The Complete Guide to Understanding, Treating, and Preventing Dry Skin on the Face
You might think dry skin is something people only deal with during the winter, but that’s not the case. Dryness can affect your skin year-round, and it’s one of our clients’ most common skincare concerns.
If you’re experiencing itching, flaking, tightness, or any other irritation or discomfort, you probably have dry skin.
In this post, we answer some of our clients' most pressing questions about managing their dry skin. So stick around and learn more about treating and preventing dry skin.
What Causes Dry Skin?
The epidermis, the skin’s outermost protective layer, has natural oils and dead skin that work together to keep it soft and smooth. When the epidermis loses moisture and lipids, the moisture barrier weakens, resulting in irritants breaking through and penetrating it causing the skin to dry out. Common reasons for dry skin include:
Age — As you age, your skin produces fewer natural oils, and the skin becomes thinner, making it more susceptible to dryness.
Dry air — Indoor and outdoor air that lacks humidity is drying to your skin.
Certain medications — Dry skin is a side effect of acne, cholesterol-lowering and high blood pressure medications.
Chemicals — Chlorine and cleaning supplies can cause dry skin.
Health conditions — People with hypothyroidism, atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, diabetes and kidney disease are at a higher risk of suffering from dry skin.
Frequent hand washing — Washing your hands is good, but you don’t want to overdo it to protect the skin’s lipids.
Long, hot showers or baths — Too-hot water can strip the skin of its natural oils.
Sun exposure — Too much time in the sun causes your skin to lose oils and moisture and age prematurely.
Also, did you know that dry skin is a symptom of long COVID?
Yes, the pandemic might be in the rearview mirror, but if you suffer from long COVID symptoms, dry skin might be a problem for you.
Signs You Have Dry Skin
Believe it or not, according to the American Academy of Dermatology Association, there are nine signs of dry skin, but not all affect your face. If you have severely dry skin or even slightly dry skin, these are the signs you might notice on your face:
Dehydration
When your skin becomes dehydrated, you might notices patches of skin on your face that are itchy. Fine lines might also be more noticeable.
Flaking
Dry skin appears scaly. The skin on your face might peel or flake off when it’s too dry.
Bumps
Have you noticed rough, bumpy patches of skin that aren’t pimples? This is a sign that your skin needs more moisture.
Redness
Many conditions can cause skin redness, including rosacea, eating spicy foods, and consuming too much alcohol. However, skin conditions like eczema can cause dry, itchy skin that takes on a red hue.
Acne
You might associate acne with oily skin, but it can also be a sign of dry skin. When dead skin cells build up, dry skin can occur and the buildup can block the pores, making it more likely for bacteria to build up in the skin and cause breakouts.
How to Treat Dry Skin on Your Face
Here’s some good news: You don’t have to live with dry skin. Simple spa and at-home treatments can soothe irritation and help combat dry skin. Let’s start with what you can do at home to keep facial skin soft and properly moisturized.
At-home remedies for dry face skin
To heal your dry facial skin and keep it from returning, start by washing your face with cool water and using a hydrating cleanser. We recommend ZO® Skin Health Hydrating Cleanser to wash away impurities while keeping dryness and irritation away or the Epionce Milky Lotion Cleanser for normal to dry skin.
After cleansing your skin, you want to make sure to restore moisture. Use a moisturizer or serum that’s best for your skin type and addresses your skin concerns. The best way to find the right products for your skin type is to consult a skincare specialist. Our estheticians are experts at helping you create a skincare routine that’s customized and properly nourishes all day for brighter, softer and healthier skin.
What are the best products/treatments in the spa for dry skin on the face?
If you want to give your skin the best dry skin treatment, you can’t go wrong with professional products and spa treatments. At The Color Room, we have an array of skincare services for our clients who suffer from itchy, flaky, and peeling skin.
The HydraFacial™ is hands-down the most popular treatment that gives dry skin a run for its money. You’ve probably heard us sing its praises a time or two or a million—and for good reasons! It’s a three-step facial treatment that infuses the skin with high-grade, nourishing serums that correct damaged skin, promote cell regeneration, and remove deep-set impurities while deeply moisturizing it. Many of our clients include add-on services like dermaplaning to exfoliate and remove flaky skin and prepare the skin’s surface to readily accept the serums.
Another spa treatment you might want to consider to reverse damage caused by dry skin is microneedling. It’s true that the side effects of microneedling can cause redness and dry, flaky skin, but moisturizers can soothe the irritation, and the benefits far outweigh these effects. Microneedling is great for combating long-term dry skin problems by minimizing fine lines and wrinkles and tightening loose, crepey skin around the eyes and jawline.
HydroPure™ Color Correcting Serum with Hyaluronic Acid & CoQ10
Ultra-hydrating color-correcting serum that uses a sheer green tint to visually neutralize redness while helping to soothe the skin and combat redness-causing dryness.
Ask our experts if this is right for you!
Dry vs. Dehydrated Skin – What Are The Differences?
Is there a difference between dry and dehydrated skin? The answer is YES!
Dry skin is often a long-term condition influenced by genetics, using harsh skincare products, medical conditions, hormones, aging, and exposure to extreme temperatures, hot and cold.
Dehydrated skin is temporary, although equally damaging to the skin barrier. Most of the time, dehydrated skin can be replenished by consuming more water and avoiding extreme weather conditions. You might notice your skin’s more dehydrated when you travel, especially in an airplane. Unlike dry skin, dehydrated skin can affect all people, even those with oily skin.
How to apply a dry or dehydrated skin care routine?
First, determine if you have dry skin or dehydrated skin care. Knowing the difference will affect your routine and the products you use. If your skin is dry, invest in a good hydrating cleanser, use nourishing serums and moisturizers and ask your esthetician to recommend dry-skin facial services.
Dehydrated skin bounces back pretty fast when you focus on moisturizing and consuming plenty of water. Also, if your skin’s looking and feeling super parched, book a HydraFacial™ treatment for an instant moisturizing boost.
Hydration vs. Moisture – What Are The Differences and Which Do You Need?
When we talk about hydrating and moisturizing the skin, we’re not talking about the same thing. If your skin is dehydrated, you need to increase your skin cells’ water content. To do this, you need hydrating products like:
Hyaluronic Acid
Aloe
Marine extracts
Glycerin
Urea
AHA
Propylene glycol
By the way, did you know that hyaluronic acid is one of the best acids for dry skin?
It has humectant properties that draw moisture into your skin and keeps it hydrated all day long, and it doesn't take much to give your skin that dewy, glowing appearance.
Dry skin needs moisturizing products that will create a barrier to keep water in the cells and stop them from escaping. Two of our favorite moisturizing creams are Epionce’s Renewal Facial Cream because its formula reverses signs of aging by softening fine lines and wrinkles while giving you visibly smoother, tighter skin—all while combating dryness.
Epionce’s Intensive Nourishing Cream is another excellent choice for those with dry skin, as it can provide intense hydration, repair the skin's barrier, and improve overall skin health and appearance.
ZO Skin Health’s Growth Factor Serum can be an effective solution for dry skin as well, as it provides targeted hydration and supports the skin's natural ability to retain moisture and protect itself.
What to Eat When You Have Dry Skin
You know that drinking water can keep your skin nourished, but so can the food you put in your body. In fact, dry skin can be a symptom of being deficient in the following vitamins:
Vitamin A
Vitamin C
Vitamin D
Vitamin E
Zinc
Selenium
A diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids is also highly beneficial to your skin. According to the National Library of Medicine, “omega-3 fatty acids are thought to influence the skin barrier” and include alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Some foods that contain high amounts of omega-3 fatty acids include:
Cold-water fatty fish, such as mackerel, tuna, sardines, and salmon.
Flaxseed
Chia seeds
Walnuts
Soybean oil
Canola oil
Olive oil
Oh, and don’t forget about avocados. They’re a great source of alpha-linolenic acid and are a trendy millennial breakfast/lunch item that’s great for anyone of any age!
There you have it! Your complete guide to tackling dry skin on the face. We tried our best to answer all our clients' most common questions, but we also know that everyone’s skin is unique. So, if you have skincare concerns, whether it’s about drying, flaking skin, oily skin, or something else, we’re here to help.
Give The Color Room in Wentzville a call at 636-856-1400 or book an appointment online to meet with one of our skincare specialists and get the best skin of your life!