Request an Appointment

Toggle navigation
  • Facebook
  • blog
  • Twitter
Applegarth Dermatology PC

Serving the areas of Valparaiso and LaPorte, Indiana

  • Home
  • Staff
  • Offices
  • Services
  • New Patients
  • Patient Education

Patient Education

INSURANCES ACCEPTED:

*Please note these are our top companies that we participate with.  This is not a complete list.  Please contact your insurace carrier to verify whether or not we are in your provider network.

Traditional Medicare

Railroad Medicare

Sagamore

Cigna

Encore

United Healthcare

CHA

Coventry

CCN

First Health

Aetna

PHCS

Multi Plan

UMR

Lutheran Preferred

Indiana Health Network

Anthem BCBS PPO

Anthem BCBS PDS

Caresource - Medicare Plan

AARP Medicare Complete

IU Health Plans - Medicare and Commercial

Tricare

Anthem Medicare Advantage HMO

AMBETTER

EFFECTIVE 2/22/19: WE ARE NOW ACCEPTING ALLWELL

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Our team of professionals and staff believe that informed patients are better equipped to make decisions regarding their health and well-being. For your personal use, we have created an extensive patient library covering an array of educational topics, which can be found on the side of each page. Browse through these diagnoses and treatments to learn more about topics of interest to you.

As always, you can contact our office to answer any questions or concerns.

Dry skin and keratosis pilaris are common. Dry skin can occur at any age and for many reasons. Keratosis pilaris is an inherited skin condition that develops in almost half of the population. Sometimes a dermatologist’s help is necessary to get relief from dry skin and keratosis pilaris.

WHAT IS DRY SKIN?

Skin becomes dry when it loses too much water or oil. Skin generally becomes drier as we age, during the winter, and in low-humidity climates such as the desert.

Dry skin can have the following symptoms:

  • Rough, scaly, or flaking
  • Gray, ashy appearance in people with dark
  • Cracks in the skin, which may bleed if
  • Chapped or cracked

When dry skin cracks, germs can get in through the skin. Once inside, germs can cause an infection. Red, sore spots on the skin may be an early sign of an infection. Restoring lost moisture can make the skin softer, smoother, less itchy and less likely to crack.

TIPS TO CARE FOR DRY SKIN

• Use warm water

Hot water removes your natural skin oils more quickly. Warm water is best for bathing. Quick showers (less than 10 minutes) are suggested.

• Be good to your face

If you have very dry skin, cleanse your face just once a day, at night. In the morning, rinse your face with cool water.

• Use a mild soap

Look for a mild, fragrance-free soap or cleanser that moisturizes. Deodorant bars, strong fragrances in soaps, and products containing alcohol can strip natural oils from the skin. This dries the skin. Exfoliating soaps that feel like sand can cause damage to the skin.

• Shave after bathing

It is best to shave after bathing when hairs are soft. To lessen the irritating effects of shaving (face or legs) on dry

skin, make sure you use a shaving cream or gel. When possible, allow the product to remain on the skin about

3 minutes before starting to shave. Then shave in the direction that the hair grows. Change razor blades or throw away disposable razors after 5 to 7 shaves to help minimize irritation.

• Moisturize right after washing

A 5- to 10-minute bath or shower adds moisture to the skin. Spending more time in the water often leaves your skin less hydrated than before you started. To retain moisture from a bath or shower, apply an ointment or cream while the skin is still moist, within 3 minutes of drying off.

• Look at the ingredients in your moisturizer

For very dry skin, a moisturizer that contains urea or lactic acid may be helpful. These ingredients help the skin hold water. There are moisturizers with these ingredients available both over-the-counter and by prescription. While these ingredients can sting if you have eczema or cracked skin, they do benefit the skin.

• Use a humidifier

Keep the air in your home moist with a humidifier.

• Soothe chapped lips

At bedtime, apply a lip balm that contains petrolatum. Other names for this ingredient are petroleum jelly and mineral oil.

• Keep skin protected when outdoors in winter

In the cold, wear a scarf and gloves to help prevent chapped lips and hands.

Keeping your skin well moisturized should improve dry skin. If the dryness worsens, contact your dermatologist.

WHAT CAN HAPPEN IF MY SKIN GETS TOO DRY?

In some people, areas of extremely dry skin can lead to other skin conditions such as dermatitis or keratosis pilaris.

Dermatitis

Dermatitis means inflammation of the skin. It can cause an itchy rash or patches of dry skin.

When dermatitis is present, your dermatologist may prescribe medication such as a corticosteroid (a type of cortisone) or an immune modulator (tacrolimus, pimecrolimus). Applied to the affected skin, these medications can relieve the itch, redness, and swelling. Regular use of a moisturizer can help avoid dermatitis flares.


Dermatitis

Keratosis Pilaris

Keratosis pilaris are tiny, flesh-colored or slightly red bumps that give the skin a texture like sandpaper. Sometimes called “chicken skin,” keratosis pilaris occurs most often when the skin becomes very dry. Some people only have keratosis pilaris flare-ups when their skin becomes very dry.

Most common in children and teens, the bumps appear on the upper arms and thighs. In children, they also are common on the cheeks and can be mistaken for acne. Each tiny bump is a plug of dead skin cells.

Keratosis pilaris sometimes itches, mainly during the winter and in low-humidity climates. When humidity increases, usually during the summer, the skin becomes less itchy and the bumps become less red and less obvious.

HOW DOES A DERMATOLOGIST TREAT KERATOSIS PILARIS?

Keratosis pilaris is harmless. You may want to seek treatment to relieve the itch or improve the appearance of these tiny bumps.

Moisturizers may help with the dryness and itch. Creams that contain urea or lactic acid are often effective moisturizers. Moisturizers do not generally clear the bumps. A mild chemical exfoliant, either a product containing salicylic acid or those prescribed or recommended by a dermatologist, can effectively remove the excess dead skin and get rid of the bumps. Topical (applied-to-the-skin) retinoids also may help.


keratosis pilaris

Though keratosis pilaris can be effectively treated, results do not last long. Patients must repeat treatment often or the keratosis pilaris returns. Some patients respond to treatment better than others. For many, keratosis pilaris goes away by adulthood.

A board-certified dermatologist is a medical doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating the medical, surgical, and cosmetic conditions of the skin, hair and nails. To learn more about dry skin or find a dermatologist in your area, visit aad.org or call toll free (888) 462-DERM (3376).

All content solely developed by the American Academy of Dermatology.
Copyright © by the American Academy of Dermatology and the American Academy of Dermatology Association.

Images used with permission of the American Academy of Dermatology National Library of Dermatologic Teaching Slides

American Academy of Dermatology

P.O. Box 1968, Des Plaines, Illinois 60017
AAD Public Information Center: 888.462.DERM (3376) AAD Member Resource Center: 866.503.SKIN (7546) Outside the United States: 847.240.1280

Web: aad.org

Email: [email protected]


Learn More

  • Acne
  • Rashes
  • Skin Cancers
  • Warts

Patient Education

Patient Education
  • Acne and rosacea
    • Acne
    • Acne scars
    • Acne products: How to avoid allergic reaction
    • Acne: Tips to help you see clearer skin
    • Adult acne
    • Isotretinoin: Treatment for severe acne
    • Rosacea
    • Rosacea: Skin Care Do's and Don'ts
  • Bumps and growths
    • Keratosis pilaris
    • Moles
    • Seborrheic keratosis
  • Color problems
    • Acanthosis nigricans
    • Melasma
    • Melasma:Tips to Make It Less Noticeable
    • Tinea versicolor
    • Vitiligo
  • Contagious skin diseases
    • Genital warts
    • Head Lice
    • Herpes simplex
    • Impetigo
    • Molluscum contagiosum
    • Nail fungus
    • Ringworm
    • Scabies
    • Shingles
    • Warts
  • Dry / sweaty skin
    • Dry skin
    • Hyperhidrosis
  • Eczema / dermatitis
    • Atopic dermatitis
    • Contact dermatitis
    • Dyshidrotic eczema
    • Neurodermatitis
    • Nummular dermatitis
    • Stasis dermatitis
    • Eczema: Tips to help children feel better
    • Eczema Bleach bath therapy
  • Hair and scalp problems
    • Alopecia areata
    • Hair loss
    • Scalp psoriasis
  • Itchy skin
    • Bedbugs
    • Hives
    • Poison ivy, oak, and sumac
  • Painful skin / joints
    • Hidradenitis suppurativa
    • Psoriatic arthritis
    • Scleroderma
  • Rashes
    • Lichen planus
    • Lupus and your skin
    • Pityriasis rosea
  • Scaly skin
    • Actinic keratosis
    • Psoriasis
    • Psoriasis Skin Care Guide
    • Psoriatic arthritis
    • Seborrheic dermatitis
  • Skin cancer
    • Basal cell carcinoma
    • Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP)
    • Imiquimod: A treatment for some skin cancers, genital warts
    • Melanoma
      • Next steps after a melanoma diagnosis
    • Merkel cell carcinoma
    • Sebaceous carcinoma
    • Squamous cell carcinoma
    • Skin cancer in people of color
    • Skin Cancer Prevention
    • Who's got your back
    • Can you spot skin cancer?
  • Skin, hair, and nail care
    • Skin care
      • How to Apply Sunscreen
      • How to Shave
      • Skin Self-Exam: How to Do
      • Face Washing 101
      • How to Apply Self-Tanner
      • Get the most from your skin care products
      • Dry skin relief
      • Preventing skin conditions in athletes
      • How to care for tattooed skin
      • How to care for pierced ears
      • How to Treat Diaper Rash
      • Skin Care on a Budget
      • How to Treat Boils and Styes
      • How to Treat Dandruff
      • How to Treat Shingles
      • How to Treat Cold Sores
      • How to Treat Hives in Children
      • Wrinkle Remedies
    • Hair care / hair loss
      • How to Style Hair Without Damage
      • Tips for Healthy Hair
      • How to remove gum without cutting hair
      • Coloring and perming tips
    • Injured skin
      • Tips for treating poison ivy
      • How to treat sunburn
      • Proper Wound Care: How to Minimize a Scar
      • How to Prevent and Treat Frostbite
    • Nail care
      • Manicure and pedicure safety
      • Tips for Healthy Nails
  • Other conditions
    • Diabetes warning signs
  • Videos

Our Location

1861 S. Sturdy Rd
Valparaiso, IN 46383
(219) 548-0360
 
3444 Monroe
La Porte, IN 46350
(219) 362-0161

Map & directions

Appointment Request

Valparaiso, IN Dermatologist Applegarth Dermatology PC 1861 S. Sturdy Rd. Valparaiso, IN46383 (219) 548-0360 Dermatologist in Valparaiso, IN Call For Pricing
La Porte, IN Dermatologist Applegarth Dermatology PC 3444 Monroe St. La Porte, IN46350 (219) 362-0161 Dermatologist in La Porte, IN Call For Pricing
  • Home
  • Staff
  • Offices
  • Services
  • New Patients
  • Patient Education
  • Copyright © MH Sub I, LLC dba Officite
  • Disclaimer
  • Patient Privacy
  • Site Map