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Dry facial skin
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025

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Dry skin of the face is manifested by a feeling of tightness, such epidermis often becomes irritated, it begins to peel off in small pieces. Xerosis requires special care, otherwise its condition quickly worsens, it becomes dull, early wrinkles begin to appear.
A feeling of tightness may appear due to disruption of the sebaceous and sweat glands, lipid and water metabolism, and low acid-base balance.
The good appearance of facial skin depends on the degree of hydration. Lack of moisture in the cells leads to decreased elasticity, firmness, thinning, in addition, sensitivity increases and wrinkles appear.
The level of hydration is affected by various factors: cold, wind, dry indoor air, sun, bad habits, poor quality water, alcohol-based lotions, aggressive peeling, lack of vitamins, etc.
The stratum corneum of the epidermis and the amount of sebum are responsible for the level of hydration. The stratum corneum includes dead (but active) cells of the outer layer of the epidermis and secretions of the sebaceous glands (fat), which form a kind of barrier and retain moisture. But the stratum corneum is designed not only to retain moisture, it also serves as protection from external influences.
Damage to the stratum corneum leads to rapid loss of moisture and makes the epidermis vulnerable to toxins, allergens, and pathogenic microorganisms.
Causes of dry facial skin
The work of the sebaceous glands can be affected by individual characteristics, cosmetics, and age-related changes. Over time, the hormonal background in the body changes, which affects the production of sebum; usually after 40, women begin to worry about excessive xerosis and mucous membranes.
The health of the epidermis largely depends on the amount of liquid you drink - it is recommended to drink 2 liters of water per day. When the body is dehydrated, not only does dry skin appear on the face, but decay products are also retained in the body, which also negatively affects the condition of the epidermis.
With xerosis, wrinkles begin to appear prematurely, flabbiness appears. The first small wrinkles, if the problem is not eliminated in time, quickly develop into deep ones, which are almost impossible to get rid of.
Another cause of tightness and discomfort are external adverse factors (cold wind, ultraviolet light, sudden temperature changes, etc.), poor nutrition, lack of vitamins and microelements, diseases of the nervous system, work in unfavorable conditions (hot workshop, outdoors, etc.).
Under certain conditions, a whole series of changes begin to occur in the epidermis; with a decrease in protective functions, a rapid loss of moisture occurs, which leads to disruption of blood circulation in the tissues, collagen fibers, and a decrease in elasticity.
Another reason for dryness may be incorrectly selected cosmetic or care products or procedures. If the sebaceous glands are weak, you should not wash your face with soap, use alcohol-based lotions, peels, scrubs, or tightening masks.
If you feel tightness, it is recommended to do an enzyme peeling, which not only exfoliates dead cells as gently as possible, but also moisturizes.
Dry skin needs nourishing and vitamin creams (preferably with collagen and elastin), alcohol-free tonics, toning masks, which not only help restore protective functions, but also effectively replenish lost moisture.
With xerosis, you should pay attention to your diet: give up alcoholic beverages, eat more foods with vitamins A, E, C.
Dryness and flaking of facial skin
Peeling and dry skin of the face mainly bothers women, men are much less likely to encounter this problem and this is primarily due to the fact that men's sebaceous glands work on a different principle.
The causes of peeling and xerosis can be external adverse conditions (cold weather, prolonged exposure to the sun, etc.), allergic reactions, taking medications, food poisoning, etc.
The main reason why the top layer of the epidermis peels off and cells lose moisture is dehydration. First of all, when peeling appears, you need to pay attention to your facial care products: use only special mild products for washing, use moisturizing lotions (without alcohol), gels, etc.
If you prefer to wash your face with soap, you should choose a soap that contains moisturizing cream or oil, and after washing, you should lightly blot your face with a paper towel, wipe it with toner and immediately apply a moisturizing cream.
When exfoliating the upper layers of the epidermis, you should avoid using alcohol-based products or products with lanolin.
If the skin is peeling and tight after washing, then it is recommended to use oil to cleanse the skin. In this case, sesame oil helps remove dirt well.
For dry skin prone to flaking, it is important to choose a cream for a certain time of year (it is worth remembering that the cream should be applied to the face half an hour before going outside).
When choosing a cream, you should give preference to those that contain fatty components; they will create a protective film on the epidermis and prevent moisture loss.
A simple folk recipe will help get rid of peeling and dryness: dissolve honey in a small amount of water, apply a thin layer to the face and lightly massage in a circular motion (if necessary, you can wet your fingers in a honey solution). This procedure will not only moisturize, but also exfoliate the dead layer of cells. After the massage, rinse your face well and apply a cream with a moisturizing effect.
Irritation, dryness and redness of the skin of the face
Dry skin, irritation and redness of the face can appear for various reasons, ranging from cold wind to allergic reactions.
Irritation and dryness often appear due to improper care, too dry indoor air, as well as stress or an unbalanced diet.
When digestion is disrupted, decay products and toxins enter the blood, which can affect the condition of the epidermis, especially on the face.
In addition, excessive facial care can also cause irritation; for example, if you wipe your face with ice in winter, your skin may become red and irritated.
If redness or irritation occurs, you should use special products that soothe, moisturize and relieve irritation.
In this case, only gentle cleansing with special products (milk, foam) is suitable; you should temporarily avoid alcohol-based lotions and tonics.
If the epidermis often becomes irritated, you should choose a protective cream to use before going outside.
If the irritation is caused by an allergy, it is necessary to eliminate contact with the allergen and consult a specialist who, if necessary, will recommend antihistamines.
Dryness and redness of the skin of the face
Redness and dryness of the facial skin can be associated with various factors.
Quite often, dryness and redness appear as a result of external adverse factors; in this case, a specially selected protective cream will help get rid of the problem.
If the redness is permanent, then in most cases the cause is a disease of the internal organs. Particular attention should be paid to sudden reddening of the face, without any apparent reason.
In addition, redness and xerosis can appear due to improper or excessive facial skin care.
The most common cause of changes in complexion is allergy. It can be triggered by a variety of allergens – food, medications, plants, dust, cosmetics.
To get rid of redness on the face, you should first establish the cause of such a reaction of the body. If redness appeared after going outside in windy or frosty weather, then you need to use a special soothing and moisturizing cream, in case of allergic reactions, you need to eliminate contact with the allergen.
It is also important to choose the "right" cosmetics for facial care. You should buy only those that match your skin type, and do not get carried away with applying and using several products at once, and do not use scrubs or peels more than twice a week.
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Severe dryness of facial skin
Severe dryness of the facial skin, as mentioned, is manifested by tightness and peeling. If you are bothered by dryness of the face, the first thing you need to do is to give up regular hard soap, which contains alkali. With severe xerosis, you need to use special moisturizing products for washing (foams, milk, gels, etc.), wipe the skin with lotion or toner, and after cleansing, be sure to apply cream for dry skin. If even after this, xerosis does not go away, you can add a few drops of coconut or olive oil to the jar of cream.
Before going to bed, you should definitely apply a vitamin moisturizing cream to your face, preferably one with a cell regeneration effect.
If your skin is very dry, you should not use masks that contain clay, peeling, or products that contain alcohol.
Dry skin in winter
During cold weather, blood circulation in the upper layers of the epidermis becomes worse, metabolic processes slow down, sebaceous glands produce fewer substances that retain moisture. In addition, dry air in the room greatly affects the condition of the skin, it becomes dry, tight, peeling, redness appears.
Dry skin of the face in winter is quite common and in this case special protective products and proper care will help.
Natural oils are ideal for dry skin, as they moisturize well and improve the condition of the epidermis. The oil can be applied in its pure form (rub a few drops in your palms and apply to damp skin) or added to your cream.
If your skin is dry, it is contraindicated to use alkaline cleansers, especially in winter. It is best to choose a special product (gel, foam or liquid soap) that contains a moisturizing complex.
It is worth remembering that even in winter it is necessary to drink at least two liters of clean water (in addition to coffee, tea, etc.), especially if there is a tendency to xerosis and peeling.
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Itching and dry skin of the face
Itching and dryness of the skin of the face may appear after washing or applying cosmetics, and often there is redness, a feeling of tightness, and burning. In this case, most likely, the skin care products were chosen incorrectly, the cosmetics turned out to be of poor quality or their expiration date has expired and you should stop using them.
Itching can also be associated with allergies, in this case, in addition to dryness and itching, there is lacrimation, redness of the eyes, redness, suffocation, swelling. If allergy symptoms intensify, avoid contact with the allergen and consult a doctor.
In some cases, itching and tightness are a sign of a dermatological disease (seborrhea, eczema, fungal or viral infections, etc.), hormonal disorders (thyroid dysfunction, diabetes, etc.), improper functioning of the liver or kidneys, which leads to the accumulation of waste products in the body.
Dry skin of the eyelids
The sun, cold air, poor ecology and other unfavorable conditions can cause not only xerosis of the skin of the face, but also of the eyelids. The delicate skin of the eyelids is extremely susceptible not only to external but also internal factors, such as constant stress, lack of sleep, bad habits, etc.
Improper care and poor quality cosmetics also worsen the condition of the eyelids and in some cases lead to irreversible consequences.
If the skin of the eyelids is dry, even with proper care, the cause most likely lies in inflammatory diseases of the epidermis, eye infections, improper functioning of the sebaceous glands around the eyes, allergic reactions.
Special care will help get rid of tight and dry skin around the eyes - using gentle cleansers, moisturizers, masks, etc.
Recently, face and body care products prepared from natural ingredients at home have become increasingly popular.
A mask made from quail egg yolks and vegetable oil (preferably olive oil) has a good moisturizing effect. For one yolk you will need a few drops of oil, mix the mixture well and apply it to dry, clean eyelids for 10-15 minutes. Then remove the residue with a cotton pad soaked in warm water, after the procedure you can apply a moisturizing eyelid cream.
Cosmetologists recommend a simple but very effective method for dry eyelids, which will not only help moisturize the epidermis, but also relieve irritation, inflammation or itching: peel a small, dense aloe leaf, crush it and apply the resulting paste to the eyelids, after 10-15 minutes remove the remains with a damp cloth.
Skin and inflammatory diseases will require specialist consultation and special treatment.
Dry skin of the lips
When lips are excessively dry, cracks often appear. The reasons for this condition can be different, from decorative cosmetics containing a large number of aggressive substances that corrode the delicate skin of the lips, to health problems.
The skin of the lips can indicate the general state of health; often, with a lack of vitamins B, C or an excess of vitamin A in the body, it becomes dry and cracked (in this case, problems with hair and nails also appear).
Dryness and cracks in the lips appear due to improper functioning of the digestive organs, viral or infectious diseases, allergic reactions (for example, to toothpaste).
Smoking, cold wind, ultraviolet radiation, the habit of biting nails or various objects (pen, pencil) also have a negative effect on the condition of the epidermis of the eyelids, in addition, they cause severe xerosis of the skin of the face.
You can help the skin on your lips with the help of special products (moisturizing lipsticks, creams, etc.) or folk methods. For moisturizing and nourishing, folk medicine recommends using honey, which you just need to apply to your lips for 15-20 minutes.
Dry skin of the nose
Dry skin on the nose appears due to improper facial care, lack of moisture, allergic rhinitis, lack of vitamins, inflammatory diseases of the nasal mucosa, etc.
Some experts believe that dry skin of the face in general or the nose, cheeks, forehead can appear due to the wrong choice of cleansers. Many often make the mistake of using antibacterial or deodorant soap for washing, which dries the epidermis too much. Dermatologists recommend choosing soap with a high fat content (with olive, sea buckthorn oil).
Dryness of the wings of the nose can appear against the background of a runny nose, with frequent rubbing with a napkin, usually, after the runny nose passes, xerosis and peeling disappear.
With a lack of vitamins, especially in early spring, dryness can affect not only the nose, but also the face, hands, etc.
In case of dryness and peeling, you should not peel off the dry layer of the skin, as this can damage the lower layers of the epidermis. To eliminate xerosis, special moisturizers should be applied to the affected areas, preferably on a fat basis.
In case of severe xerosis, when creams do not help, you should consult a dermatologist; medication treatment may be required (ointments, vitamin complexes, restorative masks, etc.).
Who to contact?
Treatment of dry facial skin
Cosmetologists consider dry skin a serious problem. The disruption of the sebaceous glands, the inability of cells to retain moisture are serious disorders that require treatment. Experts believe that dry skin requires moisturizing with professional products, and home remedies can be used as an auxiliary treatment.
Today, a wide variety of cosmetic procedures are used for dry skin, among which are:
- hot compress
- salt cleansing
- peeling
- masks with collagen
- cosmetic massage
- biorevitalization (injection of hyaluronic acid).
During a visit to a cosmetologist, the specialist selects procedures and products for treating dry skin individually.
Xerosis of the face is one of the most popular cosmetic procedures today.
Remedies for dry skin
Dry skin of the face requires moisturizing, which can be provided by various serums, gels, creams with a moisturizing effect. Among modern developments, products with hyaluronic acid, which intensively moisturizes the epidermis, are very popular.
Products containing phospholipids, ceramides, and fatty acids also have good moisturizing properties.
Mask for dry skin
Dry skin on your face can be treated with home remedies.
A compress with milk softens and saturates with moisture well; this procedure will remove the keratinized layer, and lactic acid will help the cells retain moisture.
For a compress, you need to put a napkin soaked in cold milk on your face for five minutes. You can replace milk with kefir or whey.
Beeswax helps well with xerosis. To prepare a moisturizing mixture, you will need wax (1 teaspoon), lanolin (2 tablespoons), olive oil (1 tablespoon), soy aloe (1 teaspoon).
Mix all ingredients well and wipe problem areas of the face several times a day if any discomfort occurs.
For very dry skin, it is recommended to use an oatmeal mask: pour oatmeal (1 tbsp) with hot milk (4 tbsp), let it swell for 10 minutes. Apply the resulting mixture warm to the face and leave for 15 minutes, rinse with warm water.
Cream for dry skin
As already mentioned, dry skin of the face occurs for various reasons, but this condition of the epidermis requires special care. In particular, regular use of moisturizing creams.
An effective moisturizing cream should contain vitamins A, E, C and B vitamins, which are extremely important for the health of the skin. The cream should also contain moisturizers, natural oils (jojoba, avocado, olive) and components for protection from ultraviolet rays.
Creams with added passion fruit extract, algae, macadamia, palm wax, and honey have a good moisturizing effect.
Vitamins for dry skin
Dry skin of the face is quite an unpleasant condition that requires a comprehensive approach to treatment. In addition to using moisturizers, you should adjust your diet and add foods rich in vitamins A, E, B, C to your diet.
Vitamins B and A are important for the health of the epidermis, they help cells retain moisture, have an antioxidant effect, and promote cell renewal. Xerosis often appears due to a lack of these vitamins in the body, which can be found in carrots, pumpkin, milk, apricots, egg yolks, cheese, fish, fresh fruit, brewer's yeast, and meat.
Vitamin C helps tissues form, promotes renewal, increases collagen production, and improves blood circulation. Vitamin C is found in citrus fruits, tomatoes, and rose hips.
Vitamin E has an antioxidant effect, protects the epidermis from harmful effects and free radicals.
This vitamin is present in beans, nuts, green leafy vegetables, and wheat germ oil.
Dry skin of the face causes a feeling of tightness, leads to the appearance of peeling, in addition, such epidermis loses elasticity, firmness earlier, is prone to the formation of premature wrinkles. Dry skin requires constant moisturizing, otherwise irreversible processes (deep wrinkles) may occur. In addition to using special care products for dry skin, it is important to add foods rich in vitamins to your daily menu, especially A, E, C, B.