The skin on our face is one of the most important parts of our bodies. However, when facial skin becomes dry, it can feel rough and tight. Dry skin on the face can also often become red, scaly and itchy. There are several causes for dry facial skin, and this article will explain these causes, as well as how you can get rid of dry skin on your face.
Dry facial skin is a common condition, although some people are more prone to it than others depending on your skin type. The main facial skin types are normal, dry, oily or combination skin, with dry skin being the most likely to develop severe dry skin patches or even dry, flaky skin on the face. As people get older, they also have to consider how skin ageing affects their skin as older skin has less elasticity, volume and is more prone to dryness.
Signs & symptoms of dry and very dry skin
When dry patches on the face first become noticeable, the skin will feel dehydrated and tight which will worsen if left untreated, developing into flaky skin that can be red & sore. It is not unusual for dry skin to only affect specific areas of the face, such as around the mouth, on the forehead and on the nose.
When facial skin first begins to lose moisture, the dryness may be only noticed as:
If this initial facial dryness is not treated, it can progress to become:
At this stage, it is possible that dryness-induced fine lines will develop, and this contributes to premature skin ageing and wrinkle formation. This can also lead to the appearance of symptoms, such as peeling and bleeding.
When the face becomes dry, the skin will often also be sensitive; however, sensitive facial skin is not always related to dryness. With both dry and sensitive skin, it is always important to avoid skincare products that contain irritating ingredients, such as perfumes and colourants. Always check that any skincare product you intend to use has been dermatologically tested on sensitive skin.
There is further information on dry skin, including tips on preventing dry skin, as well as information on other skin conditions, such as Atopic Dermatitis, Psoriasis and diabetes, throughout our website. But if you are worried or unsure about your symptoms, or they are becoming worse, we recommend that you see your doctor or dermatologist for a face-to-face diagnosis.
If you need further information to help you identify the cause of your skin complaint, and which treatment route to take, the skin test may be a useful diagnostic tool.
There are many internal and external causes of dry, flaky facial skin, all of which contribute to the same skin dehydration process. The severity of the dry facial skin will depend on the number and intensity of these factors.
External triggers of dry facial skin
The main external triggers of dry skin on the face are environmental triggers and inappropriate facial skincare routines. The face is generally exposed to these external causes of dry skin much more frequently than the rest of your body, hence causing dry patches of skin to form:
Some medications have the side effect of changing the water balance within the skin. Medications that control blood pressure, or diuretics, are known to have this side effect. Always check with a doctor or pharmacist if you are concerned that a medication may be contributing to dry skin.
How external triggers can cause dry facial skin
All of the external triggers of dry facial skin cause the skin's natural lipid surface barrier to deteriorate. Once this lipid barrier is broken, moisture can evaporate from the skin, and the vital moisture-binding substances are easily washed out.
As these natural moisturising mechanisms decline, the skin is not able to hold as much water and becomes dry until the moisture-binding substances are replenished, and the lipid barrier on the surface is repaired.
If the dry skin is not treated with tailored skincare products which contain moisturising factors, the dryness can progress deeper into the facial skin and disrupt moisture networks in the deeper layers of the skin. As a result, the natural upward flow of moisture into the upper layers is reduced, resulting in severely dry skin.
Internal factors that can cause dry skin
Every person has a unique set of genes which determine skin characteristics like pigmentation, moisture and lipid levels. This means that, under identical conditions, different people will have different moisture and lipid levels in their skin. Fair-skinned individuals are more likely to develop dry skin than people with darker complexions. Additionally, diseases such as Atopic Dermatitis, Psoriasis, diabetes and ichthyosis often have a genetic link.
When the level of our hormones change, for instance during adolescence, pregnancy and the menopause, the skin’s moisture balance can be affected. For example, the amount of oestrogen in the body is reduced during the menopause, and this can result in the skin becoming dryer.
The skin’s ability to produce sweat and lipids decreases as we get older. This is due to a decline in the functioning of sebaceous and sweat glands in the skin. Increasing age leaves the skin more prone to dryness, and the drier the skin, the more prone it is to the formation of fine lines and wrinkles. You can learn more learn more about age-induced dryness here.
Skin ageing occurs naturally with increasing age. However, extensive and unprotected exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light can increase the rate of skin-ageing, thus leading to premature fine lines and wrinkles. Avoiding excessive sun exposure and protecting your skin from UV damage can prevent premature skin aging.
skin requires a range of nutrients, unsaturated fatty acids and vitamins in order to function correctly. A lack of any of these can contribute to dry skin. Eating a healthy, balanced diet can help to keep the skin functioning normally.
In addition to the main causes of dry facial skin, several other factors also affect the severity of facial skin dryness. An awareness of these will help you avoid them and thereby reduce their impact.
Lack of effective treatment
If dry facial skin is not treated properly, or ineffective moisturisers are used, the dry skin condition is likely to become worse rather than improve. This is because the dryness will progresses, affecting the moisture networks in the deeper layers of the skin. As these networks supply moisture to the upper layers of the skin, if they become compromised the skin dryness will continue to worsen.
Excessive sun exposure may increase facial skin dryness. It is therefore important to choose a sunscreen that is formulated for dry skin, which contains moisturising ingredients in addition to an appropriate Sun Protection Factor (SPF).
It is also vital that the sunscreen, and any other skincare products used on dry skin, does not contain any irritating perfumes and colourants: dry skin, especially dry facial skin, is more prone to irritation than normal skin.
Certain situations or jobs involve exposure to conditions that may cause dry facial skin, e.g. outdoor sports, gardening, holidays in cold areas. By avoiding outdoor and occupational irritants and using adequate skin care products you can combat facial dryness caused by these factors.
The amount of moisture in the skin is related to the amount of water that the body can supply. When the body is dehydrated, therefore, it is unable to supply adequate amounts of water to the skin, leading to dry skin developing.
People who are prone to dehydration include the elderly, as the sensation of thirst declines with age, as well as manual labourers and those who exercise regularly.
The toxins in cigarette smoke, including nicotine, may reduce the blood flow. This results in a slower metabolism within the skin, causing skin to dry out and age prematurely.
Avoiding contributing factors
In addition to having a good cleansing and moisturising skincare routine, avoiding factors that contribute to dry skin is important in preventing and treating dry facial skin. This will help to reduce the impact of dry skin and the need for long-term treatment:
Dry and very dry skin on the face needs a comprehensive skincare routine to be adequately treated and replenish moisture levels. This includes using appropriate skin cleansers, moisturisers and sunscreens. Water-based skin cleansers with added moisturising factors are suitable for dry to very dry facial skin, while oil-based cleansers are ideally suited for the care of very dry and extremely dry skin, including Atopic Dermatitis.
How to clean dry or very dry facial skin
A mild but effective skin cleanser is an essential prerequisite to skincare for normal or dry skin, as well as for acne-prone skin and Atopic Dermatitis. The importance of a well-aligned daily cleansing and moisturising routine for face care cannot be overemphasised: facial skin with a functioning surface barrier absorbs and retains moisture effectively.
The Eucerin DermatoCLEAN Mild Cleansing Milk is designed for dry and sensitive facial skin with moisturising ingredients to cleanse the skin , preventing it from drying out. Mild enough for sensitive skin, it also synergistically enhances the efficacy of facial moisturising creams to improve the hydration of the skin. Use with Eucerin DermatoCLEAN Clarifying Toner to instantly tone and moisturise the skin, suitable for all facial skin types.
How often should you wash your face if you have dry skin?
Washing dry facial skin too often can lead to dryness and irritation becoming worse. Although for most skin types washing your face twice a day (morning and night) is sufficient to remove the build up of dirt on the skin, washing dry skin once a day can be enough to keep the skin clean without drying it out further.
However, you should always properly clean your skin after wearing makeup, and if you have exercised or your skin has become sweaty. By using a gentle, hydrating cleanser formulated to clean and simultaneously nourish dry skin, such as Eucerin DermatoCLEAN Mild Cleansing Milk, you can prevent facial dryness progressing while still washing your face without irritation.
Can I dry brush my face?
Dry brushing is the process of using a dry brush against your skin to help remove dead cells from the skin’s surface. Although dry brushing is an effective way to exfoliate your skin, brushing too aggressively or too often can cause damage to the skin, causing or worsening pre-existing irritation and dryness. Because of this, dry brushing is not recommended for those with sensitive skin, or dry skin conditions such as Atopic Dermatitis (eczema), Psoriasis and Keratosis Pilaris (also known as chicken skin).
Is steaming your face good for dry skin?
Steaming your face using hot water is a common step in many skin care routines at home. Although steaming your face is relaxing and is believed to help in treating some skin conditions such as acne, the heat from the steam can worsen dry facial skin. Exposing your skin to hot steam can lead to flushing and increased inflammation, worsening conditions such as Rosacea. The hot steam can also strip your skin of its natural moisturising factors, causing increased dehydration and dryness.
Moisturising dry facial skin
The key to moisturising dry or extremely dry facial skin is to replenish missing natural moisturising factors, which attract moisture towards, and bind moisture into the stratum corneum (the upper layer of the skin). This prevents the skin from becoming dry, and reduces roughness and alleviates tightness.
To ensure that your skin retains moisture, look for skincare products that contain the following ingredients:
Eucerin Smoothing Face creams contain the natural moisturising factors Urea and Lactate which regulate moisture content by binding water in the upper layers of the skin to replenish dry facial skin. Both Urea and Lactate are well-tolerated, non-toxic and non-allergenic natural skin compounds that can be used on dry, very dry and sensitive facial skin.
Caring for dry, ageing skin
Caring for ageing skin requires addressing the common causes of skin ageing. As the skin ages, skin dryness and UV damage contribute to the development of fine lines and wrinkles and the loss of skin volume, density and radiance. This makes following an effective skincare routine, especially moisturising and protecting skin against UVA and UVB light, even more important. Additionally, ageing skin often requires deep skin hydration to reduce the appearance of, and prevent the further development of, further wrinkles. You can learn more about age-induced dryness here.
Hyaluron, also known as Hyaluronic Acid, is an essential component of connective tissue.
Hyaluron is found naturally in the skin, and has high water-binding capacities, as well as improving skin regeneration and enhancing the diffusion of nutrients. As facial skin ages, the amount of free Hyaluron decreases in the epidermis, particularly in the lower dermis skin layers. Hyaluronic Acid, applied topically, can slow down and reverse wrinkle formation. The benefits of applying hyaluronic acid to the skin can be further enhanced by a suitable moisturising skincare routine.
For very dry, rough body skin
Dry and very dry skin
Dry and very dry skin
Dry and very dry skin
Dry and very dry skin
Intensive and deeply moisturising for the treatment of dry, itchy, flaky skin and is suitable for all over use.
For dry, rough hands
For dry, extremely dry, rough and cracked feet and heels
Dry and very dry skin
Dry skin
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