If you’ve developed dry skin on your legs seemingly out of nowhere, you’re probably wondering what’s caused this issue to develop in the first place. Dry skin on the legs can develop as a result of many different factors -- some of which you’ve never even thought about before.

It’s important to determine a cause before you move on to treatment, so here are some of the common causes of dry skin on legs for you to consider:

• Climate: If you live in a dry climate -- warm or cold -- this could actually be causing the dry skin on your legs. Dry air sucks all of the moisture out of your skin, leaving you with dryness, redness, and itchiness. This is especially true if there’s also wind involved. If you live in a cold climate, be sure to protect your legs from the elements by wearing long, insulated pants. If you live in a warm climate, be sure to protect your legs from the sun by always applying SPF before you go outside.

• Cosmetic products: The products you use on a daily basis like shampoos, conditioners, body washes, etc. could also be causing the dry skin on your legs. Whether you apply these products directly to your legs or not, the remnants can easily end up on your legs and cause irritation due to harsh ingredients. For example, ingredients like silicones, parabens, alcohols, and fragrances can be irritating and drying for the skin.

• Age: Getting old is an inevitable fact of life, and it could be causing the dry skin on your legs. As we age, our skin cells produce less oils -- and while this is a good thing in terms of avoiding blemishes and breakouts, it can leave us with dry skin as a result.

Additionally, a skin condition could be causing the dry skin on your legs. If you believe that you are dealing with any of these conditions based on the symptoms discussed below, schedule an appointment with a dermatologist to get the proper diagnosis and treatment.

• Eczema: This is a skin condition that commonly affects the legs and can contribute to patches of redness, dryness, itchiness, and rashes on the skin. Eczema commonly affects children and is linked to genetics and the immune system.

• Psoriasis: This is an autoimmune disorder that also affects the skin as it causes the body to overproduce skin cells. This overproduction leads to the buildup of itchy, scaly patches of skin that commonly occur on places like the knees.

• Allergic contact dermatitis: This is an allergic reaction triggered by an irritating substance. While reactions may vary, some people will develop dry, cracked, and red skin in the contact area. Some potential triggers for allergic contact dermatitis on the legs include pets, environmental factors, and cosmetic products.

Finally, the dry skin on your legs could also be caused by an actual medical condition affecting your skin and leg areas. Here are some of the different possibilities to consider:

• Diabetes: This is a medical condition in which your body is not able to properly manage your blood sugar, causing it to be too high. As a result, you could suffer from poor circulation issues that can contribute to dry skin on the legs.

• Thyroid issues: This is a medical condition in which your body doesn’t produce enough hormones to properly manage your bodily functions. As a result, you may not be able to produce enough sweat to keep your skin hydrated -- leaving you with dry skin on areas like the legs.

• Sjogren syndrome: This is a medical condition in which the body mistakenly attacks itself, particularly the glands that make tears, oil, and sweat. As a result of this autoimmune disease, you may not be producing enough oil and sweat to keep the skin on your legs properly moisturized.