Reader question: How to deal with flaky skin
Wednesday, August 29, 2012 at 6:42AM Hi Ms. Liz! I'm currently having a problem with my skin. My face is always oily all over but recently, aside from being oily, it's also flaky. It's flaky in small amounts, but they're found all over my face... so in effect, my face appears to be rough. I put moisturizer before my foundation, however, this doesn't seem to help the flaky appearance. The texture of my face is so gross to look at.
This is a big nuisance for me especially since we'll be having our yearbook photoshoot soon. I'm a high school student so can you give me quick remedies that is within the budget of a teenager? - Chloe
Hi Chloe! Yes, moisturizer can't do much to help skin that is already peeling. Flaky skin is dead skin so you can't revive it with moisturizer. The best remedy is to remove all the flakes first before attempting to hydrate your skin.
Now I'm going to suggest a quick fix so simple you don't even have to spend anything. :P After a hot bath, dampen the corner of your towel with a bit of warm water. Scrub off the now soft flaky skin gently and voila! Gone. You don't need to buy exfoliators that may just make the situation worse. Just clean off the dead skin to improve the texture of your healthy skin.
You can also use a sponge like this to exfoliate, it's only P54 per pack of two!
I also have a tip to hide the flakes with makeup: don't swipe on the foundation or concealer. Instead, using a fine sponge, pat a heavy layer on the affected area only to fill in where the skin has peeled. This is a technique called volumizing. You may want to consider using liquid or cream foundation instead of powder since wet makeup can mimic skin better, thus rendering flaky skin invisible. Just set your work with a translucent powder and make sure to blend!
Of course, nothing beats going to a dermatologist to deal with the root cause of your problem. If this is a seasonal thing then just weather it (pun not intended). But if this happens pretty often and it's really bothering you, do see a professional so she can recommend a permanent solution.
Good luck on your yearbook photo! And girls, if you have any advice on how you deal with flaky skin, do share and help Chloe!
Reader Comments (7)
i agree, Liz. she really needs to see a derma. a male friend had flaky patches on several areas of his face and no amount of exfoliating or moisturizing helped. he finally went to see a derma and was told it his condition was similar to dandruff. not trying to scare anyone ha, but it's really best to find the root cause of the problem so you can get the right treatment.
Check if your drinking enough water. Hydration should not be just at the surface, it should come from within. Maybe its your body telling you you're not hydrated enough. I have a combination (dry-slightly oily) skin type and sometimes there's thick patches of flaky skin on the sides of my nose, brows, and cheeks. I use St. Ives Apricot scrub (my HD exfoliator since highschool) to remove the dead skin cells and patches. I also make it a point to drink a lot of water and avoid too much caffine. Too much caffine can dry your skin.
Could also be eczema or psoriasis or some other internal body organ condition that affects the skin (not trying to scare you, Chloe!)
There are times when I experience flaky skin too. I just slough off the dead skin using an exfoliator, (I use St. Ives) then put a generous amount of moisturizer and let it be absorbed by the skin first before I apply my make-up :)
This used to happen to me when I was using a toner and acne control product that turned out to be too harsh for my face. Did you start using a new skin care product, or are you applying something more than your usual routine? To rid yourself of the flaky skin, I can only suggest exfoliating and moisturizing. Good luck, Chloe!
Hi liz, I used to have flaky spots in between my eyes and the side of my nose, I went to my derma and he recommended Desonide desowen cream / gel. I apply a small amount after shower and it really worked for me. Hope this might help :)
I agree with removing the flakes first. Im thankful that I am not experiencing this problem. A great moisturizer (like Nivea Baby Smoothy Cream) prevents you to experience this and of course, drink lots of water!