that moisture in.
Also, those with dry skin should stay away from moisturizers that contain perfumes and alcohol. Eliminating the itchy factors, like soaps and fabrics, from one’s life can help as well.
Blackdoctor.org suggests hydrating from the inside-out to reduce dry skin. They recommend 4 to 9 glasses of water each day for most people. They also suggest using products with fatty oils in them, like shea butter.
If the dry, “ashy” skin continues, seeing a doctor is definitely the next step. A qualified doctor can prescribe prescription medication and lotions to help one live with this issue.
Sources:
WebMd.com. Web. 23 March 2012. “Dry skin causes”. http://www.webmd.com/healthy-beauty/features/dry-skin-causes
Blackdoctor.org. Web. 23 March 2012. “Ashy Skin: A war that can be won?”
http://blackdoctor.org/news/article/Skin_and_Beauty/Ashy_Skin_A_War_That_Can_Be_Won.aspx?Page=1
Reviewed March 23, 2012
by Michele Blacksberg RN
Edited by Jody Smith