The Anonymous Widower

Are There People, Who Have Very Leaky Skin And Consequently Lose A lot Of Fluids And Have To Drink A Lot. Do Some Become Alcoholics?

I’m actually asking this question for my paternal grandfather, who died on the 25 Jun 1929.

• I obviously never met him.
• My father told me he was a chronic alcoholic.
• My father was upset about his father’s drinking and did his utmost to ensure I didn’t follow his father’s example.
• At no time in my life, have I been drunk day after day, like my paternal grandfather.
• My father set me an excellent example on drinking  and I tried to follow his lead.

The question in the title of this post, is based on a composite person of myself and my paternal grandfather.

• In My Strange Skin, I describe the unusual properties of my skin, which often causes medical staff to have a good laugh.
• My previous excellent GP would always take my blood and, never needed a plaster and always had a big smile on his face afterwards.
• I am coeliac and I am fairly certain my father was, but was my paternal grandfather?

I asked Google AI the question in the  title of this post and received this AI Overview.

While people generally lose some fluid through normal sweating, there are specific medical conditions that cause excessive fluid loss through the skin, primarily genetic disorders affecting the skin’s barrier function.

One prominent example is Netherton Syndrome, a rare genetic condition that results in a defective skin barrier . People with this condition experience:

• Excessive Trans-Epidermal Water Loss (TEWL): Their skin loses moisture much faster than a healthy person’s skin.
• Dehydration Risk: This requires them to constantly monitor hydration levels and drink plenty of fluids to compensate for the continuous loss.
• Another condition is epidermolysis bullosa (EB), a group of genetic diseases that make the skin very fragile and blister easily. The open wounds and blisters also lead to significant fluid loss, increasing the risk of dehydration and infection.

Note that my skin doesn’t have open wounds and blisters and generally heals well and quickly if I cut myself. My late wife would compliment me on my skin and say it was very much like that of our son, who died of pancreatic cancer.

The second part of the question—whether these individuals become alcoholics as a consequence of their condition—is more complex. There is no evidence in medical literature or research to suggest a direct causal link between having a “leaky skin” condition (which necessitates high fluid intake) and the development of alcoholism.

• Fluid management vs. alcohol consumption: Individuals with these conditions need to consume water, milk, or specific electrolyte-balancing fluids.Alcohol has a diuretic effect, meaning it would actually worsen dehydration and be counterproductive to their necessary fluid management.
• Risk factors for alcoholism: Alcoholism is a complex condition influenced by a combination of genetic, psychological, social, and environmental factors, not by the physiological need to consume large volumes of non-alcoholic fluids.

In summary, certain conditions do cause significant fluid loss through the skin requiring high fluid intake, but this physiological need is managed with appropriate hydration (water, electrolytes), and does not lead to alcoholism.

I will now use, what intelligence I have and my observations of my own body to build on these results.

I Have Very Dry Eyes

I had my first eye test in a shed in a friend’s back garden. But the guy who did it, had been the Senior Eye Surgeon in Ipswich Hospital, so he had practiced at a high level and had a lot of experience.

• During the tests, he remarked to me, that I had the driest eyes he’d ever encountered.
• Afterwards, I got bought the glasses from Boots in Ipswich.
• They were fine and served me well for a number of years.
• A few years later, I was involved in a research project at Moorfields Eye Hospital, where members of the public gave their opinion on new eye testing machines that the NHS might use.
• Moorfields said my eyes were indeed very dry.
• The last professional to comment on my eyes was an opthalmist in Vision Express, who suggested that I bathe my eyes in clean, hot water every morning.
• A couple of days later I saw my GP on another matter and he gave the same advice.

My eyes have been a lot more comfortable since.I also have not had to go to a hospital to have a wayward fly taken out of my eyes, which must have happened perhaps four or five times before.

Are Very Dry Eyes A Sign Of Netherton Syndrome?

I asked Google AI, this question and received this answer.

Yes, very dry eyes can be an associated sign or complication of Netherton Syndrome (NS) and other forms of ichthyosis. The underlying skin barrier defect in NS can lead to various eye problems.

• Ectropion: In some cases, the chronic skin inflammation and tightness can cause ectropion, where the eyelids evert (turn outwards) and do not close properly. This prevents the eyelids from adequately covering and protecting the eyeballs, leading to severe exposure and dryness.
• Ichthyosis and Meibomian Gland Dysfunction: Netherton syndrome is a type of ichthyosis, which is characterized by dry, scaly skin. Patients with ichthyosis often have meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD), where the glands that produce the oily layer of the tear film don’t function correctly. This results in the tear film evaporating too quickly, causing evaporative dry eye.
• Corneal Complications: Chronic dry eye can lead to more severe issues like keratitis (inflammation of the cornea) or punctate epithelial erosions, which are painful and can affect eyesight.

It looks like Google AI is thinking in the right direction.

Are Very Dry Eyes A Sign Of Excessive Trans-Epidermal Water Loss?

I asked Google AI, this question and received this answer.

Yes, very dry eyes are associated with increased trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) from the ocular surface. Studies have shown that individuals with dry eye disease (DED) have significantly higher ocular TEWL values compared to healthy individuals.

• Tear Evaporation: TEWL from the ocular area is used as a measure of tear evaporation. Excessive tear evaporation is one of the two main causes of DED and leads to a condition called evaporative dry eye (EDE).
• Compromised Barrier: The tear film has a protective lipid (oil) layer that acts as a barrier to prevent excessive evaporation of the aqueous (water) layer of the tear film. A compromised or deficient lipid layer, often caused by meibomian gland dysfunction, results in increased tear evaporation/TEWL.
• Aqueous-Deficient Dry Eye: Even in cases of aqueous-deficient dry eye (ADDE), where the primary problem is low tear production, patients can still experience increased tear evaporation and higher TEWL, indicating a complex overlap between the two main types of DED.
• Ocular Surface Inflammation: Excessive tear evaporation leads to tear hyperosmolarity (increased salt concentration), which is a key factor in causing inflammation and damage to the ocular surface, contributing to the symptoms of very dry eyes.

Are Very Dry Eyes A Sign Of Epidermolysis Bullosa

I didn’t ask Google AI, as it was obvious, when I looked at the pictures on the Internet, that I hadn’t got epidermolysis bullosa.

A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words

Looking at the pictures of the various causes of dry eye, I came to the conclusion meibomian gland dysfunction could be the cause of my very dry eyes.

Can Meibomian Gland Dysfunction Cause Very Dry Eyes?

I asked Google AI, this question and received this answer.

1. Tear Film Breakdown: When glands are blocked (MGD), they produce poor quality or insufficient oil, causing the tear film to break down rapidly.
2. Evaporation: Without enough oil, tears evaporate too fast, leaving the eye’s surface exposed, dry, and irritated. 

• Gritty, itchy, or burning sensation
• Redness and inflammation
• Watery eyes (paradoxically, due to instability)
• Sticky eyelids or discharge, especially in the morning
• Blurred vision, particularly at the end of the day 

January 8, 2026 - Posted by AnonW | Artificial Intelligence, Health | Alcoholism, Epidermolysis Bullosa, Google AI, Meibomian Gland Dysfunction, My Late Wife, My Skin, Netherton Syndrome, Trans-Epidermal Water Loss