having suffered from extremely dry flaky skin for about two years now & having diabetes then diagnosed hypothyroid with all the thyroid symptoms rearing there ugly head--after much research the diabetic / hypothyroid endo link--gives the skin all sorts of problems, i would have your thyroid checked out for sure by a good endo, who is into natural desiccated hormone, T3 & iodine deficiency with nutritional supplements as a complete treatment plan, further -everything we can see on the outside of our bodies--just reflects the difficulties going on inside