Why is My Skin Flaky, and How Do I Get Rid of It?

Are you dealing with flaky skin? Don’t worry. You are not alone! Whether it’s because of those skincare products you were using or the cold, dry air, it can be irritating, making you feel like an ancient mummy with linen bandages falling off. 

We know that itching, dryness, and flaking are making you uncomfortable, and you are asking yourself, why is my skin flaky? This is why we decided to write this blog and answer all those questions.

Understanding the Skin

Before we jump to discussing the causes of flaky skin, it’s essential to understand your skin first. 

When you leave something rubber or leather out in the elements, like a ball, a bicycle seat cover, or a lazy boy recliner (we don’t judge here), the surface begins to dry rot. Repeated heatings and coolings paired with rain and sun slowly strip away moisture, causing the surface to crack and flake away.

The same thing can happen with your skin. The human body is roughly 60% water, and your skin contains between 10-20% of the stuff. To help keep this water where it belongs, your skin secretes an oil called sebum, forming a protective layer. 

Many things can adversely affect the skin’s outermost layer, scientifically known as the epidermis. This can cause rapid moisture loss, which causes a decrease in the function of the skin protective barrier. Then, as a result, there is abnormal sloughing of the skin’s outermost layer, which leads to the visible appearance of flaky skin.

Symptoms of Dry, Flaky Skin

Flaky skin alone isn’t a cause for alarm, even if it’s a bit itchy. Even pink or red flaky skin can be something you can control on your own. Some other common symptoms associated with it are:

• Cracked skin
• Dryness (xerosis)
• Redness 
• Itchy skin
• Skin tightness
• Burning sensation
• Increase sensitivity
• Scaly skin with a rough texture

Commonly affected areas of the body include Flaky skin on face, arms, feet, hands, and legs. However, it can appear anywhere on the body, even on the scalp.

Dry, flaky skin is usually all over the body, which is more visible in some parts and less visible in others. The redness may appear as pinkish on lighter skin tones and brown and grayish on darker skin tones.

Learn more about Flaky Skin from Dr. Eddie Valenzuela

• links coming soon…

Why is My Skin So Flaky?

Now let’s talk about something that has brought you this blog. The causes of those pesky flakes. Various factors can cause a lack of moisture on the skin and make it flake. We have listed some of the most prevalent ones.

Skin Barrier Dysfunction

This is the main reason why we experience flaky skin. The topmost layer of the skin contains a protective barrier that helps protect the skin against outside irritants and allergens. It also helps retain moisture inside the skin and keep it hydrated.

Once there is an issue with this barrier, or scientifically you can say you have an impaired skin barrier, the skin starts losing moisture more quickly, making you prone to developing skin conditions.

Dry Skin

People who already have dry skin type are more likely to experience flaking of skin. Especially during the winter season, the skin starts losing more moisture and becomes dry, causing it to crack, bleed, and flake. Especially if proper attention is not given and moisturizer is not applied.

Eczema

Eczema is known to cause dry, itchy, irritated skin. During eczema flare-ups, the skin barrier stops working properly leading to excess loss of moisture, inflammation, and irritated skin. Different types of eczema may affect your skin differently, but almost all of them can cause scaly, dry skin.

Two of the most common types, atopic dermatitis and contact dermatitis, are famous for causing severe flaky, scaly, dry, cracked skin.

Seborrheic Dermatitis

Seborrheic dermatitis is another skin condition that can cause flaking and scaling. Even though this condition is caused by inflammation and the excess presence of sebum and Malassezia yeast on the skin, it can still lead to flakes.

Dandruff is a less severe form of this condition that causes flakes on the scalp, beard, and eyebrows. When babies experience this condition, it is known as cradle cap. On children, it causes thick greasy scales and flakes on the scalp, eyebrows, and forehead, along with redness and irritation.

Psoriasis

Psoriasis is another inflammatory condition that can cause scales and flakes on the skin. When a person is experiencing this condition, their skin cells start renewing faster, leading to dead skin cells accumulating on the skin and appearing as flakes.

Fungal Infection

Fungal infections are caused when there is an excess production of fungus or yeast on the skin. This excess fungus, when combined with dead skin cells, sebum, and dirt, can cause a reaction leading to skin inflammation.

As a reaction, the skin starts to flake and become irritated and dry. Two common examples of fungal infection are Tinea Capitis (ringworm) and athlete’s foot.

Diabetes

Diabetes is often considered a culprit of dry skin, especially on the feet and lower legs. High blood sugar levels can draw fluids from the body, leaving it dry. 

This condition highly affects the body’s sympathetic, sensory, and peripheral nerves, which become the main factor in causing dry, itchy skin. This nerve damage is the reason why diabetic patients often experience a fatal condition known as gangrene.

Dehydration

Our body is made up of 60% water. In order to work properly, the body needs to maintain that level. However, once the body starts losing too much water for any reason, the body starts focusing more on distributing the remaining water to important organs rather than the skin.

This scenario causes the skin to become dry and flaky. Mild dehydration can be easily managed by drinking enough water. In severe cases, you may need to consult the doctor.   

Nutrient Deficiency

Our body needs all the vitamins and minerals to work properly. Deficiency in these vitamins can cause skin problems, medical conditions, and other complications. Flaking skin is often a result of a lack of certain types of vitamins in the body, such as vitamins C, D, E, Zinc, and Omega-3 fatty acids.

Extreme Weather

Temperature extremes are often to blame. Hot, dry air can cause your skin’s protective oils, as well as the water below it, to dry out. Cold weather can also cause flaky skin, particularly when moving from a cold exterior to a heated inside. In this case, you’ll often see flaking on the face and hands–the areas most exposed to the cold.

Skincare Products

Several chemicals, often found in everyday skincare products and cleansers, can strip away your skin’s protective oils, thus causing more moisture loss. The scientific name for the loss of moisture from the skin is “transepidermal water loss,” commonly abbreviated as TEWL.

There is a long list of factors that can cause flaky, irritated skin. If we had started mentioning all of them, you would probably have gotten bored, which is why we mentioned the most common ones.

Who is More at Risk?

Anyone can experience this skin condition. It knows no age or gender. However, some people are more prone to developing it than others. 

• People with dry skin type are more likely to experience it. 
• Anyone who is dealing with skin conditions like psoriasis, eczema, rosacea can easily develop flaking skin.
• People above the age of 40.
• Anyone having a skin barrier dysfunction or autoimmune disease.
• People living in areas with extreme cold and hot weather.
• Anyone having high blood sugar levels or diabetes.
• A person using skincare products with fragrances and harsh chemicals regularly.

The best thing about flaking is it can be managed by making a few lifestyle changes.

Flaky Skin in Newborns

Flaking or peeling skin in newborns is very common. It is something that you should not be worried about. It is a natural process that most infants experience in the first few weeks of their life. 

When the babies are in the womb, their skin is covered with a waxy substance known as vernix. But when they come into this world, their skin tries to adjust to the new environment, and as a result, that skin layering or vernix starts to flake off. 

It is usually temporary and gets better without any treatment in a few weeks. In the meantime, you should keep the baby’s skin moisturized with a fragrance-free baby moisturizing cream to prevent it from worsening.

However, if you notice that your baby is becoming fussy and irritated and experiencing redness, rashes, severe scaling, and cracks, consult a pediatrician immediately. 

There is a chance your baby might have other skin issues like eczema. 

Flaky Skin on Face and hands

The hands and face are the body parts most commonly affected by this skin issue. Using skin care products that contain skin-irritating ingredients and excessive washing of face are the most common causes of flaky facial skin. 

The same goes with the hands. Excessive washing or using soap and hand washes with fragrances and chemicals can strip away natural oils from the skin, leaving it dry, itchy, and irritated.

Even though dry peeling skin on face and hands is caused by a lack of moisture, it can easily be managed by keeping these areas moisturized with dry skin moisturizer that is gentle and free from harsh chemicals.

Flaky Scalp

When you experience dry skin, it is mostly all over the body. However, some body parts show prominent symptoms, while other parts don’t. The scalp is also one of those body parts that may show signs of flaking skin.

The dead skin cells on the scalp fall off according to a normal life cycle, making place for the new ones. But if you are experiencing dry skin for any reason, the lifecycle is disrupted, leading to excess flakes of dead cells. 

The skin, to keep your scalp moisturized, starts producing more sebum. This sebum then mixes up with dead skin cells and Malassezia yeast on the scalp leading to dandruff flakes. 

If you are also experiencing dandruff or its severe type, the seborrheic dermatitis, also known as cradle cap in babies, then use a dandruff shampoo that contains Pyrithione Zinc to get rid of the flakes, scales, itching, and irritation.

How to Get Rid of Dry Flaky Skin on Body

Flaky skin symptoms will often resolve on their own when the precipitating factors disappear. There are several things you can do to mitigate flaky skin on your own.

Dry Skin Care Routine

Your skincare routine must include the three following steps:

Cleanse

• Keep your skin clean as much as possible. Cleanse your skin with a gentle cleanser and wash your face at least twice daily, once in the morning and once at night.
• Cleanse your face with a face wash every time you come back home.
• Try taking short 5 to 10-minute baths or showers daily.
• Do not use harsh soaps and body washes to cleanse your body.
• After washing, pat dry your skin instead of rubbing it.

Exfoliate

The next important step is to exfoliate your skin. Exfoliation helps in removing dead skin cells, oil, and dirt from the skin. 

• Try exfoliating at least once a week.
• Never use a chemical exfoliator, as it can further exacerbate dryness. 
• Gently exfoliate your skin, and do not overdo it.
• Consider using a cradle cap brush to achieve this.

Moisturize

This is the last and most crucial step for dry, flaking skin.

• After you’ve toweled dry, apply a flaky skin moisturizing cream to trap moisture against the skin. 
• It is important to moisturize your skin at least twice daily, and you can re-apply whenever your skin feels dry. 
• If the cream you select contains natural ingredients like licorice extract to soothe redness, glycerin to help trap moisture in the skin, and petrolatum to protect the skin barrier, you have found an excellent product!

Choose the Right Products

In general, choose flaky skin products that are free of harsh chemicals like fragrances, dyes, parabens, sulfates, and phthalates. When looking at cleansers and shampoos, you want to make sure they contain ingredients that help drive moisture back into the skin.

Ingredients that perform this function are called humectants. Humectants help to battle transepidermal water loss.

Medication 

If you are experiencing severe flaking, itching, and irritation and it is not getting better by keeping the skin moisturized, then consult a dermatologist. They may recommend topical steroid creams and topical corticosteroids to alleviate the irritation and inflammation or oral antihistamines to reduce the itching. 

Wet wrap therapy is also advised in severe cases to keep the skin moisturized and reduce itching. Wet wrap therapy can be beneficial for people suffering from eczema. 

Home Remedies

There are various home remedies available on the internet. Some suggest the use of olive oil and coconut oil to soothe the skin, while others suggest an oatmeal bath and milk bath to reduce itching and irritation.

But don’t believe everything you see on the internet. Dr.Eddie, a practicing pediatrician, does not suggest using home remedies like olive oil or coconut oil without discussing with your doctor because every skin type is different, and some types of skin may react adversely towards these remedies leading to other issues.

Preventing Flaky Skin

Just like the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. It is more important to prevent the irritating condition because preventing flaking on the skin is easy.

All you have to do is take proper care of your skin.

Protection from Sun

Protect your skin from the sun with the help of sunscreen. Sun emits harmful UV rays, especially during peak hours, which can strip away moisture from your skin. Applying sunscreen acts as a natural skin barrier and protects your skin from those harmful rays.

Whenever you go out, avoid going directly into the sunlight. Either cover your body with clothes or use an umbrella.

Correct Bathing Routine

Very few people actually pay attention to their bathing routine without knowing how beneficial it can be in preventing skin issues. 

• Use lukewarm or cool water to take a bath instead of hot water.
• Limit your bathing time to 5 to 10 minutes.
• If you are taking a bath daily and suspect that your skin is becoming dry due to excess washing, start taking a bath on alternative days.
• Use mild fragrance-free shampoo and body wash to take baths. 
• Do not exfoliate your skin roughly using a loofah or washcloth.
• Moisturize your skin immediately after taking a bath when the skin is a little damp, primarily within 3 minutes of taking a bath.

Using a Humidifier

The air inside our house and office can become dry due to the use of air conditioners and central heaters. The lack of moisture in the air can lead to dry skin. For this, a humidifier can help add moisture to the air and prevent your skin from becoming dry and cracked. 

Hydrate Your Body

Hydrating your body is as important as moisturizing your skin. The best way to do this is by drinking plenty of water throughout the day.  

Avoid the Irritants

Flaky skin is mostly due to dryness and irritation that can be triggered by certain irritants and allergens like chemicals in skin care products, extreme weather conditions, dust mites, detergents, and nickel. 

Take notice of when your skin becomes more flaky or consult a doctor; they may be able to rule out the irritant by using a patch test. Once you know who the culprit is, try to stay away from it as much as possible.

Your Clothing Matters

Clothing can also irritate your skin and lead to skin issues. Favor soft, breathable cotton clothing and avoid rough, scratchy fabrics like wool. Use a mild detergent that is free from fragrance and harsh chemicals to wash your clothes and other household fabrics to prevent your skin from getting irritated.

Best Cleanser and Moisturizer for Dry Flaky Skin

If you are searching for the best moisturizer for dry, flaky skin or a cleanser, we have listed a few things you should look for and avoid in your dry skin care products. The product should contain humectants like

• Glycerin
• Provitamin B5
• Licorice root extract
• Niacinamide (Vitamin B3)
• Petrolatum
• Aloe vera
• Apple fruit extract
• Oatmeal extract

These can help moisturize your skin deep within and prevent it from flaking and scaling. These are the things that you should look for in a cleanser and moisturizer for sensitive skin, but do you know it’s more important to avoid certain ingredients if you want gentle, soft skin? 

Yes, here are the things that you should avoid in your moisturizer.

• Fragrances
• Sulfate (SLS, SLES)
• Paraben
• Phthalates
• Lanolin
• Soy
• Formaldehyde
• Alcohol
• Formaldehyde
• Hydroquinone

Keeping in mind how important it is to choose the right products for flaky, dry, irritated skin. Dr. Eddie has formulated Happy Cappy Products for dry skin that are free from any irritating chemicals. Happy Cappy Moisturizing Cream is rated as 100% safe, and Happy Cappy Daily Shampoo and Body wash is rated 91% safe for sensitive skin by SkinSAFE.

Conclusion

In short, there are many factors that can lead to flaky, scaly, dry, itchy skin. However, this skin condition can be easily managed by keeping the skin moisturized, following a strict skincare routine, and making a few lifestyle changes.

FAQs