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

When the weather turns cold, it'due south not uncommon to experience dry out, flaky skin on your face and neck. These dry out patches can be uncomfortable — and sometimes unsightly. While a good moisturizer can aid address flaky skin, a combination of prevention and handling is the best approach.

Hither's what you can try at abode and when to contact your doctor or dermatologist.

What Causes Dry Peel on the Face?

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

Most cases of dry, flaky skin on your face are mild and will articulate up with time. All the same, dry patches tin sometimes indicate something more serious.

Contact your dermatologist if dryness doesn't become away or is severely itchy. Seeing a doctor is specially of import if you don't know what'southward causing the dryness.

Common conditions that can trigger dry skin include:

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

If your doctor rules these problems out, and so a lack of wet in your peel may exist the cause of the dry out pare on your face. Luckily, there are plenty of things yous can effort at home to get softer, smoother pare.

What Is Dry, Flaky Skin a Symptom of?

Dry peel can flare upwardly in winter, particularly if y'all spend a lot of fourth dimension outdoors. But sometimes dry out skin can be a symptom or side issue of something else. Dry skin can be caused by:

  • Aging.Afterward historic period 40, your skin produces less oil and becomes drier.
  • Certain medications. Dry pare can be a side upshot of some prescription medicines, such equally statins and diuretics.
  • Certain peel conditions. Psoriasis, dermatitis, and eczema tin make your skin prone to dryness.
  • Dehydration. Not drinking enough water may lead to dry, itchy skin.
  • Diabetes. High claret saccharide can contribute to dry skin.
  • Kidney disease, especially if you're on dialysis. Dialysis removes water from your body, which in turn dries out the peel.
  • Menopause. With the hormonal changes of menopause, women'south peel tends to become — and stay — drier.
  • Thyroid disease. Dry skin is a mutual symptom of hypothyroidism.
  • Vitamin or mineral deficiency. Lack of vitamin D, vitamin A, niacin, zinc, or iron can contribute to dry skin.

4 Tips to Cure Dry Peel on Face

To soothe dry patches on your face and body, these four tips can help.

Avoid hot showers

Water tin strip your skin of its oils, leading to dryness. Limit baths or showers to five to 10 minutes, and use warm water, not hot. Choose mild soaps, and don't over-lather.

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

Moisturize oft

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

Look for products that contain soothing ingredients such as:

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

Apply moisturizer immediately after bathing and each time you wash your face, following the instructions provided.

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

Check your skin products

You may get 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 skin, choose those that are labeled hypoallergenic and fragrance-free. Products that contain retinoids or booze are especially drying, so avoid them in the wintertime.

Invest in a humidifier

Dry indoor air tin can contribute to facial dryness, particularly in the winter. Use a humidifier in your dwelling to add moisture and forestall dry, flaky skin.

Dwelling house Remedies for Dry out, Flaky Skin on the Face

In that location are many products you can purchase on the market to treat dry facial skin. But there also are also a few natural remedies yous can endeavor with items you probably already take at home — and for much less. Here are a few options:

  • Olive oil— Olive oil is a neat 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 excess oil afterward. Another pick is to combine 1/4 cup saccharide with 1 tablespoon olive oil to brand a scrub. Gently rub the scrub onto your skin, then wash it off. Add a moisturizer to lock information technology in the freshness of newly exfoliated pare.
  • Oatmeal— Oatmeal tin can be used to make a corking exfoliating mask. Mix 2 tablespoons of oats with 1 tablespoon of dearest and a dash of warm water. Mix it up and rub it onto your pare. Launder it off right away or go out it on for 15 minutes for a soothing, hydrating mask.
  • Milk— Milk has natural anti-inflammatory and anti-itch properties, as well as lactic acid — a balmy natural exfoliant. Soak a clean washcloth in a basin of absurd milk and hold it in place over dry areas for five to ten minutes. Lactic acid can sting extremely dry skin, then use carefully with cracked skin.

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

Editor's Annotation: This video was originally published on , and was terminal reviewed on .