• Dry skin has several causes.skin image by Robert Kelly from Fotolia.com
  
  Dry skin is a problem that many suffer from. It is annoying and often causes itchiness or redness as a result of the dryness. Regardless of the reason for the dry skin, proper skin care and a healthy diet can alleviate much of the dryness. The causes of dry skin on the body and scalp are widely varied, from use of an inappropriate soap or shampoo to too much time out in the sun.
  
  

Wrong Shampoo or Soap

• One of the main reasons for dry skin or scalp is an inappropriate shampoo or soap for the skin or hair type. While there are basic ideas of which products are best, such as soaps designed for oily skin types or dry skin types, finding the one that is ideal for your individual skin can take some trial and error. Once you find the correct shampoo or soap, your dry skin and scalp problems are usually eliminated.
  
  

Too Much Sun

• Sunlight is good for the skin as long as it is in moderation. Sunburn is obviously a sign of too much sunlight at one time, but dry skin is sometimes a sign of too much sunlight over a period of time. It might not always result in sunburn.
  
  

Too Little Water

• Dehydration is a common cause of skin and scalp dryness. Your body holds onto any water available in the body, and the result is drying skin. Staying hydrated not only will help maintain proper balance in your skin but also will result in healthier skin, hair and appearance.
  
  

Hard Water

• Washing water is as important as drinking water. When a home, city or other location has hard water, it can harm and dry out the skin. Using a water softener or filtering the water before using it for washing your body or hair can help minimize any damage caused by hard water.
  
  

Hot Water

• Using hot water not only dries out your hair, it also dries out your skin. Using lukewarm or cool water that is comfortable to your skin is ideal for good skin and scalp care. Avoid using hot water as much as possible to prevent damage to your skin and especially your scalp, which is sensitive.