If it’s the latter, you’re not alone. “Dry elbows are a common complaint,” assures board-certified dermatologist Raechele Cochran Gathers, M.D. Here, what you need to know and how to fix it. “There are also other skin conditions, like eczema and psoriasis, that can cause dry, scaling elbows,” says Cochran Gathers. “Health conditions like diabetes and thyroid disease can also lead to dry skin, which might be more noticeable on the elbows.” “The elbow skin undergoes constant friction from movement, clothing, and even just resting our elbows on desks and tables,” says Cochran Gathers. “These external factors, along with culprits like cold weather, exposure to hot water, and chlorine from swimming pools all contribute to dry, flaky elbow skin.” Simply put: The skin on the elbow puts up with more than other areas of the body.
