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's non uncommon to experience dry, flaky pare on your face and neck. These dry out patches tin be uncomfortable — and sometimes unsightly. While a proficient moisturizer tin aid address flaky pare, a combination of prevention and handling is the all-time approach.

Hither'due south what you lot can try at home and when to contact your doctor or dermatologist.

What Causes Dry out Skin on the Face?

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

Virtually cases of dry out, flaky skin on your face up are balmy and will clear up with time. Withal, dry patches tin can sometimes signal something more serious.

Contact your dermatologist if dryness doesn't go abroad or is severely itchy. Seeing a doc is specially important if you lot don't know what's causing the dryness.

Common conditions that tin trigger dry skin include:

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

If your physician rules these issues out, and so a lack of moisture in your skin may be the cause of the dry skin on your face up. Luckily, there are plenty of things yous tin can try at dwelling house to get softer, smoother skin.

What Is Dry, Flaky Peel a Symptom of?

Dry peel can flare upwards in wintertime, especially if you spend a lot of time outdoors. Merely sometimes dry peel tin can exist a symptom or side result of something else. Dry pare can be caused by:

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

four Tips to Cure Dry Skin on Face

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

Avoid hot showers

Water can strip your skin of its oils, leading to dryness. Limit baths or showers to 5 to 10 minutes, and use warm h2o, non hot. Choose mild soaps, and don't over-lather.

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

Moisturize frequently

According to the American University of Dermatology, it'southward amend to apply moisturizers in foam or ointment form. Those are more effective than lotions at trapping wet in the skin. For many, petroleum jelly is a prophylactic and cost-constructive way to moisturize the skin without clogging pores.

Look for products that contain soothing ingredients such equally:

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

Apply moisturizer immediately later bathing and each time you wash your face up, post-obit 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 confront because you're sensitive or allergic to fragrances, dyes, or a chemic in the production. Stop using those products to meet if that makes a difference.

When you're shopping for cosmetics or peel products for dry out peel, choose those that are labeled hypoallergenic and fragrance-free. Products that contain retinoids or booze are especially drying, so avert them in the wintertime.

Invest in a humidifier

Dry indoor air can contribute to facial dryness, especially in the winter. Utilize a humidifier in your abode to add moisture and prevent dry, flaky skin.

Dwelling house Remedies for Dry, Flaky Skin on the Face

In that location are many products you tin buy on the marketplace to treat dry facial skin. Simply there also are also a few natural remedies yous can try with items you probably already have at home — and for much less. Hither are a few options:

  • Olive oil— Olive oil is a corking natural cleanser and moisturizer. Rub a niggling oil on your face up, then pall a warm, damp washcloth over your face until it cools. Wipe away excess oil subsequently. Some other option is to combine 1/four loving cup sugar with ane tablespoon olive oil to make a scrub. Gently rub the scrub onto your skin, so launder it off. Add a moisturizer to lock information technology in the freshness of newly exfoliated peel.
  • Oatmeal— Oatmeal can be used to make a great exfoliating mask. Mix two tablespoons of oats with 1 tablespoon of honey and a dash of warm water. Mix information technology upward and rub it onto your peel. Wash it off correct abroad or leave it on for 15 minutes for a soothing, hydrating mask.
  • Milk— Milk has natural anti-inflammatory and anti-itch properties, too every bit lactic acid — a mild natural exfoliant. Soak a clean washcloth in a basin of absurd milk and hold it in identify over dry areas for five to 10 minutes. Lactic acid can sting extremely dry out skin, so use advisedly with cracked skin.

Dry skin can exist irritating, but it doesn't take to interfere with your life. For more advice on healing dry out skin, contact your doctor or brand an appointment with the UPMC Department of Dermatology.

Editor's Note: This video was originally published on .