How To Get Rid Of Dry Skin On The Face

Dry facial skin will feel tight and uncomfortable. Fortunately, there are some simple ways you can help prevent this. Changing your washing routine can help reduce dryness. You can also reduce water loss by showering faster and using a humidifier. Adjusting your diet and taking supplements can also help. If all of the above doesn’t work and you still have dry skin, see your general practitioner or dermatologist.

Table of Contents

Adjust your washing routine

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Choose a gentle cleanser that’s free of fragrance, alcohol, and colorants. These ingredients can make the skin drier. You should read the label of the cleanser bottle when you go to buy it to make sure it doesn’t contain these ingredients. It is best to choose products for dry skin. ^{[1] X Harvard Medical Schop Trusted Source Go to Source}

For example, you can buy a soap-free cleanser like Cetaphil or Aquanil.

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Wash your face twice a day with lukewarm water and a mild cleanser. Wet your face by scooping water in the palm of your hand and patting your face. Use your fingertips to rub the cleanser over your skin in small circular motions, then splash water on your face again to wash off the soap. ^{[2] X Trusted Source American Academy of Dermatpogy Go to Source}

Don’t rub your skin with a sponge or washcloth, as this will strip more of the oil from the skin, making it even more dry. ^{[3] X Harvard Medical Schop Trusted Source Go to Source}
Do not use hot water to wash your face, as hot water will dry out the skin more.

Tips : Wash your face in the morning after waking up and at night before sleeping. Don’t wash your face more than once, because your face will dry out if you wash it too much. However, it’s important to wash your face when you’re sweating a lot, such as after exercising.

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Pat your face dry with a clean towel. After washing your face, pat your skin dry with a clean, dry towel. Do not rub the towel against your skin to avoid further drying of the skin. Gently pat the towel all over your face to dry. ^{[4] X Trusted Source American Academy of Dermatpogy Go to Source}

You can use regular cotton towels, or try microfiber towels or t-shirts for even more softness.

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Choose moisturizers that contain oils, shea butter, or other emollients. These ingredients work to treat dry skin on the face. Read the product label to see if one or two of these ingredients are present. You can also choose a moisturizing cream or ointment instead of a lotion. Look for products labeled “intensive” or specifically made for dry skin. ^{[5] X Trusted Source American Academy of Dermatpogy Go to Source}

Other ingredients that also work to hydrate dry skin include dimethicone, glycerin, hyaluronic acid, lactic acid, lamb fat, mineral oil, petroleum jelly, and urea. Read the ingredients when choosing to buy a moisturizer to see if it contains one of the ingredients above.

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Apply moisturizer immediately after washing your face. This is the best time to lock in moisture and treat dry skin. Apply enough moisturizer to cover your face and let it soak into your skin. Use your fingers to spread the cream all over your face and neck. ^{[6] X Trusted Source American Academy of Dermatpogy Go to Source}

You probably only need a pea-sized amount of cream to cover your entire face, so you should only use a small amount at first, then add more if needed.

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Apply aloe vera gel for an extra boost of moisture. Apply aloe vera gel to your skin 1-2 times a day to help relieve dry skin. You can use aloe vera gel to replace or supplement your usual moisturizer after washing your face. Apply an adequate amount of aloe vera to the entire face and let it absorb into the skin. ^{[7] X Trusted Source PubMed Central Go to Source}

Pure aloe vera gel is available at drugstores or cosmetic stores.
Make sure the aloe vera gel product does not contain any other ingredients, such as fragrances, dyes, alcohol, or lidocaine (which numbs the sunburn). These ingredients often cause skin irritation.

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Nourish your skin weekly with a manuka honey mask. A manuka honey mask can help relieve dry skin. ^{[8] X Trusted Source PubMed Central Go to source} Apply a thin layer of manuka honey to face after cleansing. Let the honey stay on the skin for 10 minutes, then wash it off with warm water. Apply 1-2 times a week to deeply moisturize the skin. ^{[9] X Research Source}

Manuka honey is available at specialty food stores or online.
If you can’t find manuka honey, you can use regular honey.

Keep skin moisture

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Use a humidifier at home. A humidifier will add moisture in the air, and this can help reduce dry skin. Turning on a humidifier at home is one way to lock moisture in your skin and reduce dryness. Try running a humidifier in your bedroom at night to increase the humidity in the air. ^{[10] X Trusted Source American Academy of Dermatpogy Go to Source}

You can also use a humidifier during the day while at home for a few hours. Bring the device into the room and turn it on.

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Limit bathing time to 10 minutes. Standing in the shower or taking a long bath can be comforting, but it can make your skin even more dry. You should limit bathing time to about 5-10 minutes to limit the drying effect of the skin. ^{[11] X Trusted Source American Academy of Dermatpogy Go to Source}

Tip : If you open the bathroom door while showering, the steam will escape and make your skin drier.

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Avoid sitting directly in front of a heat source to warm up. If you feel cold, wear a warm coat and wrap a blanket to keep warm. Don’t sit right in front of a fireplace or heater, as these will further dry out your skin. ^{[12] X Trusted Source American Academy of Dermatpogy Go to Source}

On extremely cold nights, try using an electric blanket to keep warm. If you don’t have an electric blanket, you can put the blanket in the dryer for about 5-10 minutes and then take it out and wrap it around your body.

Adjust your diet and use supplements

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Drink water whenever you feel thirsty. Drinking enough water for your body will help your skin stay healthy and not dry easily. Drink a glass of water every time you feel thirsty and when you would normally drink something, such as during meals or after exercise. ^{[13] X Trusted Source PubMed Central Go to Source}

Carry a reusable water bottle with you and refill water to drink throughout the day.

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Avoid alcoholic beverages or limit drinking to no more than 2 days at a time. Alcohol can dry out the skin because alcohol is a diuretic, which means it draws water out of the body. If you drink a lot and have dry skin, you will notice a noticeable improvement in your skin when you stop drinking. If you do drink, try to limit it to just once every 2 days and no more than 1-2 cups. ^{[14] X Research Source}

You may notice the effect that stopping alcohol has on your skin after a few weeks.

Tip : If you plan to abstain from alcohol for 30 days or longer, try taking pictures before and after abstaining from alcohol to see the change in your skin from not drinking.

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Eat foods rich in vitamin C to keep your skin healthy. Vitamin C is a very good nutrient for skin health. If your facial skin is dry, start eating more foods rich in vitamin C to see if that helps. Some good options include: ^{[15] X Trusted Source Oregon State University Linus Pauling Institute Go to source}

Citrus fruits like oranges, grapefruits, lemons and limes
Kiwi, mango, papaya
Strawberries, blueberries and raspberries
Cantaloupe and green melon
Broccoli, Cauliflower, Kale
Potatoes and sweet potatoes
Red bell pepper

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Try taking a beauty vitamin for skin, hair, and nails to improve overall skin health. Vitamins that beautify skin, hair, nails make the skin healthier and reduce dryness if you use it for a long time. Find a multivitamin specially formulated for skin, hair, and nails and take it daily according to the manufacturer’s instructions. These supplements often contain a blend of vitamins A, B, C and E, but some products include omega-3 fatty acids and other nutrients. ^{[16] X Trusted Source PubMed Central Go to Source}

Consult your doctor before starting any dietary supplement, especially if you are taking prescription or non-prescription medications.

Get medical help

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Call your doctor if you notice red, itchy, cracked, or bleeding skin. If your skin is red, itchy, cracked, or bleeding, call your doctor to make an appointment as soon as possible. These can be signs that the skin is infected or is about to become infected if left untreated. Your doctor can treat cracks in your skin with a combination of medication and a wet dressing. ^{[17] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}

Warning : A rash, swelling, pain, or oozing of pus anywhere on the face can be a sign of a skin infection. You need to see a doctor quickly for treatment. ^{[18] X Trusted Source MedlinePlus Go to Source}

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See a dermatologist for a prescription for a dry skin cream in severe cases. If dry skin doesn’t improve despite everything, you may need to see a dermatologist. Your doctor may prescribe a topical cream or ointment to rehydrate the skin and relieve tightness. ^{[19] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}

If you have a medical condition that makes your skin even more dry, such as psoriasis, your doctor may also prescribe medication to treat it.

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Have your doctor check your thyroid. Hypothyroidism, which occurs when the thyroid gland is underactive, can also cause dry skin. This disease needs to be diagnosed by a doctor or medical professional and treated with prescription medication. Other symptoms of hypothyroidism include: ^{[20] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}

Tired
Sensitive to cold
Weight gain
Swollen face
Hair loss
Menstruation
Depression
Memory impairment ^{[21] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to source}

Advice

You may need to try a variety of cleansers and facial products to find the right one. If the first product doesn’t work, try another.
If your lips are dry, you need to use lip balm as well.

Steps

Adjust your washing routine

Keep skin moisture

Adjust your diet and use supplements

Get medical help

Advice

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