Scaly Skin May Be Inherited

February 06, 1987|By Allan H. Bruckheim, M.D.

Q --I have extremely dry skin and wonder what causes it. I could use creams and lotions all day but still wind up with itchy, dry, rough, scaly skin. What can I do?

A--You may have ``atopic eczema`` or a condition called ``ichthyosis,``

but in either case this is just an educated guess on my part since skin conditions must certainly be seen to be diagnosed properly.

Eczema is a superficial inflammation that causes itching, with a red rash that may be accompanied by small blisters. Eczema is often treated with local applications of corticosteroids. Ichthyosis is a congenital condition, in which the skin is dry, rough and scaly because of a defect in the way the body processes the protein ``keratin.``

Another frequent cause is excessive exposure to ultraviolet light, leading to thin inelastic, dry, scaling skin. Until you can get an appointment with your doctor or a dermatologist, you may help yourself by using a lubricant over your entire body after bathing, while your skin is still moist. The lubricant helps the hydrated skin retain water, resulting in softer skin. People with dry skin should use superfatted soaps such as Dove and Tone. In cold areas, some dermatologists suggest patients with extremely dry skin limit the use of any soap to only the necessary areas, such as the armpit and groin. A--Unfortunately, with every episode of pelvic inflammatory disease, your risk of ectopic pregnancy or other complications grows. PID may cause scarring and adhesions on fallopian tubes and may disrupt other organs in the pelvic structure. Normally, the fertilized egg becomes implanted in the womb. But it has to get there by traveling down the fallopian tubes. If it hits a scarred area, where the tube is narrowed or sealed by adhesions, it gets stuck and the pregnancy develops outside of the womb, which is what ectopic pregnancy is. A woman who has had one or more incidences of PID may have a 10-times greater chance of ectopic pregnancies.


Q--Are liquid bismuth preparations, such as Pepto-Bismol, effective against traveler`s diarrhea?

A--Yes, not only have liquid bismuth preparations been shown effective in preventing traveler`s diarrhea but the same medication in tablet form is also effective in preventing this common health problem.

According to recent research, one gram of bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol) in two daily doses is the smallest effective dosage. But you can get a higher degree of protection by taking two tablets of 262 mg. of the same medication three times daily with meals. In the study, travelers were given two 525 mg. BSS tablets twice daily while others were given two 262 mg. tablets twice daily. When the high dose regimen was compared with the low dose regimen, the incidence of diarrhea was cut by 4l percent in the high dose group and by 35 percent in the low dose group compared with other travelers given placebo or no medication.

To be most effective, medication should be taken the day before departure and continued until two days after you return. The travelers in the study visited Africa, Asia and South America.
