Why Is My Face Dry and Peeling?

Dry, flaky facial skin can feel tight, sore or itchy. Peeling is a sign to consider what is happening to your skin, rather than a reason to remove more of its surface. Dryness, irritation and skin conditions can look similar; a description or photograph cannot establish the cause.

Start with gentle care

Keep washing gentle, use lukewarm rather than hot water, and avoid rubbing the flakes off. A fragrance-free moisturiser that your skin tolerates may help dryness. If a product burns, stings or makes the problem worse, stop using that cosmetic product and seek advice rather than adding further products over it.

Should you exfoliate the flakes?

Do not try to clear actively sore or peeling skin with scrubs, brushes, peel-off masks or exfoliating acids. A fixed weekly exfoliation schedule is not an appropriate answer to unexplained facial peeling. Discuss a reaction after a prescribed treatment with the prescriber rather than changing the prescription yourself.

Look at the timing and products

Note when the peeling began, where it occurs and whether a cleanser, cosmetic, treatment or other exposure changed beforehand. Keep the packaging or ingredient list of a suspected product. “Natural”, “hypoallergenic” and “for sensitive skin” do not establish that a product will suit you.

When to seek advice

Arrange medical advice if the problem persists, keeps returning or is getting worse. Painful, blistering, swollen or extensively peeling skin, or peeling with feeling unwell, needs prompt assessment. A cosmetic facial or peel should not substitute for assessment of unexplained symptoms. This page provides general care information, not a diagnosis or a medical treatment service.

Toners and extra steps

Toning and weekly exfoliation are not mandatory steps for sore or peeling skin. An uncomplicated routine can be easier to assess than several newly introduced products.