How to treat dry skin on your face

A dry face feels tight after washing, looks dull, and may flake around the nose, eyebrows or mouth. Many cases of dry skin heal at home. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) says many people can heal dry skin with the right self-care, and that when it works you tend to see improvement within 2 weeks. This guide sets out that self-care for the face: how to wash, what to put on, when petroleum jelly fits, and when to see a doctor. If you want to know why your skin is dry, read what causes dry skin. If you are not sure dry is your skin type at all, start with how to find your skin type.

The routine in one table

Step	Morning	Night
1	Rinse with lukewarm water, or use a gentle fragrance-free cleanser if needed	Gentle fragrance-free cleanser with lukewarm water
2	Pat dry, leaving the skin damp	Pat dry, leaving the skin damp
3	Cream moisturizer	Thicker cream or an ointment
4	Broad-spectrum sunscreen, SPF 30 or higher, labeled for dry skin	Humidifier on in the bedroom
Through the day	More cream whenever the skin feels tight	Nothing

Step 1: wash gently, and less

Washing removes oil along with dirt, so a dry face needs gentle washing. The AAD's face washing advice says to use a gentle, non-abrasive cleanser that does not contain alcohol, to apply it with your fingertips and lukewarm water, and to rinse with lukewarm water and pat dry with a soft towel. It says to limit washing to twice a day and after sweating.

The AAD's dry skin tips add a detail that helps a lot on dry skin: use enough cleanser to remove dirt and oil, but not so much that you see a thick lather. Choose a product labeled fragrance-free. The AAD says deodorant soaps are too harsh for dry, sensitive skin, and that products labeled "unscented" can still contain chemicals that hide other smells and irritate dry skin.

Step 2: moisturize while the skin is damp

Timing matters as much as the product. The AAD says to apply moisturizer when your skin is still damp after a shower or bath, after washing, and whenever your skin feels dry. MedlinePlus explains why: moisturizers help lock in moisture, so they work best on damp skin. The NHS gives the same advice for emollients, the medical word for moisturizers, and says to apply them as soon as you have patted your skin dry.

How often? MedlinePlus says to moisturize 2 to 3 times a day, or as often as needed. The AAD says several times a day. The NHS says emollients are safe and you cannot overuse them.

Choosing the right texture

The AAD's guide to moisturizers explains the four main textures:

Texture	What the AAD says	Best for
Gel	Often water-based, feels lighter than a lotion	Oily skin
Lotion	Thinner than a cream	Normal skin with mild seasonal dryness
Cream	Thicker and has more oil than a lotion or gel, so it is more hydrating	Dry skin, daytime
Ointment	The thickest of all, the most effective for dry skin	Severely dry patches, night

A dermatologist in that guide says people with dry skin should start with a cream or ointment and skip lotions altogether. The AAD's dry skin tips say to look for a cream or ointment that contains one or more of these ingredients: jojoba oil, dimethicone, glycerin, hyaluronic acid, lactic acid, lanolin, mineral oil, petrolatum or shea butter. MedlinePlus suggests moisturizers that contain ceramides, and the AAD describes ceramides as waxy fats that help hydrate skin.

The NHS suggests trying a cream during the day and an ointment at night, because creams absorb quickly and ointments are greasy and thick. You may need to try more than one product to find the one your skin likes.

If you get acne as well as dryness, pick a cream labeled non-comedogenic, which means it should not clog pores. Can dry skin cause acne? explains how to handle both at once.

Dry skin on darker skin tones

The AAD has a page on dry skin in darker skin tones. It says flaking, discoloration and rough texture show more on darker skin than on lighter skin, and dry skin can take on a whitish or grayish look. A dermatologist quoted there says a moisturizer with ceramides can reduce that whitish or grayish-white appearance, because it helps seal in moisture.

The same page gives a caution about butters and oils. Another dermatologist quoted there says butters and oils tend to turn liquid on the skin, so they work less well as moisturizers, and recommends an ointment like petroleum jelly or a thick cream for severely dry skin instead. The page expects some improvement within two weeks of these tips.

Petroleum jelly for dry skin

Petroleum jelly is the plain, clear jelly sold in tubs, often under a brand name. The AAD recommends it for relieving dry skin, including the lips and eyelids. It says ointments are more effective and less irritating than lotions, and that the eyelids have the thinnest skin on the body. For dry, flaky eyelids, the AAD suggests a small amount of petroleum jelly.

A dermatologist quoted on the AAD's page about dry skin in darker skin tones explains how it works: petroleum jelly traps the moisture already on your skin. That is why the AAD says to apply it to damp skin, or on top of a lotion or cream. Put on skin with no water on it, it has little to hold in.

There is one limit. The AAD says to avoid putting petroleum jelly on your face if you are acne-prone, because it may cause breakouts in some people. For an acne-prone face, a non-comedogenic cream is the better choice, and petroleum jelly can stay on the lips and body.

Can you fix dry skin overnight?

The AAD's timeline for healing dry skin is two weeks of steady care. One night of good care can make the skin more comfortable by morning:

1. Wash with lukewarm water and a gentle cleanser, and pat dry.
2. While the skin is damp, apply a thick cream or an ointment. The NHS says ointments suit night-time use because they are greasy, thick and moisturizing.
3. Put petroleum jelly or a lip balm on dry lips. The AAD recommends both.
4. Run a humidifier in the bedroom while you sleep, as the AAD suggests, and clean it regularly to prevent mold.

Repeat every night, and add cream in the morning and during the day.

What to stop while your skin heals

The AAD lists products to stop if you have dry skin: those that contain alcohol, fragrance (including deodorant soaps) and retinoids. Its moisturizer guide adds alpha hydroxy acids, such as glycolic acid.

Two cautions apply to that list. First, if a doctor prescribed your retinoid, do not stop it on your own. Ask the doctor, who may change how often you use it. Second, if you use an over-the-counter acne product such as adapalene, you can often keep it and use it less often while you add more moisturizer. Retinoid dryness and peeling explains how.

Also stop:

• Scrubbing and exfoliating flaky skin. The AAD's moisturizer guide says this removes more moisture.
• Hot water. The AAD advises warm water for showers of five to ten minutes. Long, hot showers dry the skin.
• Rubbing with a towel. The AAD says rubbing can irritate dry skin. Pat instead.

Protect your skin from the sun as well. The AAD's dry skin tips include a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher, and its sunscreen guide says to look for "moisturizing" or "dry skin" on the label.

Before you try a new cream or ointment on your face, patch test it on a small area. If your face feels tight but still gets shiny by midday, read dehydrated skin vs dry skin.

When to see a dermatologist

The AAD says that if you continue to have dry skin after trying these tips, it is time to see a board-certified dermatologist, because the dryness may come from a condition such as atopic dermatitis, psoriasis or kidney disease. A dermatologist in the AAD's moisturizer guide says to book an appointment if the dryness becomes painful, cracked, bleeding or stinging.

The AAD page on dry skin in darker skin tones says some people live for years with an undiagnosed skin condition, believing their skin is just too dry for moisturizer to work. If moisturizer has never seemed to help, a diagnosis may. Dry, cracked or itchy skin that does not improve can be eczema, and a doctor can prescribe a stronger moisturizer or a medicine. For flaky patches in one area of the face, see dry, flaky patches on your face.