We’ve all been there, when the temperature outside drops, your skin dries up overnight and you’re left wondering how to get rid of the the dry skin on your face.

According to Skin 55 dermatologist Dr Anjali Mahto, a reduction in the production of natural oils in our skin during the colder months causes this increased dryness and flaking.

“Cold weather and central heating result in less humidity in the environment and more evaporation of water, otherwise known as increased transepidermal water loss from the skin’s surface, leading to dryness,” Dr Mahto explained.

The protective barrier on our skin that prevents water loss, and therefore keeps our complexion hydrated, battles against the elements and often loses out to the cold weather.

So, what’s the best way to get rid of dry skin on your face? Experts Dr Mahto, Dr Howard Murad of Murad Skincare and Dr Mary Sommerlad, expert at skincare brand Cetraben, shared with us their top tips on how to soothe flaky skin and prevent it from drying out again. Here are the three steps you should take to get rid of dry skin on the face.

Exfoliate

“It’s important to note dryness is a lack of oil in the skin whereas dehydration is lack of moisture,” explained Dr Murad.

He added: “Dry skin feels rough and may be flaky, so exfoliation is important to help shed build-up of dead skin.”

Dr Mahto agreed, adding that physical and chemical exfoliators can be used to treat dry skin.

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“Physical exfoliators refer to sponges, facial brushes, and scrubs. Chemical exfoliators are usually acids like glycolic acid, which is left on the skin and works to dissolve dry skin cells,” she told us.

Both chemical and physical exfoliation techniques can be effective and it’s all down to your preferred method and what works for your skin, says Dr Mahto.

Dr Sommerlad suggests liquid exfoliators for helping get rid of dead skin as well as reducing pigmentation and early signs of aging.

Moisturise

When you’ve exfoliated the dry patches of skin on your face, it’s important to follow up with a moisturiser or hydrating serum. Dr Sommerlad suggests there are three types of ingredients we should look for to nourish dry skin. “Humectants attract moisture into the skin… Occlusives sit on the skin surface and form a barrier which seals moisture into the skin… and emollients soften the skin and make the skin look radiant by filling the gaps in between skin cells.”

Humectants include products that contain hyaluronic acid or glycerine. Occlusives are products with mineral oils such as liquid paraffin, petrolatum, lanolin, jojoba oil and silicone, while emollients are products that contain ingredients like shea butter and squalene.

You can shop for these ingredients individually, for example choosing a hyaluronic acid serum, or buy products that contain more than one of these ingredients.

“It’s a good idea to look for a moisturiser that contains a combination of humectants, occlusives and emollients during the winter in order to get the best results,” Dr Sommerlad said.

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Hydrate

“Eat your water,” said Dr Murad, which he explains is the best way to “avoid dehydrated, tired and lacklustre skin and benefit your entire body in the process.”

The phrase eating your water means eating water-rich foods like fruit and raw veggies. They will will slowly release water into your body over time, as opposed to drinking a big glass of water that runs through your system quickly.

Dr Sommerlad also suggests cutting down on alcohol and swapping coffee for herbal tea to increase your water intake and keep your skin hydrated.

How to prevent dry skin on the face

Once you’ve treated the dry skin on your face and are back to a smooth and glowing complexion there are things you can do to prevent ending up back at step one.

Dr Mahto advises avoiding soaps and fragranced products as they can irritate the skin. “They’ll only dry out the skin further and exacerbate any flakiness,” she said.

All of our experts stressed the importance of moisturising regularly to help prevent dry skin. Moisturiser binds and retains water to form a protective seal on the skin and prevent further water loss. Dr Mahto recommends moisturising straight after your shower to maximise the benefits.

As well as reassessing your skincare routine to keep your skin hydrated, Dr Mahto points out it’s important to also look at your diet.

“We are increasingly recognising that diet is important not for just our general health, but skin health also,” she said.

Antioxidants, Omega-3 fatty acids, polyphenol, flavonoids and minerals are all thought to be of benefit to the skin, and can be found in food such as nuts, seeds and oily fish.

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