How to get rid of dry patches on face

What causes dry patches on face?

Dry skin develops when skin loses too much water and oil. Cold air, indoor heating, air conditioning, long hot showers and some soaps can contribute. Certain medicines and aging can also cause dryness. Tightness after washing, roughness and flaking are common signs.4

Not every dry patch is ordinary dryness. Contact dermatitis is irritation or an allergic reaction to something touching the skin, including cosmetics. Eczema can cause dry, itchy patches, while seborrheic dermatitis can cause flaky facial patches as well as dandruff. The cause matters because these conditions need more than the same moisturizing routine.3

How to moisturize dry patches

1. 1Wash gently with warm water and a gentle, fragrance free cleanser. Use enough to clean the skin without building a thick lather.
2. 2Pat your face with a clean towel instead of rubbing. Apply moisturizer immediately, while the skin is still damp.
3. 3Choose a cream or ointment rather than a lotion for dry patches. Gently massage it into the affected areas.
4. 4Repeat in the morning and before bed, and reapply during the day whenever the patches feel dry.
5. 5During the day, protect your face with a broad spectrum, water resistant sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher, and seek shade.

A cream is thicker and more hydrating than a lotion, so the lightest texture does not win this particular beauty contest. An ointment is thicker still. Look for moisturizing ingredients such as ceramides, glycerin or hyaluronic acid. Choose "fragrance free" rather than "unscented": unscented products can contain chemicals that hide ingredient odors and irritate dry skin.124

If your face has both dry and oily areas, moisturize the dry spots rather than automatically coating every area, because a skincare routine does not need a policy of equal coverage. A heavier moisturizer is useful for dryness, but too much moisturizer can clog pores in some people.2

How to stop dry patches from peeling?

Moisturize instead of exfoliating: exfoliation strips more moisture from dry, peeling skin. Avoid scrubs, alpha hydroxy acid exfoliants, retinoids and products containing fragrance or drying alcohol while addressing dryness. Keep showers warm rather than hot and limit them to 5 to 10 minutes. A bedroom humidifier can help in dry air; clean it regularly to prevent mold.124

Why do I have dry patches around my mouth?

Ordinary dry skin can occur around the mouth. A scaly rash with inflamed bumps, itching or burning can instead be perioral dermatitis, an inflammatory rash around the mouth that sometimes extends toward the nose or eyes. Heavy face creams and topical steroids are possible triggers. Have a clinician assess that pattern rather than adding richer creams or hydrocortisone. Treatment can take days, weeks or months.35

Can you use hydrocortisone on facial patches?

Do not use hydrocortisone on your face without speaking to a pharmacist or doctor first: it can damage facial skin and is unsuitable for some conditions, including perioral dermatitis. If you are pregnant, check before using it. Do not use it for more than 7 days unless advised, or suddenly stop a prescribed long term course without medical advice.6

When should you get dry patches checked?

Moisturizers soften dry skin and help prevent cracking. Get medical advice if patches keep returning, home care does not help, itching interrupts sleep or scratching causes open sores. Tell a dermatologist if moisturizer burns or stings. For eczema, continue moisturizing at least twice daily even after improvement. Seek urgent care if an eczema patch becomes painful, warm, swollen, leaks fluid or develops pus, suddenly spreads, or comes with fever or feeling unwell.1347