Medical Term for Extremely Dry Skin
The medical term for extremely dry skin is xerosis (also called xerosis cutis or xeroderma), and when scattered or distributed across the body, it is described as generalized xerosis. 1, 2
Definition and Clinical Presentation
Xerosis is the formal medical terminology for dry skin, characterized by:
- Rough, coarse, or scaly skin texture 1, 2
- Pruritic (itchy) skin that may be severely uncomfortable 3, 4
- Cracked and fissured appearance in more severe cases 4
- Disrupted stratum corneum with impaired barrier function 3
Related Terminology Based on Severity and Pattern
When xerosis becomes more severe or presents with specific patterns, additional descriptive terms may be used:
- Asteatotic eczema (also called eczema craquelé): A more severe form of xerosis with a characteristic "cracked porcelain" appearance 4
- Generalized xerosis: When dry skin is scattered or distributed widely across the body surface 5
- Xeroderma: An alternative term synonymous with xerosis cutis 5
Clinical Context
Xerosis affects more than 10 million individuals and represents one of the most common dermatological diagnoses 5. The condition requires skin water content of 10-15% to remain supple and intact, and when this is disrupted, the characteristic dry, scaly appearance develops 1.
The term "scattered" in your question suggests the dry skin lesions are distributed across multiple body areas rather than localized, which would be appropriately described as generalized xerosis or disseminated xerosis 5.
Associated Conditions
Xerosis commonly occurs as a cardinal symptom in several conditions: