Dealing with dry, flaky skin on your face? Find tips on how you can keep your skin clear and moisturized.

When the atmospheric condition turns common cold, information technology's not uncommon to feel dry, flaky pare on your face and neck. These dry patches tin be uncomfortable — and sometimes cruddy. While a good moisturizer tin help address flaky skin, a combination of prevention and handling is the all-time approach.

Here'south what you can try at home and when to contact your physician or dermatologist.

What Causes Dry Skin on the Face?

Dry out facial skin may result from many factors. These include exposure to changing temperature or humidity levels, using harsh soaps, and skin conditions such equally eczema.

Most cases of dry, flaky skin on your confront are mild and will clear upwards with time. Yet, dry patches can sometimes indicate something more serious.

Contact your dermatologist if dryness doesn't go away or is severely itchy. Seeing a physician is particularly important if you don't know what'due south causing the dryness.

Mutual weather that can trigger dry skin include:

  • Psoriasis
  • Eczema
  • Dandruff
  • Hypothyroidism
  • Diabetes
  • Poor nutrition

If your doctor rules these issues out, so a lack of moisture in your skin may be the cause of the dry skin on your face. Luckily, there are enough of things you lot can try at home to become softer, smoother skin.

What Is Dry, Flaky Peel a Symptom of?

Dry skin can flare up in winter, especially if you lot spend a lot of time outdoors. But sometimes dry skin can be a symptom or side effect of something else. Dry skin tin be caused by:

  • Aging.After age 40, your skin produces less oil and becomes drier.
  • Certain medications. Dry out skin can be a side outcome of some prescription medicines, such as statins and diuretics.
  • Certain skin weather condition. Psoriasis, dermatitis, and eczema can brand your skin prone to dryness.
  • Dehydration. Non drinking enough water may lead to dry, itchy skin.
  • Diabetes. High blood sugar tin contribute to dry peel.
  • Kidney disease, especially if you're on dialysis. Dialysis removes water from your body, which in turn dries out the skin.
  • Menopause. With the hormonal changes of menopause, women'due south skin tends to become — and stay — drier.
  • Thyroid affliction. Dry skin is a common symptom of hypothyroidism.
  • Vitamin or mineral deficiency. Lack of vitamin D, vitamin A, niacin, zinc, or atomic number 26 can contribute to dry skin.

4 Tips to Cure Dry Peel on Face up

To soothe dry out patches on your confront and trunk, these four tips can help.

Avert hot showers

H2o can strip your skin of its oils, leading to dryness. Limit baths or showers to 5 to 10 minutes, and utilise warm h2o, not hot. Choose mild soaps, and don't over-soap.

When it's time to dry off, absorb your skin with a towel rather than rubbing information technology.

Moisturize often

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, information technology's better to use moisturizers in cream or ointment form. Those are more than effective than lotions at trapping moisture in the skin. For many, petroleum jelly is a safe and cost-effective way to moisturize the skin without clogging pores.

Look for products that comprise soothing ingredients such as:

  • Jojoba oil
  • Shea butter
  • Acerb acid
  • Urea
  • Hyaluronic acid
  • Dimethicone
  • Glycerin
  • Lanolin
  • Mineral oil
  • Petroleum jelly

Apply moisturizer immediately after bathing and each time yous wash your face up, post-obit the instructions provided.

And don't forget to moisturize internally past drinking lots of water.

Check your pare products

You may go dry patches on your face considering you're sensitive or allergic to fragrances, dyes, or a chemical in the production. Stop using those products to meet if that makes a difference.

When you're shopping for cosmetics or skin products for dry out pare, choose those that are labeled hypoallergenic and fragrance-gratuitous. Products that comprise retinoids or alcohol are peculiarly drying, so avoid them in the wintertime.

Invest in a humidifier

Dry indoor air can contribute to facial dryness, particularly in the wintertime. Use a humidifier in your home to add moisture and foreclose dry, flaky skin.

Home Remedies for Dry, Flaky Pare on the Confront

There are many products you can buy on the market to treat dry facial skin. But there also are also a few natural remedies y'all can try with items you probably already have at home — and for much less. Here are a few options:

  • Olive oil— Olive oil is a great natural cleanser and moisturizer. Rub a little oil on your face, then drapery a warm, damp washcloth over your face until it cools. Wipe away backlog oil afterward. Some other option is to combine one/4 cup sugar with i tablespoon olive oil to brand a scrub. Gently rub the scrub onto your skin, then launder it off. Add a moisturizer to lock it in the freshness of newly exfoliated skin.
  • Oatmeal— Oatmeal can be used to make a great exfoliating mask. Mix 2 tablespoons of oats with 1 tablespoon of honey and a nuance of warm water. Mix it upward and rub it onto your peel. Launder information technology off correct away or leave it on for 15 minutes for a soothing, hydrating mask.
  • Milk— Milk has natural anti-inflammatory and anti-crawling properties, every bit well every bit lactic acid — a mild natural exfoliant. Soak a clean washcloth in a basin of cool milk and hold it in place over dry areas for five to ten minutes. Lactic acrid can sting extremely dry pare, and so use carefully with cracked peel.

Dry skin can be irritating, just it doesn't have to interfere with your life. For more communication on healing dry out skin, contact your md or make an appointment with the UPMC Section of Dermatology.

Editor'southward Notation: This video was originally published on .