Dry Skin Patches on Face: How to Deal With Them

Dry patches on the face doesn’t look pretty. Some patches may even feel itchy and uncomfortable. In this post, we will go over why you may have dry skin patches on your face and ways for dealing with them.

The best way to get rid of dry patches on the face that are caused by everyday reasons is to use a facial moisturizer daily and do it consistently. It’s most effective when you do this immediately after a shower or bath as it helps your skin lock in the moisture.

This method would work for most people but if you want to get rid of dry skin patches fast, you will need a more aggressive skin care routine (Which we will discuss below in this post).

Why Do I Have a Patch of Dry Skin on My Face?

There are many causes of dry skin. Some are everyday causes such as dry weather and dehydration. Others are skin conditions like dermatitis and psoriasis.

Here is a list of everyday reasons that causes dry skin patches on the face:

1. Using harsh soaps
2. Harsh dry and windy weather
3. Washing face with too much hot water
4. Washing face too much
5. Dehydration
6. Ineffective or poor nutrition

In the cases outlined above, you will need to look into your own lifestyles to see if any of the causes apply to you. In most situations, fixing dry skin patches due to everyday reasons is quite simple.

For example, if you find that you have been using harsh soaps on your face, simply stop using it and switch to something that is more nourishing and can retain your moisture.

Furthermore, your skin patches can be fixed with the use of a facial moisturizer daily. There is more to this so let’s talk about it in the next section.

There are other types of skin conditions (looks like dry skin) like  dermatitis and psoriasis that require specific skin treatments. These are beyond the scope of this post and will not be discussed here. Always consult with your dermatologist to confirm the actual skin condition.

Easy Ways to Get Rid of a Dry, Crusty, Flaky Patches on the Face (Fast)

If you need to get rid of dry skin patches fast, just applying a daily facial moisturizers will not be enough. You truly need to step up your skin care game.

Here is what you need to do:

1. Exfoliate Regularly – Use an exfoliating scrub to remove excess oil, dirt, grime and dead skin. This allows moisture to soak into your skin and is probably the most important step here. Remember to pat dry your skin and not rub.
   
   Exfoliate at least 3 times each week
2. Moisturize Consistently – Apply your daily moisturizer and do this while your skin is still slightly damp. This helps your moisturizer lock in water and prevent it from escaping into the air. Avoid products that have salicylic acid in them because this type of acid has a drying effect. If you are planning to go to bed after exfoliating, use a strong night cream.
3. Use Epsom Salt – Soak a towel with warm water and epsom salt and hold it against your dry skin patches on your face. Do it for about 10 minutes each day.  The salt provides a gentle, soothing and exfoliating effect. Wash your face afterwards and apply your daily moisturizer.
4. Use Milk – Similar to Epsom salt, soak a towel in some warm milk and apply it to your dry skin patches. Do this for 10 minutes each day. This is effective because the lactic acid in milk can help to remove dead skin. Wash off the milk afterwards and apply your daily moisturizer.
5. Apply Aloe – Rub some aloe vera gel into your dry skin patches. Do this at least 2 times a day. Aloe vera can help prevent the skin from cracking and flaking.

Natural Remedies for Dry Patches

Using natural remedies is a great choice to take care of your skin patches. Although there are tons and tons of products that you can buy over the counter, spending a little bit of time to create your own remedy could benefit your skin, your health and your wallet. I’ve already mentioned a few ideas in section above. E.g. milk, aloe and the use of epsom salt.

But that’s not all:

Here is a list of my favorite natural remedies that works great on dry skin patches on the face:

1. Creamy, Nourishing Avocado Mask – Simply cut an avocado in half, add a teaspoon of organic olive oil or honey and mesh everything in a bowl. Spread the mixture on your face and leave on for 15 to 20 minutes.Why This Works: Avocados contain biotin, a part of the B complex vitamins that helps to prevent dry skin. Furthermore, avocados contain poly- and monounsaturated fatty acids that helps to prevent your skin from sun damage and inflammation.The olive oil is soaked into the skin to help soothe and moisturize dry areas. Therefore, the combination of avocado and olive oil makes this natural remedy easy and effective.
2. Oatmeal Honey Mask – This is a great nourishing option for exfoliating skin. Simply mix 2 parts or organic oats and 1 part honey. Apply the mixture to your face and wash it off right away (for exfoliating). Re-apply mixture and leave on for another 15 to 20 minutes. This will hydrate your dry skin patches.Why This Works: Oats contain natural compounds called saponins which are natural cleansers to help clean excess oil and dirt. Oats have great anti-inflammatory properties that help to treat dry skin. The honey provides an extremely soothing and moisturizing effect for your skin.
3. Sugar and Olive Oil Scrub – Combine half a cup of sugar with 2 teaspoons of olive oil. Rub the mixture on your face and then wash it off with warm water.  For a better effect, add.Why This Works: The sugar provides a gentle exfoliating effect when rubbed on the face.This makes it easy  to remove dirt, excess oil and dead skin. The olive oil moisturizes the outer layer of your skin.

Vaseline Is Good for Dry Skin

Vaseline is my go-to product for dry skin patches. If you’re using makeup, vaseline can also double as a primer. Vaseline allows you to keep your skin moisturized on-the-go and it’s only a few dollars at you nearest drugstore.

Using vaseline on your dry skin patches is easy. Simply apply a thin layer of it on your face and re-apply again every 4-6 hours.

It’s important to understand that Vaseline (the brand) is a petroleum jelly which is actually a bi-product of the oil refining process. However, this doesn’t mean that it’s dirty as Vaseline (the brand) goes through a triple refining process to ensure that it’s safe for the skin.

Vaseline is also non-comedogenic, which means it won’t clog your pores. Think of vaseline as something that creates a thick barrier between your face and the environment, protecting nourishing your skin at the same time.