How to fix flaking skin?

automaticflowers

I've already exfoliated a couple times this week (it doesn't seem to work), and I've been using soap-free cleanser and Cetaphil moisturizer for dry skin.

My face feels a little better, but it's still flaking quite a bit. I think the dead skin is clogging my pores and giving me more breakouts, too. If I hug my boyfriend he has little bits of my skin on his shirt. :pukeright: Any tips, besides patience? I have no clue where I went wrong. I had been using Diana Yvonne products, including salicylic acid, which used to clear things up very well.

ninja dog

My skin's freaking, too. CetaVie is helping (moisturizer).

Do you have sensitive or dry skin? I wonder if seeing a derm would help? Exfoliating sensitive skin usually irritates it.

More info?

automaticflowers

Don't think it's sensitive. I sunburn very easily and it seems like every face wash and moisturizer I try inevitably clogs my cavernous pores, but I don't have allergic reactions to products or anything.

I used to categorize my skin as combination oily, just with some dry patches on my cheeks. My complexion has always been pretty decent, considering.

But lately it's been feeling a little oily and yet really dry, all over, at the same time. W.T.F.

Here's what I started using this week, no makeup:

1. Aveeno Ultra Calming face wash
2. Aveeno and/or Neutrogena moisturizers with high SPFs for daytime
3. Cetaphil moisturizer for dry skin at night

I get a little oil on my nose during the day... and then my face flakes pretty much all over even though my skin doesn't feel dry.

It's been driving me nuts for the past few weeks. My skin doesn't normally freak out when the seasons change, since it's rather dry here all year round, so I don't know if that's the cause either.

Spiralli

For me, it's exfo 2x per week and moisturizer under sunscreen. I used to use only s/s or a s/s moisturizer product, but I do better with a separate moisturizer.

This may be TMI, but I also do daily gentle exfo in the shower. Some of my night creams result in "eraser crumb" type of flaking/peeling of my skin and I can usually gently get that off in the shower. When I get out, gently rubbing face with a soft towel gets little areas that are still flaking.

Having said all that, I still have days when I have slightly flakey skin when I go to work. I hate it, but I don't know what else to do on those days.

ninja dog

Gosh, this combo baffles me.

I'm sorry I can't be of help. I never get both dryness and oiliness or breakouts at the same time; it's usually one or the other.

But I sympathize!

murrrcat

omg! I get the same thing...right now!!

I get oilyness, and flaky skin and break outs!
ugh!!

I go around looking like I'm a sloppy eater (it looks like I have crumbs or something on the side of my face because my skin is peeling!).

I'm not sure what to do either!

alacurl

This is just a guess, but could your skin be oily and dehydrated (which is not the same as "dry")? I have that problem sometimes in the winter when the humidity is low.

murrrcat

alacurl wrote: »

This is just a guess, but could your skin be oily and dehydrated (which is not the same as "dry")? I have that problem sometimes in the winter when the humidity is low.

what does that mean? and how do you fix it?

when I got a message the woman told me I needed to drink more water... I drink like 16 glasses a day...how much more water do i frickin need!

alacurl

turtles wrote: »

alacurl wrote: »

This is just a guess, but could your skin be oily and dehydrated (which is not the same as "dry")? I have that problem sometimes in the winter when the humidity is low.

what does that mean? and how do you fix it?

when I got a message the woman told me I needed to drink more water... I drink like 16 glasses a day...how much more water do i frickin need!

Ha ha, I would think 16 glasses a day is enough, unless you work outside in the heat a lot!

Anyway, dry skin is from lack of natural oils.

Dehydrated skin is from lack of moisture (water). It can be caused by not drinking enough water, but could be from air conditioning/heat, sun/wind exposure, certain medications, harsh skin products, and more.

Use a gentle, pH-balanced cleanser to make sure you are not damaging the skin barrier.

Exfoliate gently. I personally find most scrubs are too harsh. I prefer to use AHA and BHA. AHA exfoliates the skin surface, so it will help to get rid of the flakes. BHA primarily exfoliates within the pores, so it helps with blackheads and breakouts. Start slowly with these; use only once or twice a week until you know how often your skin can handle it.

Use an oil-free moisturizer if you have oily skin. You might even find that a water-based serum is enough for you.

Also, there are masks that hydrate. They help my skin in the winter, and feel so good.

The New Black

Is it possible you have a specific condition that causes the flaking that's not just dry skin?

I'm oily, very oily, but I still get flaking patches and it was diagnosed as seborrhea. It's basically dandruff of the face, which is caused by excessive oil/sebum production. So I could appear oily and dry in the same spot too. Ask your derm about that maybe?

2poodles

I used to have excessive peeling with SA and other chemical products. I've recently started a new skin care regimen which I LOVE. It's based on ayurveda, all natural products, very gentle. The cleanser is a powder that I mix it with a bit of water to make a thin paste and use it to exfoliate. Then I follow with essential oils to nourish the skin and then spf during the day (Devita spf30 - not ayurvedic, but I love it anyway) and I use an "age delay" serum at night. All the info can be found here. If you're intrigued enough to give it a try, you can order sample sizes of the basic skin care from this site. They're the same products - I'm not sure why she doesn't seem to offer the sample sizes on her pratima site. Anyway, good luck to you. It can be so frustrating trying to find a combination of products to help your skin....

rouquinne

turtles wrote: »

when I got a message the woman told me I needed to drink more water... I drink like 16 glasses a day...how much more water do i frickin need!

you don't.

drinking water does nothing for your skin - that's a complete myth.