Why do dandruff fall off when you take off your pants in winter? What causes ichthyosis?

Ichthyosis, also known as xeroderma. The condition worsens in the fall and winter, while symptoms improve in the summer. In winter, due to dry air, low humidity, cold weather, rough clothing, and less sweating, ichthyosis worsens and dandruff falls off more frequently, which is why a layer of dandruff falls off when you take off your long johns.

Why does dandruff fall off when you take off your pants in winter?

Did you wear long johns today? If you wear dark-colored long johns, be sure to check if there is any dandruff on them when you take them off at night. Many people say that when they take off their long underwear at night, they always shake off a layer of dandruff. Sometimes it is quite embarrassing, and they are ashamed to tell others, for fear that others will misunderstand that they are sick or do not pay attention to hygiene.

In fact, what everyone said was right. If this phenomenon occurs frequently, it is indeed a disease - ichthyosis.

People with ichthyosis are prone to small rice bran-like dandruff on the skin surface, the skin is relatively dry with fine lines, and light brown diamond-shaped or polygonal fish-scale-like skin appears. The skin is fixed in the middle and has white lines around it. It is also easy to appear on the calves and buttocks.

Ichthyosis, also known as xeroderma. The condition worsens in the fall and winter, while symptoms improve in the summer. In winter, due to dry air, low humidity, cold weather, rough clothing, and less sweating, ichthyosis worsens and dandruff falls off more frequently, which is why a layer of dandruff falls off when you take off your long johns.

On the contrary, in summer, when the air humidity is high, the human body sweats a lot, and the sebum secretion is vigorous, ichthyosis will be alleviated.

Causes of ichthyosis

At present, ichthyosis is considered to be a hereditary skin disease. Among them, the more common ichthyosis vulgaris has an incidence rate of 5%-10% in my country.

There are two main modes of inheritance:

1. If one of the parents suffers from ichthyosis, then every generation may be affected by the disease, with an incidence rate of about 50%, regardless of gender.

2. Affected by gender, the disease mainly occurs in males, but it is not passed on to sons, only to daughters. Women only carry the gene that causes the disease, so the possibility of developing the disease is very low. However, different types of ichthyosis have different genes and different manifestations.

Ichthyosis also presents with the following symptoms.

1. Dandruff will appear on the outer sides of the limbs in addition to the calves and buttocks. In severe cases, it may also cause skin itching.

2. Follicular keratinization occurs, which is generally manifested as rough skin on the thin upper arms and outer thighs, with each pore having a bulge and the hair unable to grow out completely.

3. The lines on the hands and feet are numerous, messy, and deep, and the skin on the palms and soles is rough, and even prone to cracking and bleeding in winter.

What to do if you have ichthyosis

Eat more foods rich in vitamin A (you can also take vitamin A capsules instead), such as: egg yolks, milk, cream, cod liver oil, animal offal, carrots, pumpkins, leeks and other colored vegetables and fruits. Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin, so please take it with fatty foods. Winter is the period when ichthyosis becomes more severe. If you don’t take a bath, your skin will become drier and the flaking will become more serious. Do not use water that is too hot. It is best to use water that is close to skin temperature, around 41°, because water that is too hot will irritate the skin.

No alkaline soaps or shower gels

You can use a delicate scrub or exfoliating cream (once a week). Alkaline soap or shower gel will aggravate skin damage and is not helpful for patients with ichthyosis. Apply ointment or body lotion (preferably containing vitamin A) immediately after taking a shower to keep the skin moisturized. Exercise more and drink more water to increase your metabolism. Keep a good attitude, be in a good mood, and don't let ichthyosis affect your mood.