Dr Julius Parker: Dry skin and persistent coughing

Q. My nine-year-old suffers from dry skin on her arms and legs. Her siblings do not seem to suffer from this condition, and she is constantly looking for a good cream to alleviate the itch and irritation it causes. She no longer wears long-sleeved clothes as a result, and would wear shorts and T-shirts all year round if she could. The skin on her limbs is quite flaky, but not on her face or torso, where it seems quite normal. Her knuckles can also get very dry. Can you recommend a good moisturiser?

A. Dry skin is a common complaint in adults and children. The usual underlying cause is eczema — even if only mild with no typical red patches. Did your daughter have eczema as a baby or is there a close family history of atopy, such as eczema or asthma?

There are other causes, and the distribution of your daughter’s symptoms make me suspect keratosis pilaris.