xer-, xero-, xir-

Any treatment that treats the problem of excessively dry skin.

Dry skin, also called xerosis, is a common problem. The skin needs moisture to stay smooth and supple, and to retain moisture is especially difficult in winter. Central heating of home and other buildings is very drying to the skin.

Simple daily routines, such as bathing and towel drying, may actually remove moisture from the skin. Modifying the bathing routine will help preserve the skin's moisture. Bathing provides the skin with moisturize temporarily, but it removes the skin's oily lipid layer and in the long run causes more moisture loss than gain.

The use of special skin lotions is considered an antixerosis treatment.

1. Preventing dryness of the skin.
2. A medicine that relieves or prevents dry skin.

A following of one thing or person after another in time: Jane was new in the huge family of eleven people, so she wrote down the names in chronological succession starting with the oldest of the children to the youngest.

1. The elixir of life (alchemy), a substance which when drunk was supposed to bring immortality or at least prolong one's life.
2. A substance or medicine believed to have the power to cure all ailments.
3. In pharmacy, a sweetened, aromatic solution of alcohol and water containing, or used as a vehicle for, medicinal substances.
3. An alchemic preparation formerly believed to be capable of transmuting base metals into gold.
4. The quintessence or absolute embodiment of anything.
5. A panacea; cure-all; sovereign remedy.
6. From Arabic al-iksir, probably from late Greek xerion, "powder for drying wounds", from Greek xeros, "dry."

A desert organism that thrives best in both strong sunlight and dry conditions: Cacti are helioxerophiles and have adapted to the dry environment of the deserts by storing large amounts of water.

A reference to desert creatures and plants that thrive well in both strong sunlight and drought situations: Some helioxerophilous animals that live in desert climates include the scorpion, the yucca moth, the sidewinder, the roadrunner, and the dromedary camel.

The preference of desert organisms that thrive best in both strong sunlight and dry conditions: The property of helioxerophily can be exemplified in the soap aloe, coral aloe, and the jewel aloe that all survive drought circumstances,.

Any condition of the larynx characterized by diminished secretions resulting in a dryness of the larynx or throat.

Dryness of the pharynx or throat, as in atrophic pharyngitis.

Chronic pharyngitis marked by atrophy (decrease in size) of the mucous glands and abnormal secretion which results in a dry, glazed appearance.

Drying up; desiccation.

1. Becoming parched or dried up; withering (drying up or shriveling from loss of moisture).
2. Having desiccative (dried out thoroughly) properties; drying.

Referring to the origin of something in a dry habitat: An xerarch organism can thrive in a rocky shore, cliff, or desert.

Xerarch development can take place in dry places, such as plant succession, or the development of a plant community from its initial stage to its final stage.

A disease of the hair in which there is abnormal dryness and brittleness, and eventually hair loss.

1. A reference to a habitat which has a low or inadequate supply of moisture or dry conditions: Xeric is a generalized term for either flora (plants) or fauna 2. Relating to or adapted to an extremely dry living condition: Succulents or plants that are adapted to arid or dry conditions and characterized by fleshy water-storing tissues that act as water reservoirs; such as, cacti, aloes (plants with thick pointed leaves), and agaves (desert plants) are xeric plants.

1. The growing of plants with a minimal use of water.
2. Gardens, landscapes, etc. that require a small amount of water.