Why are elderly patients prone to develop xerosis?

Xerosis (dry skin, asteatosis, dermatitis hiemalis) is the most common geriatric dermatosis and the most frequent cause of pruritus. Xerosis is believed to be more common in the elderly because of abnormal maturation and adhesion of keratinocytes, which results in rough skin characterized by fine white scale. Diminished eccrine function and sebaceous gland lipids may also play a role but do not represent the primary defect. Asteatosis, which means “without oil,” is really a misnomer because this is not the primary cause of dry skin.