How To Remove Flaky Skin From Face

Ask a Derm: Here's How to Get Rid of Scaly Facial Skin For Adept

Medically reviewed by

Lath-Certified Dermatologist

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Y'all might think that dryness, flakes, and peel peeling are reserved for the frigid, dry temperatures of winter—but that'due south really far from the truth. Unfortunately, dry skin can occur at any time, regardless of the flavour or climate.

There are many factors that can contribute to facial skin dryness, including genetics, the weather condition, environmental factors, dehydration, overwashing, and some dermatological atmospheric condition like eczema, psoriasis, and dermatitis.

But earlier you caput to the store and starting time buying every product bachelor to treat dry out skin, take a breather. NYC Dermatologist Dr. Joshua Zeichner explains that to better your skin's condition, it'south important to identify the crusade commencement (and so tackle with the advisable products and treatments).

Here, we round upwardly the most effective treatments for the near common causes of dead, peeling pare on the face.

01 of 06

Moisturize With Hyaluronic Acid

Neutrogena Hydroboost Water Gel $22.00

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Dry skin that's peeling is frequently genetic, so if your grandma, mom, dad, aunt, uncle, etc. suffer from dry pare besides, chances are you lot can blame them. If you've inherited the "dry skin" gene, you lot aren't alone. In fact, plenty of people aren't able to maintain adequate hydration considering of this. Luckily, Dr. Zeichner says moisturizers can help. He recommends looking for ingredients such every bit hyaluronic acid which, "human activity like a sponge to pull in hydration to the outer skin layers." He particularly recommends Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water-Gel.

Ensuring you are always properly hydrated on the inside is also important to preclude dryness and aridity of the skin. Currently, the CDC currently recommends consuming enough h2o each twenty-four hour period for overall wellness and that intake can vary by, "historic period, sex, pregnancy, and breastfeeding status" while other experts say you should aim to drink about one-half your weight in ounces of water each day.

02 of 06

Wash Your Face Less Ofttimes

Dove Beauty Bar For Sensitive Skin $3.00

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Do you lot know that squeaky clean feeling you get after giving your face up a good thorough cleansing? Well, if yous've been chasing later that feeling while washing your face up each day, you lot'll probably want to stop. Dr. Zeichner says that awareness "is really harmful to the skin and represents postal service-wash dryness." This, he says, can pb to redness, dryness, and flaking of the skin. So if yous recollect you've been over-washing, he recommends sticking to a more gentle cleanser that won't compromise the integrity of the skin barrier⁠—like Dove's Beauty Bar for Sensitive Skin, "which hydrates the pare while cleansing."

03 of 06

Effort Washing Your Face With a Dandruff Shampoo... Seriously

Kamedis Dandruff Therapy Shampoo $12.00

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Contrary to what you might think, slathering on the moisturizer won't help if your flaky peel is a upshot of perioral dermatitis. In fact, it may unfortunately make things worse.

"Moisturizers may really brand this status worse because they can create an oily environment that encourages yeast growth," Zeichner says. Instead, he recommends sticking to products that incorporate an ingredient called zinc pyrithione which is, "an ingredient that lowers levels of yeast and reduces inflammation and flaking." He recommends Kamedis Dandruff Shampoo.

Simply wait, utilise a shampoo... on your face? Yeah.

He says, "Use this shampoo similar a liquid cleanser for your face. Utilize, lather, and rinse off after singing 'Happy Altogether' to requite information technology enough contact time on the skin for it to do its job."

04 of 06

Apply a Petrolatum-Based Foam

Alastin Ultra Nourishing Moisturizer $70.00

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Dr. Rita Linkner of Bound Street Dermatology in NYC says that during this time of year, eczema is one of the nigh common causes of dry facial skin. "With humidity levels dropping with temperatures, skin that runs on the sensitive end of the spectrum is sure to flare up," she says.

If this is happening to you, she recommends irresolute up your skincare routine. "Moving from serums or lotions to creams that are petrolatum-based is the easiest first move. If this alone doesn't aid, then a prescription-strength steroid is best." She swears by Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream for the body and Alastin Ultra Nourishing Moisturizer for the face for both eczema and psoriasis-prone patients.

05 of 06

Await For Products With Anti-Inflammatory Benefits

Aveeno Ultra Calming Nourishing Nighttime Cream $19.00

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Rosacea is a common status where the peel on the face is extra sensitive and overactive to the environs, explains Zeichner. It commonly manifests as cerise or pink skin, redness, flaking, and bumps (or even pus pimples in some cases).

If you find that yous are experiencing redness, sensitivity, and flaking simultaneously, you lot only might be suffering from Rosacea. In this scenario, he suggests opting to use moisturizers that contain soothing and anti-inflammatory ingredients—such every bit Aveeno'due south Ultra Calming Nourishing Night Foam—which contains calming feverfew (a flowering plant that is like to the daisy) and skin-protecting and soothing colloidal oatmeal.

Other dermatologists call out CeraVe, Elta MD, and Naturopathica as their favorite brands for Rosacea skin. See the full listing here.

06 of 06

Be Consistent With Your Skincare Routine

If yous're experiencing flakiness and you lot've recently inverse up your skincare routine, it's possible you might be suffering from contact dermatitis, which Zeichner explains is a pare rash and/or peeling of the skin "caused by direct contact of a production to the skin leading to either irritation or a true allergy." Often, the most mutual culprits include ingredients like retinoids and hydroxy acids which tin exist irritating to sensitive skin, while "preservatives and fragrances" may as well lead to allergies and irritation.

If you lot have just introduced new products and are now struggling with flaking or peeling skin, Zeichner advises, "Cease using anything new, and if the rash does non better visit your dermatologist for allergy testing."

Byrdie takes every opportunity to apply loftier-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts inside our articles. Read our editorial guidelines to learn more nigh how nosotros go along our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.

Maul J-T, Maul LV, Kägi M, et al. Skin recovery after discontinuation of long-term moisturizer application: a split-face comparison pilot study.Dermatol Ther (Heidelb). 2022;10(6):1371-1382.
Zhong W-L, Wu X, Yu B, et al. Filaggrin gene mutation c. 3321dela is associated with dry phenotypes of atopic dermatitis in the chinese han population.Mentum Med J (Engl). 2022;129(12):1498-1500.
Tolaymat Fifty, Hall MR. Perioral dermatitis. In:StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2022.