Dry skin on the face is extremely unpleasant and must be treated at all costs. Dandruff, irritation and redness are telltale signs of sensitive skin. Everyone wants healthy, supple and attractive skin. Anyone who has ever had dry skin on their face knows how painful it is. Do you have dry, itchy and irritated skin? You're not alone. In fact, millions of people suffer from dry facial skin every day. But what is the cause of this unpleasant condition? And more importantly, what can you do about it? Read on and find out!
Which skin types are affected by dry skin on the face?
If you have dry skin, this often manifests itself in a pale complexion, thin scales and red patches. Your overall appearance may look tired. You may also see small lines on your cheeks and feel itching and tightness on your skin. The face is sometimes redder in certain areas. Is every skin type susceptible to dry facial skin, or is it due to advancing age and accelerated skin ageing? Here you can find out whether your skin is normal, oily, dry or combination.
- Normal facial skin: This is the ideal skin type. It is neither too dry nor too oily, and it is fairly smooth. External factors can cause normal skin to become dry, even if it was not previously excessively dry or oily.
- Dry facial skin: The rough, red, itchy patches on your face are a sign that you have dry skin.
- Oily facial skin: You only get dry skin if you wash your face frequently.
- Combination skin: The skin on our face can be roughly divided into two types: The T-zone is usually oily, while the cheeks are dry.
Pimples with dry skin on the face
Pimples on dry skin on the face are relatively unusual. The pores are finer and sebum production is lower than in oily skin, for example. This reduces the risk of blackheads and spots forming.
Dry skin on the face: these can be the causes
Healthy skin is able to regulate its oil and moisture content itself. Unfortunately, dry skin cannot do this and needs extra help from you. There are several reasons why dry skin cannot regulate its own oil and moisture levels like healthy skin does.
Causes of dry skin on the face:
- Incompatible make-up
- Older age leads to a slower metabolism of the skin
- Heat, cold, wind, air pollution
- Heating and air conditioning
- Smoking, alcohol consumption and diet all have an effect on your skin.
- Allergies, diseases and hereditary factors
- Long-term stress or mental illness
- Metabolic diseases
As you can see from the listed causes of dry skin, there are both internal and external factors. However, you should be able to take care of most of these problems yourself.
What causes facial skin to lose moisture?
Generally speaking, facial skin is far more sensitive and thinner than other parts of the body. Considering that the face is one of the few parts of the body that is exposed to sunlight, dirt and other factors in all seasons, this layer has to do an amazing job for us every day. Both internal and external influences can affect this performance.
External influences
In winter, we endure wind and cold outside temperatures as well as dry heated air on our faces. This ultimately leads to dehydrated skin. But frequent washing, strong care products and long hot baths or showers can also contribute to more dryness on the face. The protective film of the skin and facial skin is disrupted if you wash frequently, use aggressive skin care products or take long hot baths or showers. Excessive sun exposure can also have a negative effect on facial skin. We therefore recommend that you use a day cream with a sun protection factor of 30 or higher. When using sunscreen, make sure that it contains moisturizing ingredients in addition to the required sun protection factor.
Internal influences
In order for our skin to protect us from external influences, certain basic criteria must be met. However, these can vary greatly from person to person. The nature of our genes determines the color, barrier strength, moisture content and lipid content of our skin. This means that the moisture and lipid content of different people's skin can vary considerably under the same conditions.
Three of the most common internal causes of dry facial skin are heredity, hormones and age. When a person's hormone levels fluctuate (e.g. during puberty or menopause), this can also upset the skin's moisture balance. During the menopause, a woman's oestrogen levels drop, which usually leads to a greater loss of moisture and less sebum and lipid production in the skin - the skin becomes drier with age. When it comes to dry facial skin, both age and the menopause have an impact. The older you get, the drier your skin becomes and it loses its elasticity and suppleness. Occasionally, psychological stress also contributes to dry skin.
Where is the skin on the face particularly often dry?
- Under the eyes: The skin around the eyes is very sensitive and delicate. A lack of moisture or external stimuli quickly make themselves felt here, usually in the form of dry patches on the face.
- On the nose: If you blow your nose too often, it becomes irritated, red and cracked.
- On the cheeks: People with combination or dry skin and children often have rougher, flakier cheeks. The sebaceous glands are generally sparser in this area of the face than in the T-zone, for example.
- Dry lips: The lips have few sebaceous glands that produce oil, resulting in a dry environment. This sensitive area of skin is particularly susceptible to dryness in the winter months.
If you only have dry patches on some parts of your face, while the areas around your nose, chin and forehead are oily, this is called combination skin. Of course, dry and even very dry skin can also occur on other parts of the body such as the hands, feet, legs or elbows.
Difference between dry skin on the face and very dry skin
If your skin lacks moisture, it quickly becomes unbalanced and noticeable. Dry facial skin is then difficult to regulate and, if left unchecked, leads not only to increased wrinkles but also to premature skin ageing.
Dry skin:
- Feeling of tension
- Skin is prone to roughness.
Very dry skin:
- Feeling of very strong tension
- Skin with scales
- Brittle
- Itching
Dry facial skin in winter
To ensure that your facial skin stays healthy in winter, it needs to be properly cared for. Products with hyaluronic acid and ectoine are ideal for winter as they help to retain moisture. So you can effectively combat dry skin!
Home remedies for dry skin on the face
Many of us have the same problem in winter: cold and dry heating air irritate our skin and cause it to dry out. Soon it begins to itch, tighten and scratch badly. Many people immediately buy expensive creams or medicines that are guaranteed to make dry skin disappear quickly. However, with a few simple home remedies, you can regain healthy and radiant skin.
1. aloe vera
Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis Miller) is known for its ability to heal sunburns, but it can also be helpful in winter. Aloe vera gel can produce great results as a home remedy for dry skin : The translucent gel can be extracted at home and applied to flaky areas on the hands and face; it is also great for dry skin on the legs. You must not go out into the cold immediately after application, as the cold air quickly draws the moisture from the skin.
2. chamomile
Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) is a tea that is used by many to relieve gastrointestinal problems or colds. Less well known, however, are the positive effects of chamomile on the skin. Chamomile has both soothing and antibacterial properties, which can be very helpful for dry and cracked skin or even inflamed skin areas. The essential oils of chamomile are not only soothing, but also have a moisturizing effect when used in lotions or creams. If you don't have any of these to hand, chamomile tea can also effectively alleviate the symptoms. This home remedy has proven to be particularly helpful for dry hands - simply dip your hands briefly in lukewarm chamomile tea. Although chamomile has a soothing and antiseptic effect, it does not provide much moisture. You should apply a moisturizer afterwards to avoid dry skin.
3. carrots
Carrots are not only a healthy snack for winter, but also good for your skin! Carrots contain high amounts of vitamin A and beta-carotene, which are perfect for giving your skin the nutrients it needs. This home remedy for dry facial skin is a real insider secret: simply juice two carrots (ideally organic) and apply the 'toner' to the affected areas. Wait 20 minutes before rinsing off the carrot juice. Be careful, however, as repeated use or very sensitive skin can lead to slight discoloration.
4. marigold
Marigold (Calendula officinalis) is a popular household remedy for treating dry skin. The essential oils have antibacterial properties and can promote the rapid regeneration of irritated skin. One of the most common ways to use calendula is as an ointment, which you can easily make at home. 250 milliliters of extra virgin olive oil and 50 grams of fresh, finely chopped calendula flowers (only 25 grams for dried flowers) are mixed together and simmered over low heat for 15 minutes. Strain the oil and flower mixture through a linen cloth, leaving the flower stems behind. In the next step, add 25 grams of beeswax. Then heat the mixture again until the beeswax has melted. After it has cooled and dried, the ointment has a milky white color and becomes solid. Calendula ointment is a tried and tested household remedy for dry hands, feet and face. The wound-healing and antibacterial properties of marigold soothe irritated areas. Olive oil protects the skin from drying out.
5. honey
Those who are beekeepers or can otherwise obtain natural honey have a real miracle weapon in the fight against dry skin. Honey has an antibacterial and soothing effect, so it can quickly soothe irritations caused by bacteria. Honey is not used on its own, but combined with moisturizing substances to make masks or oils. For example, honey can be used as a home remedy for dry hands if you mix a teaspoon of honey with two tablespoons of olive oil. A face mask made from honey and low-fat quark has a moisturizing and soothing effect on the skin. Honey has long been used as a home remedy for dry lips, not only because of its moisturizing properties but also because of its pleasant taste.
Cream tips for dry skin on the face
It is important to moisturize your skin with a day and night cream after cleansing. This will help your skin to relax and make it soft and supple. An eye cream should also be part of your skincare routine to prevent dryness lines.
Oils pamper your face a little more. Plant oils, such as argan or grape seed oil, are ideal for dry facial skin. They soothe sensitive, dry skin with healing components. If oils are too heavy for you, use a facial serum with hyaluronic acid instead. This will provide your skin with plenty of moisture.
