Flaky skin on your face: causes and treatment

Why is your face flaky?

Dry skin develops when skin loses too much water and oil. Cold weather, dry indoor air, long baths, frequent washing and harsh soaps can contribute. Aging also leaves skin thinner and producing less natural oil. Dryness can come with itching, redness and fine cracks, not just loose flakes.3

Retinol and astringent toners can dry facial skin, and makeup or shampoo can contribute too. Medicines, including statins and diuretics, and conditions such as thyroid disease or diabetes are other possible causes. Treatment depends on the cause and severity, so moisturizer is a starting point for dryness, not a replacement for treating an underlying condition.2

How do you treat flaky skin?

1. 1Wash gently with lukewarm water and a gentle cleanser. Use enough cleanser to remove dirt and oil, without building a thick lather. Keep showers and baths to five to ten minutes.
2. 2Pat your face dry with a clean towel instead of rubbing. Leave the skin slightly damp before applying moisturizer.
3. 3Apply a fragrance free cream or ointment immediately after washing. Reapply several times during the day whenever your face feels dry.
4. 4Finish daytime skincare with broad spectrum, water resistant sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher. Seek shade and use protective clothing as well.

An emollient is a moisturizing treatment that forms a protective film to trap moisture. Some emollients can replace soap: mix a small amount with warm water, spread it over skin, rinse and pat dry.4

What can you use for flaky skin?

Look for a facial moisturizer containing ceramides, hyaluronic acid or squalane. Ceramides are fatty molecules that strengthen the skin's protective barrier; hyaluronic acid helps replenish moisture, and squalane helps boost moisture and soothe inflammation.2

Choose products labeled "fragrance free," rather than "unscented." Unscented products can contain chemicals that hide other ingredients' odors and irritate dry skin. Other useful moisturizer ingredients include glycerin, dimethicone, petrolatum, mineral oil and shea butter. Ask a dermatologist before adding an itch relief cream, because some can worsen irritation.1

What can you use for very dry, flaky skin on your face?

For a severely dry spot, gently dab on a petroleum jelly based product before bed. A thin layer over the whole face is sometimes called slugging. Limit or stop that approach if pimples develop. Moisturizing can replenish moisture quickly, but persistent facial dryness needs its cause checked rather than repeated layers of the same product.2

For ongoing emollient treatment, apply at least three or four times daily, smoothing gently in the direction hair grows. A cream during the day and an ointment at night can work together. Use a clean spoon or spatula for tubs. Keep emollients and fabrics containing their residue away from flames and cigarettes, because contaminated clothing and bedding can catch fire easily.4

Should you exfoliate the flakes?

Do not make scrubbing your first response to dry facial flakes. Exfoliation can remove more skin than intended, leaving newly damaged skin that needs to heal. Repeated exfoliation can keep that irritation cycle going. Use a soft touch when washing and moisturizing instead.2

Urea and lactic acid moisturizers are options for dry skin. For diagnosed ichthyosis, a condition that causes excessive dry scales, creams containing urea, lactic acid, glycolic acid or salicylic acid can help reduce scale and moisturize. These treatments can irritate active eczema, so a scaly condition needs a treatment plan rather than an automatic acid purchase.35

What should you change in your existing routine?

Cold outdoor air and heated indoor air can disrupt the skin barrier. A light facial lotion may be insufficient in colder, drier weather; a cream or balm can be a better fit. Reduce the frequency or strength of drying cosmetic products such as retinol, glycolic acid and salicylic acid. If a prescription retinoid is causing dryness, discuss adjusting treatment with your prescriber.6

Hyaluronic acid moisturizes rather than exfoliates, unlike glycolic or salicylic acid. Sunscreen still belongs in a winter routine: choose a moisturizing sunscreen cream, or apply moisturizer before sunscreen. Keep protecting exposed facial skin even when the weather is cold.6

A humidifier adds moisture to dry indoor air, giving the heating system a less one sided role in your skincare routine. A portable unit can run in your bedroom while you sleep. Clean it regularly to prevent mold.1

What is the medical term for flaky skin?

The medical term for dry skin is xerosis. Flaking describes a symptom rather than identifying its cause. A clinician can examine the skin and ask about your symptoms and health history; tests can be needed if an undiagnosed health problem is suspected.3

Ichthyosis vulgaris is a specific condition, not another name for every flaky face. Its inherited form usually starts in childhood and can affect the central face as well as the limbs and trunk. It involves a defective skin barrier and requires regular daily moisturizing and scale management.5

When should you get facial flakes checked?

Facial flakes alongside dandruff deserve attention, particularly with itchy or red patches. Seborrheic dermatitis can affect both scalp and face. See a GP for flaky, itchy facial patches rather than assuming that the scalp and face need identical treatment.7

Arrange assessment if dryness is not improving, itching interferes with daily life, patches look wet and red, or a patch stays pink. Persistent pink patches can be precancerous. If a moisturizer causes burning, stinging or irritation, tell a dermatologist. Treating eczema or psoriasis can require medication as well as moisturizer.12

If you use a steroid cream or another prescribed skin treatment alongside an emollient, leave 20 to 30 minutes between applications and ask your doctor which goes first. This prevents dilution and spreading medication onto skin that does not need it. Discuss persistent stinging, inflamed hair follicles or an acne worsening facial rash with a pharmacist or clinician.4