Are you dealing with dry skin on your face? You’re not alone. 

Dry skin (also known as xerosis) is a common condition that can affect people at any age, although it’s more prevalent in adults over the age of 40. Symptoms typically include flaking, itching, scaling, or a feeling of tightness that may even be painful.

Causes of dry skin range from temporary stressors to chronic conditions. Before pursuing proper treatment options, it’s important to determine the root causes of your dry skin.

4 Temporary Causes of Dry Skin

You may notice that your skin feels tight or flaky during certain times of the year due to environmental conditions or a specific beauty product. These are the most common temporary causes of dry skin.

1. Lack of Humidity in the Air

The skin’s outermost layer, known as the epidermis, reflects the amount of moisture in the air. In climates where humidity is low, the result is surface dryness. Furthermore, a 2015 study in the Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology concluded that low humidity, combined with low temperature, can impair the skin’s moisture barrier — leading to trans-epidermal water loss and dry, irritated skin.

2. Using Harsh Soaps or Other Products

Unless you are undergoing a chemical peel, your skin should not flake after using a cleanser, toner, or any other product. A common culprit of skin dryness and irritation is using a formula with a pH that’s beyond the skin’s natural level of below 5. A 2006 study conducted at Rheinische Friedrich Wilhelm University says formulas with a high pH can compromise the skin’s moisture barrier, resulting in extreme dryness and other conditions like acne.

3. Showering or Bathing in Hot Water

If you prefer long, hot showers or baths in cold weather, you may want to consider turning the temperature down a few notches. Increased exposure to hot water can severely dry out your skin due to the depletion of natural oils and proteins. It can also leave skin feeling tight and looking flushed, similar to the effects of a sunburn.

4. Dryness From Dehydrated Skin

Dehydrated skin is often confused for dry skin as the symptoms for each have a lot of overlap. However, dry skin is a skin type that indicates a lack of oils in the skin, while dehydrated skin is a temporary skin condition that’s due to a lack of science. Even oily skin can become dehydrated, which can result in an overproduction of sebum to compensate for a lack of moisture in addition to flakiness and a feeling of tightness.

4 Chronic Causes of Dry Skin

The dry skin on your face — and other areas of your body — may instead be the result of a medical condition that can only be maintained rather than cured. To receive a proper diagnosis, visit a dermatologist or other healthcare professional.

1. Contact Dermatitis

Contact dermatitis is an allergic reaction to a substance that directly touches your skin. Common symptoms include itching and redness, but dryness and flaking can also be prevalent. Irritants in skincare products may be fragrances, preservatives, or detergents. 

2. Eczema

Eczema, or atopic dermatitis, is a chronic skin condition that is characterized by dry patches, redness, and itching. It may result from genetics, immune dysfunction, digestive issues (like leaky gut), and stress. Flare-ups can occur due to other medical conditions (like hay fever), infections, or allergies.

3. Psoriasis 

While these clusters of dead skin cells are more commonly found on the arms and legs, psoriasis can also affect the face and is characterized by scaly, inflamed skin that is itchy. Triggers may include stress, certain medications, and other infections (like strep throat).

4. Seborrheic Dermatitis

Commonly detected on the scalp, seborrheic dermatitis can also be found on eyebrows, beards/mustaches, and other areas of the face that may not be covered with hair. Affected areas will appear greasy but also be plagued with dandruff.

How to Treat and Prevent Dry Skin

Once you have identified the root cause of your dry skin, it’s much easier to treat and prevent it. But what are the best ways to do that? Below are some of the best methods you can use to treat dry, flaky skin and prevent it from returning. 

Moisturize (Even If You Have Oily Skin)

Moisturization is perhaps one of the easiest ways you can combat dry skin. All skin types can benefit from a proper moisturizer, even oily skin — which is oily due to overcompensating for a lack of moisture. It’s essential to choose a moisturizer that works well with your skin type to achieve the best results. 

However, if your moisture barrier has been compromised (often indicated by an increase in flaky skin or breakouts), seek lotions or creams with ceramides. These mimic the skin’s natural moisturizing system per a 2018 study from Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology.

For a nighttime skincare routine, there’s YORA’s Rebalance Night Face Moisturiser, which has Ceramide 3, Ceramide 6 II, and Ceramide 1 to help repair and restore your moisture barrier while providing deep hydration. It is also infused with HYDRACTIN® to boost skin’s moisture levels.

For daytime use, try YORA’s Revitalise Facial Moisturiser. This is a lightweight gel that provides added daily protection against environmental pollutants thanks to a combination of mineral-rich Swiss glacier water, plant sugar-derived squalene, and YORA's own hyaluronic acid blend, which contains PRIMALHYAL 50 and PrimalHyal™ 300 plus sodium hyaluronate. 

Use Gentle, Low pH Formulas

Avoid products that leave your skin tight and stripped of all moisture. That “squeaky clean” feeling can be a breeding ground for a bevy of skin troubles. Gentle skincare products with a pH that is close to skin’s natural level will refresh your skin without irritating it. As we’ve already noted, high pH formulas can lead to an increase in dryness and other skin infections.

The YORA Rebalance Face Cleanser has an average pH level of 6 so it can gently remove any dirt, oil, and impurities from your skin. It contains soothing chamomile plus avocado oil, which is rich in vitamins A, D, and E. Your skin will not only be clean, but also sufficiently hydrated, which will minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Meanwhile, a concentrated treatment such as the YORA Revitalise Face Serum can provide an added boost of moisture to your skin. This formula contains mineral-rich Swiss glacier water and YORA's own hyaluronic acid blend of PRIMALHYAL 50 and PrimalHyal™ 300 for intense hydration. 

Add Moisture to the Air

A lack of moisture in the air can contribute to dry skin. In your home — where you may have an air conditioner or a heating system running non-stop — you can resolve this issue by investing in a humidifier. 

However, if you’re out and about, a hydrating mist can work just a well. YORA’s Refresh Face Mist contains Superox-C™, which acts as a barrier to protect the skin against extreme conditions. It also has GENENCARE®, which is derived from sugar beet roots for extra moisturization. 

Take Cooler and Shorter Showers

This advice may be especially hard to take when it’s cold outside, but hot water can leave skin dry and damaged. The good news is that you don’t have to drop the water temperature to below freezing. Dr. Rajani Katta, professor of dermatology at Baylor College of Medicine, recommends showering in lukewarm water for no more than 15 minutes to prevent skin from drying.

Visit a Dermatologist

If your attempts to eliminate dry skin patches have been in vain, visit a dermatologist or other healthcare professional for a proper diagnosis. This will not only ensure proper treatment options (which may include prescription-strength products), but also determine if your dryness is due to a medical condition, whether it’s skin-related or another underlying cause (such as diabetes).

If You Have Dry Skin on Your Face, There's Hope

Flaky, irritated skin on your face can not only be uncomfortable, but it can also make you self-conscious. However, adopting YORA’s wholistic approach to this common skin condition can make it easier to manage. 

Assess the needs and concerns of your whole body — not your skin alone — by taking into consideration your environment, habits, and patterns. Doing this will bring you toward the solution you need to achieve more hydrated, healthy skin.