Dry skin can affect any part of the body, as the only significant oil glands we have are on the "T-zone" of the central face, armpits, and groin. Arms and legs are most frequently affected. The most common symptom is itching, which can be mildly annoying to severely intense, often disturbing sleep. The most severe form of dry skin is called Nummular Eczema. It appears as circular pink to red patches of dry, rough, and flaky skin on the arms and legs primarily, or the trunk. The mid-back between the shoulder blades is often affected by both dry skin and Nummular Eczema.

Symptoms of any other skin condition are often worsened by dry skin.

Many people complain of dry skin, chapped lips, and dry, scratchy throats during cold weather. The main cause of these ailments is the lack of moisture present in heated indoor air. Cold outdoor air contains very little moisture. When this air is brought indoors and heated, the relative humidity becomes extremely low as most conventional heaters do not add moisture to the air. The extremely dry air enhances evaporation of moisture from the skin and the throat. If you spend many hours in this dry air, such as when you sleep, you often begin to feel dry, flaky, skin and you also can experience a dry, scratchy throat. A humidifier adds moisture to the air so less moisture evaporates from the skin and throat. As a result, a humidifier makes staying indoors much more comfortable during cold weather.