What Does Flaky Skin Mean?
Flaky or peeling skin is the result of unintended damage to the surface of your skin that causes the loss of its upper layer. Healthy skin should have 10-20% water content. Flaky skin occurs when the natural oils produced by your skin begins to dry up and cause it to dehydrate in the process. This results in dry skin losing water 75 times more than normal skin, thereby causing the outermost layer of your skin to flake and peel away. Let us now dig a little deeper into what could actually be causing your skin’s oil and water content to dry up.
What Causes Flaky Skin?
A number of factors can contribute to the development of flaky skin. Some underlying diseases or conditions can also cause flaky and itchy skin. They are:
Allergies Staph or fungal infections An immune system disorder Cancer Genetics diseases like acral peeling skin syndrome Athletes foot Eczema Dermatitis Psoriasis Ringworm Environmental changes like changing place or temperature Hormonal changes
Other factors that can contribute to flaky skin are:
Cold weather Forced-air heat Lack of humidity Cancer treatments like radiation therapy Certain topical medications like retinoids Hot baths Heated pools Harsh skin cleansers
Irrespective of the cause, you can try out any of the home remedies listed below to treat flaky skin.
Home Remedies To Treat Flaky Skin
Natural Remedies To Treat Flaky Skin
1. Coconut Oil
1 tablespoon of coconut oil Do this twice daily for best results. Coconut oil can help improve the hydration levels of your skin and also acts as a natural emollient (1). This can prevent your skin from peeling further and can also treat the existing flakes. Note: Do not use it on acne-prone skin.
2. Essential Oils
a. Tea Tree Oil
3-4 drops of tea tree oil 1 teaspoon of coconut oil
You can do this 1 to 2 times daily. Note: Always mix essential oil with a carrier oil because essential oils are highly potent and concentrated and can cause an allergic reaction. The anti-inflammatory properties of tea tree oil can help soothe skin conditions like eczema that could be responsible for causing your skin to flake (2).
3. Honey
½ tablespoon of honey Do this twice daily. Honey exhibits soothing and emollient effects that can help in treating flaky skin. It is also widely used in creams and other formulations to treat various skin conditions like dermatitis and psoriasis that are known to trigger flaky skin (3).
4. Olive Oil
Olive oil (as required) You can do this once daily, preferably before bedtime. Like coconut oil, olive oil also does a wonderful job of keeping your skin moisturized because it contains phenols that exhibit skin barrier repair effects (4). Hence, olive oil can help heal flaky skin.
5. Aloe Vera
Fresh aloe vera gel (as required) Do this once daily. Aloe vera is a popular remedy used to treat many skin conditions. Its anti-inflammatory and moisturizing properties can treat flaky skin and as well as the inflammatory skin conditions that could be causing it (6).
6. Vaseline (Petroleum Jelly)
Vaseline (as required) You can do this multiple times daily as per your requirement until your skin heals completely. Vaseline has excellent moisturizing properties and can form a protective layer on your skin (7). This can help treat dry and flaky skin.
7. Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar contains acetic acid. The pH-balancing properties of acetic acid can help treat dry, flaky, and inflamed skin (8).
1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar 8 teaspoons of water Cotton pads
Do this once daily. The pH balancing properties of apple cider vinegar can help alleviate symptoms of dry, flaky, and inflamed skin.
8. Jojoba Oil
Jojoba oil (as required)
How Often You Should Do This
You can do this 1 to 2 times daily.
Why This Works
Jojoba oil possesses multiple benefits when it comes to skincare. From helping in the treatment of inflammatory skin conditions to acting as a moisturizer, jojoba oil does it all (9). Thus, it is an excellent remedy for flaky skin. You can also follow these tips to protect your skin from flaking further.
9. Moisturizers With Ceramides Or Squalene Oil
Moisturizer containing ceramides or squalene oil
How Often You Should Do This
Apply it to clean and washed skin twice a day.
Why This Works
Ceramides and squalene are a part of our skin’s natural moisturizing factors. Using creams or lotions with these helps repair the weak skin barrier and reduce the skin flaking (10), (11).
Prevention Tips
Use a gentle cleanser to cleanse your face. Exfoliate your skin regularly. Keep your skin moisturized. Drink enough water to keep your skin hydrated. Quit smoking tobacco. Limit alcohol intake. Wear a scarf to protect your face in extreme climates. Avoid taking hot baths. Instead, opt for lukewarm baths. Always use sunscreen.
How long does it take for flaky skin to heal? If you follow your treatment regimen regularly, you will notice an improvement in your skin in just a couple of days. If there is no improvement in your symptoms, consult your doctor immediately. What does it mean when your skin starts to peel? Your skin can start peeling for a number of reasons. Certain skin conditions, infections, or even an immune system disorder could be causing your skin to peel. What is the best moisturizer for dry, flaky skin on the face? There are many excellent moisturizers in the market like Cetaphil and Aveeno. However, if you are looking for natural alternatives, any of the above remedies will do the trick. Can stress make your skin dry? Yes, stress can disrupt the skin barrier function which can lead to inflammation and flaky skin (12). This can exacerbate the symptoms of various skin conditions like psoriasis and rosacea (13). What causes flaky skin in the elderly? Studies indicate that aging causes a decrease in blood supply and nutrients to the skin and reduced lipid production. This process weakens the skin barrier, leading to flaky skin in the elderly (14).
