How to fix flaky skin

Why is your skin flaking?

Dry skin loses too much water and oil, leaving it rough, tight or flaky. Common triggers include cold air, indoor heating, long hot showers, frequent washing and harsh soaps. Medicines and conditions such as eczema or psoriasis can also cause dryness, so flakes alone do not identify the cause.2

Moisturizing is the main treatment for dry skin, even if it offers less theatre than a shelf full of exfoliators.4

What should you do today?

1. 1Wash gently. Use lukewarm water and a gentle, moisturizing cleanser. Keep baths and showers to five to ten minutes, and avoid scrubbing.
2. 2Pat dry, leaving skin damp. Apply moisturizer immediately after washing; on your face, do this within five minutes.
3. 3Reapply throughout the day. Moisturize after handwashing and whenever skin feels dry or tight, rather than saving the whole routine for bedtime.
4. 4Protect exposed skin. Apply broad spectrum, water resistant sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher after moisturizer, and use shade and protective clothing.

Which moisturizer should you choose?

Choose a fragrance free cream or ointment rather than a thin lotion. Creams absorb quickly and suit daytime use; thicker, greasier ointments suit very dry patches and nighttime use. Do not use ointments on weeping eczema. Look for moisturizing ingredients such as glycerin, hyaluronic acid, petrolatum or shea butter. Ceramides are another option; these fatty molecules help strengthen the skin's protective barrier.1356

More expensive skincare is not necessarily more effective, so the price tag is not a moisture measurement.5

For a particularly dry facial spot, gently dab on petroleum jelly before bed. If covering your whole face with petroleum jelly brings on pimples, limit or stop that approach. Choose products made for the face. "Unscented" is not the same as "fragrance free": products can contain ingredients that hide smells and irritate dry, sensitive skin.13

Should you exfoliate the flakes?

Start with moisture, not exfoliation. Scrubbing and exfoliating products can remove more skin than intended and leave new damage to heal. Pause cosmetic retinol and drying toners while addressing dryness. In cold weather, reducing the frequency or strength of glycolic acid, salicylic acid and retinol can help limit drying. Ask your prescriber about changes to a prescribed retinoid.135

An emollient, a moisturizing treatment that traps moisture, can also serve as a soap substitute if the product is suitable for washing. Emollient washes do not foam like soap but clean just as effectively, so bubbles are not a performance review.6

What helps stop flakes returning?

Use gloves for washing dishes and protection from cold air. Choose soft clothing rather than rough fabrics against dry skin. A bedroom humidifier can help with dry indoor air; clean it regularly to prevent mold. Dryness can improve when its triggers are controlled, but a tendency to dry skin can persist and require ongoing moisturizing.124

When should you get help?

See a clinician if home care is not helping, itching disrupts sleep, scratching causes open sores, or a facial patch stays pink or becomes wet and red. Stop products that irritate your skin and report burning or stinging from moisturizer. Ask a dermatologist before using creams for itching. If you use a prescribed skin treatment, leave 20 to 30 minutes between it and an emollient, and ask which goes first.1236

Keep emollients and fabrics carrying their residue away from flames and cigarettes. Use a clean spoon or spatula for products in tubs, and take care on slippery bathroom surfaces.6