What is dry or rough skin?
The dry or rough appearance of the skin is due to the irregular shedding of the cells of the corneal layer of the upper part of the skin (epidermis). As we age dead cells tend to ‘clump up’ rather than being evenly shed. The skin looks dry and rough. It does not reflect light smoothly. Moisturizers can temporarily improve the appearance but do not effectively address the real problem. Photo aging happens over a period of years, but the results are cumulative. For years the effects of sun exposure may remain hidden and eventually will become apparent as rough and dry skin. The timing depends on the amount of sun exposure and an individual’s genetic makeup. Examination with UV photography will show what has been accumulated and lies under the skin. Photo aging reduces the amount of collagen in the skin and prevents the reformation of new collagen. It is also associated with a reduction in the amount of moisture – retaining proteins resulting in the skin losing its turgor. Elastin fibres
