When skin looks ashy, this can not only be a source of self-consciousness but can also feel tight or itchy from dryness. Thankfully, ashy skin can often be managed with a proper skincare regimen. Read on to learn about what ashy skin is, what causes it, and how you can help improve your skin’s radiance with Eucerin.
What is ashy skin?
Ashy skin is skin that looks gray and dull and can also have a rough texture. This can appear on the face or the body and is particularly common on the elbows and knees. While not an official medical term, the term “ashy skin” often refers to the appearance of dry skin on darker skin tones1.
What causes ashy skin?
Ashy skin can appear due to a number of factors:
Dry, dehydrated skin
When skin gets dehydrated, its moisture barrier can become compromised and dead skin cells can accumulate on the surface2, leading to a rough, dull, ashy appearance.
Environment
Long, hot baths or showers with harsh soaps or bath care products
Spending extended time in hot water contributes to moisture barrier damage and can strip the skin of its natural oils. Additionally, using harsh detergents or soaps can also compromise the skin’s moisture barrier. Both of these factors can contribute to dry, ashy skin3.
Aging
Dry skin is a common concern in the elderly. As we age, natural changes occur in the skin that can contribute to moisture loss, such as the skin producing less sweat and oil4, and naturally declining in its supply of moisturizing Hyaluronic Acid5. Areas where skin is dry may become rough or flaky, and may take on a dull or ashy appearance.
Other skin conditions
Certain skin conditions that can cause flaky or rough skin such as eczema can be a contributing factor to ashy skin1.
Who gets ashy skin?
Ashy skin can happen to anyone as it is most often a symptom of dry skin. However, the ashy appearance may be more prominent on darker skin tones where the contrast in color and texture of the dry skin versus healthy-looking skin is more noticeable.
Can any skin tone get ashy?
Yes. Though the term “ashy skin” is commonly used by those with darker skin tones due to the contrast between the grayish, flaky dry skin and the affected individual’s normal skin tone, skin of any color can experience dryness leading to ashy skin.
How to manage ashy skin on the body
Ashy skin on your body in areas like your knees and elbows can be a source of embarrassment and discomfort. When skin becomes ashy from dryness, it can feel tight, itchy, or even start to flake1 as these areas of the body frequently require the skin to stretch.
While there is no guaranteed way to “fix” ashy skin in every instance, there are ways to help manage it.
While there is no guaranteed way to “fix” ashy skin in every instance, there are ways to help manage it.
To help restore skin to a natural glow, it’s important to help restore moisture to affected areas and to also gently exfoliate to help remove the buildup of dead skin that contributes to its ashy appearance.
Eucerin® Intensive Repair Body Lotion is a 3-dimensional system that moisturizes, exfoliates, and conditions very dry, flaky skin. The fragrance-free, moisturizing formula is enriched with Alpha Hydroxy Acid and Natural Moisturizing Factors that are found naturally in skin.
Appropriate for all skin types, this body lotion immediately restores skin’s radiance and improves skin’s appearance while delivering 48-hour hydration.
Appropriate for all skin types, this body lotion immediately restores skin’s radiance and improves skin’s appearance while delivering 48-hour hydration.
How to help prevent ashy skin from forming
Prevention is key when it comes to ashy skin caused by dryness. Here are some helpful ways to address common causes of dry skin in order to help prevent ashy skin from becoming a problem:
Adjust your bathing routine
Since dry skin can be caused by long, hot showers or baths and harsh soaps or detergents, try to limit bathing time to 5-10 minutes using lukewarm water, and opt for gentle, hypoallergenic cleansers that won’t strip skin of its natural oils3.
Moisturize regularly
Apply a daily moisturizing body lotion such as Eucerin® Intensive Repair Body Lotion to areas commonly prone to dryness, especially after bathing, to help restore hydration to the skin.
Protect yourself from the elements
If you’re heading out in cold, harsh weather, be sure to bundle up and cover areas of the skin that may be susceptible to dryness and apply a moisturizer to any exposed areas to help ward dry skin off at the pass.
Drink plenty of water
Hydration doesn’t just come from the outside! By drinking plenty of water throughout the day, you can keep your body, including your skin, hydrated6.
Be proactive at the first signs
If you notice your skin starting to feel dry and you’ve taken the precautions above, consult with a board-certified dermatologist to discuss potential sources of your dry, ashy skin, and to collaborate on steps to help manage or prevent it.
Eucerin® Intensive Repair® for dry, ashy skin
Ashy skin is a common skin concern, particularly during the winter months, that can leave skin feeling itchy and tight from dryness and looking dull and flaky. With Eucerin® Intensive Repair®, you can help restore skin’s radiance while enjoying up to 48 hours of hydration.
The information provided herein is not intended to be medical advice. Nor is it intended to treat the underlying skin disease or condition. The information is provided solely to:
- Moisturize, soften and smooth dry skin
- Improve the appearance of the skin
- Achieve healthier-looking skin
Sources:
- Lockett, E. What Causes Ashy Skin and How to Treat It. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/ashy-skin.
- Purnamawati, S.; Indrastuti, N.; Danarti, R.; Saefudin, T. The Role of Moisturizers in Addressing Various Kinds of Dermatitis: A Review. Clinical Medicine & Research 2017, 15 (3-4), 75–87. https://doi.org/10.3121/cmr.2017.1363.
- What to do about your dry skin. Mayo Clinic Health System. https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/what-to-do-about-dry-skin.
- National Institute on Aging. Skin Care and Aging. Skin Care and Aging. https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/skin-care/skin-care-and-aging.
- Papakonstantinou, E.; Roth, M.; Karakiulakis, G. Hyaluronic Acid: A Key Molecule in Skin Aging. Dermato-Endocrinology 2012, 4 (3), 253–258. https://doi.org/10.4161/derm.21923.
- Rodrigues, L.; Palma, L.; Tavares Marques, L.; Bujan Varela, J. Dietary Water Affects Human Skin Hydration and Biomechanics. Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology 2015, 8 (8), 413. https://doi.org/10.2147/ccid.s86822.
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