8 Possible Causes of Those Dry Patches on Your Face
In a perfect world, your skin would be smooth, supple, and well-moisturized all of the time. In reality, things like environmental factors, certain products, and even your hormones can mess with your skin. Cue you, developing dry patches on your face.
“Dry patches are very common on the face,” says board-certified dermatologist Ife J. Rodney, M.D., founding director of Eternal Dermatology Aesthetics. “Some people may not even notice it or think of it as a problem.”
While dry patches happen and aren’t necessarily something to freak out about, it’s understandable to want them to not be there. So, what could be behind dry patches on your face and, more importantly, how can you get rid of them? Doctors break it down.
What are dry patches on your face?
Dry patches can be a sign of a range of different health conditions, says New York-based dermatologist Gary Goldenberg, M.D. Meaning, they’re usually a symptom of something <gestures broadly>. “Dry patches occur when there is inflammation within the skin,” he says. “The inflammation does not allow the skin to mature normally and it produces dry, rough, scaly patches.”
These areas can be smaller or larger, and you can have several on your face at once, Dr. Rodney adds.
What do dry patches on your face look like?
It depends. “Sometimes it’s just a very fine scaling in the eyebrows, corners of your nose, or mouth,” Dr. Rodney says. “It can even be small patches on your cheeks or hairline.”
The patches may look like the rest of your skin (but just feel a little more rough to the touch), or they can look red and scaly. They may also have slight discoloration, making them stand out a little from the rest of your skin, she notes.
What causes dry patches on your face?
There are a lot of possible causes of dry patches to form on your face. However, dermatologists say these are some of the biggest culprits to keep in mind if you notice you’ve developed some scales.
Weather conditions. Weather can have a big impact on your skin, especially when the air is dry. That usually happens in winter, when heating systems can strip moisture from indoor air, leaving parched skin in its wake. That can cause you to form dry patches or all-over dryness, Dr. Rodney says. Even a change in weather can lead to dry patches, she says.
Stress. Stress has a potential impact on a lot of different areas of your body, including your skin. The way your skin reacts to stress ultimately depends on your individual makeup—some people tend to produce more oil than usual, which can increase the risk of breakouts; others make less and get dried out, Dr. Rodney says.
Contact dermatitis. This is a condition that happens when the skin becomes red, sore, or inflamed after having direct contact with a certain substance, Medline Plus states. That can range from soaps and detergents to some materials, like rubber. Unfortunately, that inflammation can lead to dry patches.
Seborrheic dermatitis: Seborrheic dermatitis is a common skin condition that causes a scaly rash to form on oily areas of your body like your scalp and face, according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD). It can appear on the ears, eyebrows, or skin around your nose. “It’s essentially dandruff on your skin,” Dr. Rodney shares.
Eczema. About 30% of the population has eczema, according to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). Eczema, aka atopic dermatitis, is a condition that causes dry, itchy skin that can weep clear fluid when it’s scratched, the NIAID explains. People who have eczema will often have more than just one patch of dry skin, Dr. Rodney points out.
Psoriasis. Psoriasis is an autoimmune skin disease that speeds up the growth cycle of skin cells, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It often causes thick, red skin and silvery scales. While these patches can show up anywhere you have skin, they’re usually found on the elbows, knees, scalp, lower back, face, palms, and soles of feet.
Actinic keratosis. If you have a dry patch that doesn’t go away, it could be a sign of actinic keratosis. This is a rough, scaly patch on the skin that develops after years of sun exposure, the AAD says. It’s usually found on the face, lips, ears, forearms, scalp, neck, or back of the hands. (Worth noting: Actinic keratosis is a precancerous skin growth and should be monitored by a dermatologist.)
Skin cancer. While skin cancer isn’t the most common cause of dry patches on the face, it can happen. Both squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma can show up as dry patches of skin, Dr. Goldenberg says. If you have patches that stick around, he says it’s important to reach out to your dermatologist for an evaluation.
How to treat dry patches on your face
The right treatment for dry patches on your face ultimately depends on the cause. However, dermatologists say there are a few things you can try at home to see if it helps.
Use a heavy cream on the area. If your dry skin is caused by weather, a thick moisturizer can help combat the dryness and restore your skin, Dr. Rodney says.
Take a look at what’s interacting with your skin. You can get contact dermatitis from a huge range of things. If dry patches are a new thing for you, Dr. Goldenberg recommends that you take a look at any new products or materials that may touch that spot on your face.
Drink lots of water. While this won’t help in every case, Dr. Goldenberg says that drinking plenty of water can help “improve skin quality and increase skin hydration.” (Worth noting: The U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine recommends that men have about 15.5 cups of fluids a day and that women have 11.5 cups daily.)
Take it easy on your skin. Things like exfoliating on a daily or near-daily basis and bathing in water that’s too hot can be tough on your skin and actually strip it of moisture, Dr. Rodney says. Consider scaling back if these are factors for you.
When to see a doctor for dry patches on your face
If you tried home hacks and your dry patches are sticking around, Dr. Goldenberg says it’s time to rope in your doctor. Dry patches can be a sign of an underlying skin condition—and even skin cancer—and it’s crucial to figure out what could be behind yours.
From there, your doctor may recommend that you try a prescription medication or come up with a treatment plan if your patches are due to a skin condition. They may even suggest a biopsy if they suspect skin cancer.
In most cases, Dr. Rodney says that dry patches are usually due to weather changes or can just be one of those things that happen here and there. But if you have dry skin patches and they’re not going away, call your doctor for an evaluation, just to be safe.
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