Dermatologists Share How To Get Rid Of Dead, Peeling Skin - Byrdie

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The Derm-Approved Treatment Plan to Get Rid of Flaky Skin on Your Face By Erin Celletti

Erin Celletti Erin Celletti has nearly 10 years experience, covering nearly all beats. Bylines include Byrdie, BRIDES, TeenVogue, Allure, TODAY Parents, HuffPost, Yahoo, and The Sunday Edit. Byrdie's Editorial Guidelines Updated on July 24, 2024 02:10PM

Close-up of a person's face with clear skin — Stocksy

Getting rid of dry, dead skin on your face can feel a lot like trying to catch a moving target. The second you think you're gaining control, the factors change and you're left dealing with the same irritation and discomfort. That's because many of us attribute the dryness to a chill in the air or passing cold front, but there are actually multiple factors that contribute to dead skin on your face, including environmental elements, not-so-great habits, and skin conditions.

"Dry, flaky skin can be caused by a number of issues. Medical conditions like eczema, allergic contact dermatitis, and seborrheic can all present with pink, scaly, itchy patches on the face. Reactions to medications, such as retinoids, can also cause flaky patches to develop on the face," explains double-board certified dermatologist, Dr. Brendan Camp. "What many of these conditions have in common is an altered epidermis as a result of inflammation and a compromised skin barrier, which affect the skin’s ability to retain moisture."

Luckily, dermatologists Joshua Zeichner, Brendan Camp, and Rita Linkner tell us there are ways to improve your skin by identifying the cause and applying the correct treatment plan.

Meet the Experts

Joshua Zeichner, MD, is a New York City-based dermatologist, Associate Professor of Dermatology, and the Director of Cosmetic and Clinical Research in Dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital.
Rita Linkner, MD, is a dermatologist at Spring Street Dermatology in New York City.
Brendan Camp, MD, is a double-board-certified dermatologist at MDCS: Medical Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgery.

Keep scrolling for 10 dermatologist-approved ways to get rid of flaky skin on your face.

01 of 10

Moisturize With Hyaluronic Acid

Zeichner recommends looking for ingredients, such as hyaluronic acid, which "acts like a sponge to pull in hydration to the outer skin layers." Dry skin that's peeling is often genetic. And if you've inherited the "dry skin" gene, you're not alone. Plenty of people aren't able to maintain adequate hydration because of this. Luckily, Zeichner says moisturizers can help.

02 of 10

Don't Overwash

Overwashing can dry out your skin, so if this sounds like something you're guilty of, try washing your face less often. You know that squeaky clean feeling you get after giving your face a good thorough cleansing? "[It's] actually harmful to the skin and represents post-wash dryness," Zeichner tells us.

Overwashing can lead to redness, dryness, and flaking of the skin, he adds. Zeichner recommends sticking to a more gentle cleanser that won’t compromise the integrity of the skin barrier⁠.

03 of 10

Try a Dandruff Shampoo

Washing your face with dandruff shampoo can help if the culprit for your flaky skin is perioral dermatitis. Contrary to what you might think, slathering on the moisturizer won't help if your flaky skin is due to this condition. It may even exacerbate dryness.

"Moisturizers may actually make this condition worse because they can create an oily environment that encourages yeast growth," Zeichner tells us. Instead, he advises sticking to products with zinc pyrithione, "an ingredient that lowers levels of yeast and reduces inflammation and flaking."

Byrdie Tip

Use your dandruff shampoo like a liquid cleanser for your face. Apply, lather, and rinse off after singing "Happy Birthday" to give it enough contact time on the skin to do its job, instructs Zeichner.

04 of 10

Reach for Ceramides

"Look for moisturizers that contain ceramides, which are naturally occurring lipids in the epidermis that help skin retain moisture and maintain the integrity of the skin barrier," says Camp. "Other hydrating ingredients include hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane."

05 of 10

Use a Petrolatum-Based Cream

To get rid of flaky facial skin, look for products that can provide a barrier for your skin to help seal in moisture and prevent its loss. According to Linkner, eczema is one of the most common causes of dry facial skin come winter. "With humidity levels dropping with temperatures, skin that runs on the sensitive end of the spectrum is sure to flare up," she says.

If this is happening to you, she recommends changing up your skincare routine. "Moving from serums or lotions to creams that are petrolatum-based is the easiest first move. If this alone doesn't help, then a prescription-strength steroid is best."

06 of 10

Opt for Anti-Inflammatory Ingredients

Some causes of dry, flaky, dead, or otherwise uncomfortable skin on your face are due to inflammatory conditions like rosacea. Rosacea is a common condition where the skin on the face is extra sensitive and overactive to the environment, explains Zeichner. It commonly manifests as red or pink skin, redness, flaking, and bumps (or even pus pimples, in some cases).

If you find that you are experiencing redness, sensitivity, and flaking simultaneously, you just might be suffering from rosacea. In this scenario, he suggests using moisturizers that contain soothing and anti-inflammatory ingredients, including colloidal oatmeal.

07 of 10

Invest in a Humidifier

When humidity drops during some parts of the year or due to controlled indoor environments, changing your air quality and humidity level can help. Even if humidity isn't a concern, changing your environment might prevent dry, dead skin on your face.

08 of 10

Be Consistent With Your Skincare Routine

Consistency can help you nail down the potential root of your skin woes. If you're experiencing flakiness and have recently changed up your skincare routine, you might be suffering from contact dermatitis, a skin rash and/or peeling of the skin "caused by direct contact of a product to the skin leading to either irritation or a true allergy," explains Zeichner. His advice? "Stop using anything new, and if the rash does not improve visit your dermatologist for allergy testing."

09 of 10

Re-Think Your Products

You might be using products that do more harm than good while not using ones that can help your skin. Often, the most common culprits for dry skin on your face include ingredients like retinoids and hydroxy acids, which can irritate sensitive skin. At the same time, preservatives and fragrances may also lead to allergies and irritation.

Instead, look for ingredients such as jojoba oil, dimethicone, glycerine, lactic acid, lanolin, mineral oil, and shea butter, which can all help seal in moisture, prevent its loss, and soothe dry, dead skin on your face.

10 of 10

Consider Topical Steroids

If all else fails, it may be time to consult with a dermatologist and weigh the benefits of using topical steroids. "Hydrocortisone, a corticosteroid, can be used to treat dry, flaky patches related to inflammation caused by eczema, contact dermatitis, and seborrheic dermatitis," explains Camp. However, we don't advise diving into the corticosteroids without a professional's guidance as overusing them can also lead to steroid-induced dermatitis or perioral dermatitis.

FAQ

Should you exfoliate dry flaky skin?
According to Camp, "flaking that is simply related to dryness may be improved with mild exfoliation and generous hydration with moisturizers. But exfoliating dry patches related to contact dermatitis or eczema could exacerbate the conditions and should be avoided."

Article Sources Byrdie takes every opportunity to use high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.

Zhong W-L, Wu X, Yu B, et al. Filaggrin gene mutation c. 3321dela is associated with dry phenotypes of atopic dermatitis in the chinese han population. Chin Med J (Engl). 2016;129(12):1498-1500.
Tolaymat L, Hall MR. Perioral dermatitis. In: StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2021.
Khan, N. T., & Abbas, R. (2024). Skin Sensitization Caused by Exposure to Cosmetic Products. International Journal of Clinical Research and Reports, 3(3).
Mawazi, S. M., Ann, J., Othman, N., Khan, J., & Alolayan, S. O. (2022). Al thagfan, SS; Kaleemullah, M. A Review of Moisturizers; History, Preparation, Characterization and Applications. Cosmetics 2022, 9, 61.
Mohta, A., & Sathe, N. C. (2024). Topical Steroid Withdrawal (Red Skin Syndrome). In StatPearls [Internet]. StatPearls Publishing.