acute

Dry skin

Treatment options, dosing, cautions and Egyptian brands from the shipped Dawaa Reference card.

Evidence status

Checked against the sources named below

Sources3 sources

No labelled dose - emollient applied liberally and as often as needed, to effect · SmPC sections 4.2 and 4.4, https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/5453/smpc · Gade A, Matin T, Rubenstein R. Xeroderma. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2026 Jan-. Bookshelf ID: NBK565884.

Verified against1 document

SmPC sections 4.2 and 4.4, https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/5453/smpc

Verified date2026-08

Presentation reference

Is it this?

Reference only, to read alongside your own examination.

Symptoms — what the patient reports (8)

Itching, burning, pain and a feeling of tightness in the skin [burning pain · dry skin · itching]
When it itches, it eats badly into quality of life
Ask whether it comes and goes, stays constant, or follows a particular trigger
Ask about allergy, eczema and asthma in the patient or the family
Ask about work exposures, surroundings, diet and what is put on the skin [dry skin]
It grows likelier with age, and hormones matter in pregnancy and after the menopause
Look for kidney failure, thyroid disease, diabetes or inflammatory bowel disease behind it
Diuretics and cholesterol-lowering drugs can be the cause

Signs — what you find (6)

Lower legs, forearms, hands and feet are the usual sites
Skin is dry, rough and scaly with a slightly grey cast [scaling]
Elasticity is lost, with wrinkling, redness and cracks [redness]
Mild disease: scaling stays within the skin furrows [dry skin · scaling]
Moderate: scaling spreads past the furrows and the skin markings stand out [dry skin · scaling]
Severe: plate-like scales beyond the furrows, with deep splits in the skin [dry skin · scaling]

Tests (5)

History and examination alone are enough to make the diagnosis
Bloods only to chase an underlying cause, such as thyroid hormone and vitamin levels
Skin biopsy only rarely, to separate it from conditions that copy it
Measuring water loss or hydration through the skin belongs to research, not to diagnosis
Dermoscopy brings out fine changes the naked eye misses

If not this — what else fits (9)

Ichthyosis vulgaris
Atopic eczema
Stasis dermatitis of the lower legs
Contact dermatitis, whether irritant or allergic
Nummular, coin-shaped eczema
Scabies infestation
Ringworm of the body
Psoriasis
Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma

SourceStatPearls "Xeroderma" - disease-level clinical article

Presentation findings are traced to the source above.

LIQUID PARAFFIN

1st line

Formtopical

Adult dose and duration

Apply to affected areas as often as required. - long-term continuous maintenance

Paediatric dose

Apply to affected areas as often as required. Warning: fire hazard with paraffin-soaked fabrics.

Dose source

SmPC sections 4.2 and 4.4, https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/5453/smpc

Why

Regular emollient use is the standard, safe first-line treatment for xerosis regardless of cause.

Cautions

Severe dryness with cracking and infection risk, or dry skin as a sign of underlying low thyroid function or kidney disease.
First-line for dry skin from any cause, worsened here by dry climate and frequent washing.
Persistent or worsening dryness, especially with fatigue, weight change, or oedema, should prompt screening for hypothyroidism or chronic kidney disease.
Use a soap substitute rather than standard soap, and avoid very hot water.

Egyptian brands

Egyptian brand	Manufacturer	Indicative price
ADCOCARE CREAM 20 GM! also contains glyceryl monostearate, propylene glycol, urea	ARAB DRUG COMPANY (ADCO)	12.00 EGP
DERMOLAN CREAM 50 GM! also contains allantoin, glycerol, glycolic acid, panthenol, salicylic acid, urea, vitamin c, zinc oxide	HI-CARE > EMICO PHARMA	19.00 EGP
ADCOCARE CREAM 40 GM! also contains glyceryl monostearate, propylene glycol, urea	ARAB DRUG COMPANY (ADCO)	21.75 EGP
CARE MIX PLUS HAIR CREAM 50 GM! also contains cetostearyl alcohol, lanolin, panthenol, wheat protein, white soft paraffin	VITA PHARM > CARE MIX	29.50 EGP
PROPOLIS CREAM 15 ML! also contains cera alba, glycerin, propolis	LUNA FOR PERFUMES AND COSMETICS > TECHNOMED GROUP	30.00 EGP
PROPOLIS CREAM 30 ML! also contains cera alba, glycerin, propolis	LUNA FOR PERFUMES AND COSMETICS > TECHNOMED GROUP	55.00 EGP
HEALTHPOINT NAPPY CREAM 100 GM! also contains benzyl alcohol, cetearyl alcohol, glyceryl stearate, lanolin, peg-100 s, water, zinc oxide	HEALTHPOINT LTD. > PAXTON	70.00 EGP
HERCUL WHITENING CREAM 60 GM! also contains alpha arbutin, diemthicone, glycerin, licorice ext, octyl methoxy, titanium dioxide, vit.c	LEADER FOR COSMETICS > JUNIER PHARMA	74.75 EGP

Prices are indicative (dataset snapshot 2026-06); verify with the pharmacy.