Dry skin isn't just an annoying flaky look — if your skin dries out too much, it may keep splitting. So it's natural to want to fix this and related skin conditions as soon as possible.
For some people, dryness is simply a genetic trait. But your skin could also dry out because of environmental factors, like harsh winter air or hot showers. Learning the causes of dry skin is the best way to avoid it.
Stop asking "why is my skin so dry" by putting together a simple hydrating grooming routine that only takes a few minutes, restoring lost moisture so your face looks smooth.
What Causes Dry Skin?
If your sebaceous glands, which manage sebum production and release natural oil, aren't active enough, your skin dries out. These natural lipids trap water inside your cells to protect your skin from negative skin conditions. But when there isn't enough oil, the water evaporates fast, leaving your skin rough, flaky, and tight.
Can Dry Skin Be a Permanent Skin Type?
Yes, for some people, dry and flaky skin is the result of a genetic trait that means your glands naturally have less sebum productiopn than normal. For those people, pores are typically small or barely visible, or the skin glands aren't able to produce much surface oil. This can also lead to sensitive skin, another of the common skin types.
Natural oil production also slows down as men age, so dry skin is more common after thirty.
Can Dry Skin Be a Temporary Condition?
Temporary dry skin and dry face skin is a common occurrence, and it happens as a result of your daily environment, weather, or grooming habits. If you're asking "why is my skin so dry and flaky," think about whether you've been exposed to the following:
- Cold weather: As it gets cooler, the air also gets drier, so your skin can dry out quickly. Harsh elements are tough on your skin.
- Indoor heating and air conditioning: Heating or cooling units in a house or office reduces the humidity inside, making the indoor air very dry.
- Hot showers and baths: Long exposure to hot water breaks down the oily layer protecting your skin, drying it out.
- Harsh soaps: While many regular soaps and body washes get rid of grease, they also inadvertently strip your skin of its natural moisture.
- Strong winds: If you're exposed to high-speed winds, water can evaporate from your skin quite quickly, leaving it dry and flaky.
- Too much sun: The sun's UV rays can burn and dry out the outer layer of your skin.
How Does Aging Cause Dry Skin?
As you get older, your skin naturally produces less oil and holds less water. The cell turnover slows down, so your body makes less natural hyaluronic acid. As a result, your skin's barrier wears thinner.
This combination leads to less elastic skin, which is why wrinkles start to form and look deeper.
How Should You Treat Dry Skin?
Treating dry and flaky skin takes a daily routine that aims to restore your deep moisture while protecting the outer layer of your skin. It's best to use gentle, non-foaming cleansers and apply rich moisturizers right after washing. Make sure to choose high-quality, nourishing products to prevent flaking and redness, keeping your skin smooth.
What Is the Best Face Wash for Dry Skin?
The ideal face wash to treat dry skin is a hydrating cleanser like our Purifying Charcoal Face Wash. Its formula gently removes the daily dirt and grime that collects on your face while leaving the essential oils and skin barrier intact.
The best options rely on a combination of gentle cleansers and plant-based oils, rather than harsh artificial agents that strip the skin. When you're looking for a good cleanser, check for these key benefits:
- Barrier Protection: The formula should actively reinforce your skin's surface, helping it hold on to its moisture during and after your wash.
- Deep Nourishment: Ingredients like jojoba oil, olive oil, or hyaluronic acid absorb into the skin and keep it hydrated.
- Mild Pore Clearing: Clarifying ingredients, like gentle charcoals or clays, should be balanced with heavier moisturizers so the cleanser pulls out impurities without drying your skin.
What Is the Best Moisturizer for Dry Skin?
A rich lotion, like our Daily Essential Face Moisturizer, is the best option amongst skincare products to moisturize dry skin. Make it a habit to apply your face cream daily, so you can seal moisture in your skin and protect against environmental factors.
The right formula uses penetrative ingredients that absorb quickly into the skin to get rid of tight, flaky spots. If you're buying a moisturizer for dry skin, check for these key ingredients:
- Hyaluronic Acid: This acts like a sponge, drawing water deep into your skin to plump up dry cells and lock in moisture.
- Aloe Vera: The cooling effect of aloe vera calms irritated areas, helping you avoid itchiness and redness.
- Jojoba Oil: Because jojoba oil mimics your skin's natural oils, it can help rebuild your broken outer layer of protection.
What Is the Best Skincare Routine for Dry Skin?
The best skincare routine for dry skin calls for washing and moisturizing your face in the morning and at night, and using a facial serum while the skin's still damp to maximize hydration. Our Reviving Hyaluronic Acid Facial Serum uses powerful peptides to replenish your skin and prevent the early wrinkles that normally develop with dry skin. These skincare products work together to prevent dryness.
What Should You Avoid with Dry Skin?
Using harsh products, over-scrubbing, and skipping moisturizer are the worst habits for dry skin. They ruin your skin's natural defenses, releasing the water it was holding so your face is left with dry, flaky skin.
Why Should You Avoid Harsh Products?
Harsh products take a heavy-handed approach to getting rid of gunk. Along with the dirt that collects on your skin through the day, their strong chemicals also strip your natural oils, leaving your skin raw and itchy. If you've started using new products and find yourself wondering "why is my skin so dry and flaky all of a sudden," make sure their ingredients don't include sulfates or other harmful chemicals.
Why Is Skipping Moisturizer Bad?
If you have dry skin, you need moisturizer to help your natural oils form a shield that locks in your water. Lotion acts like a blanket against cold air and dry indoor heat, so skipping it leads to issues like:
- Water evaporating quickly from your skin
- Lines looking deeper as your skin loses its plumpness
- Your face feeling stiff because you don't have enough natural moisture in your skin
Why Is Too Much Scrubbing Bad?
Heavy scrubbing tears up fragile cells. Though it feels nice because it gets rids of flakes on your skin, it leaves behind tiny scratches and redness that will last much longer. While scrubs can help, it's best to limit them to once a week, using an exfoliator like our Renewing Face Scrub that gets rid of dead skin cells while conditioning your face.
Why Do Hot Showers Hurt Dry Skin?
Exposure to hot water breaks up your natural oil layer that keeps your skin soft. It's the same reason you use hot water to clean your dishes — except you want to be much gentler with your skin than you are with your plates. That's why you should save your protective barrier and use warm water instead.
If you usually have very hot baths and showers, you'll notice the following issues:
- Itchy patches: The shock of sudden heat makes your blood rush, leaving drier areas look blotchy and feel itchy.
- Locked skin: Hot water dries your face so quickly that your skin tightens up, making it uncomfortable to even smile.
- Your daily lotion won't soak in: Because of how rough the heat makes your skin's surface, it's harder to absorb your moisturizer, so it mostly sits on top instead of doing its job.
Dry Skin FAQs
How Often Should You Wash Dry Skin?
Wash your skin twice a day with gentle skin cleansers, always following up immediately with your moisturizer to seal in your moisturizer for the day. If you work out in the middle of the day, splash your face with cool water to get rid of the dried sweat and avoid irritation. Remember, gentle skin care products are best.
Does Drinking Water Fix Dry Skin?
While drinking water is great for your overall health, it doesn't fix parched skin and dry patches on its own. Dry skin is the result of a weak skin barrier and not enough surface oil, not solely internal dehydration. So you need to use effective surface lotions and serums to help keep moisture inside your skin cells.
Can Dry Skin Cause Early Wrinkles?
Yes, dry face skin makes fine lines form and deepen on your face earlier. Because your skin doesn't have enough moisture, it loses its natural flexibility, making it easier to spot lines. Hydrating your skin regularly keeps it firm to help you look younger.
Why Is My Skin So Dry Even When I Moisturize?
If your skin is dry despite moisturizing, take a look at the products you use. You may be using a cheap lotion that's packed with synthetic fillers or heavy alcohols which don't absorb well. A harsh face soap can also damage your skin barrier faster than your lotion can fix it.
Can Cold Weather Cause Sudden Dry Skin?
Yes, cold weather drops humidity levels outside, and the heating you use when it's cold drops humidity levels indoors as well. As a result, your skin gets less external moisture. Use a richer moisturizer and add a serum to protect your face during cold winter months.
