10 Surprising Causes of Dry Patches on Your Face

While dry patches on your face likely aren’t painful and may not even be visible from far away, they’re still frustrating – especially when you can’t figure out what’s causing them or the best way to get rid of them.

“Dry patches are very common and could be caused by a lot of different things,” said Dr Karan Lal, a double board-certified dermatologist. These patches may look like the rest of your skin and just feel a little rougher to the touch or they may appear red, scaly or with a slight discolouration, said Dr Ife Rodney, a board-certified dermatologist. “Sometimes it’s just a very fine scaling in the eyebrows, corners of your nose or mouth. It can even be small patches on your cheeks or hairline,” Dr Rodney added.

The best way to figure out what’s causing these dry patches on your face is to make an appointment with a dermatologist who can assess your skin, environment and lifestyle habits. But, in the meantime, read on to discover the reasons doctors say may be at play, plus the best strategies for rehydrating and healing your skin.

What causes dry patches of skin on your face?

Dry patches can be a sign of a range of different health conditions, said Dr Gary Goldenberg, a dermatologist in New York City. Meaning, they’re usually a symptom of something more broad. “Dry patches occur when there’s inflammation within the skin,” he said. “The inflammation doesn’t allow the skin to mature normally and it produces dry, rough, scaly patches.” That said, there are many different factors that can contribute to this inflammation. Dermatologists say these are some of the biggest culprits to keep in mind.

Weather conditions

Weather can have a big impact on your skin, especially when the air is dry. This usually happens in winter, when heating systems strip moisture from indoor air, leaving parched skin in its wake. This can cause you to form dry patches or all-over dryness, Dr Rodney said. This effect isn’t restricted to winter, though: Even a change in weather can lead to dry patches, noted Dr Rodney.

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 biology – 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 said.

Over-cleansing

Various skincare habits have a big potential to cause dry patches or other types of irritation, said Dr Lal, who explains that water can actually be an irritant. “For people who are over-washing their face, even with just water, their skin is going to be drier,” he said. “After a certain amount of time, it’s dehydrating your skin.” Try to only wash your face twice daily and avoid frequent, long, hot showers, which can also cause your skin to become dry and irritated.

Contact dermatitis

This condition occurs when the skin becomes red, sore or inflamed after having direct contact with certain substances, according to the National Library of Medicine (NLM). This can range from soaps and detergents to some materials, like rubber. Unfortunately, that inflammation can lead to dry patches.

Seborrheic dermatitis

Seborrhoeic 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 may appear on the ears, eyebrows or skin around your nose. “It’s essentially dandruff on your skin,” Dr Rodney said.

Eczema

About 10 per cent of Australian adults have eczema, according to Eczema Support Australia. Eczema, a.k.a. atopic dermatitis, is a condition that causes dry, itchy skin that can weep clear fluid when it’s scratched. People who have eczema will often have more than just one patch of dry skin, Dr Rodney pointed out.

Psoriasis

Psoriasis is an autoimmune skin disease that causes skin cells to multiply too quickly, according to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS). It often causes thick, red skin and silvery scales. While these patches can show up anywhere on your body, they’re usually found on the elbows, knees and scalp.

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, per the AAD. 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 said. If you have patches that stick around, he said it’s important to contact your dermatologist for an evaluation.

Vitamin deficiencies

While rare, Dr Lal said that deficiencies in certain B vitamins, zinc and vitamin A may cause dry skin. He added that a severe lack of B vitamins (such as B6, B3 and B12) tends to cause perioral or periorbital dermatitis (itchy, flaky skin around the mouth or eyes), while a lack of vitamin A may cause keratosis pilaris on the skin.

How to heal 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 rehydrate dry skin.

• Use a heavy cream moisturiser on the area. If your dry skin is caused by weather, a thick moisturiser can help combat the dryness and restore your skin, Dr Rodney said.
• 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 recommended that you consider any new products or materials that may have come into contact with that spot on your face.
• Drink lots of water. While this won’t help in every case, Dr Goldenberg said that drinking plenty of water can help “improve skin quality and increase skin hydration.”
• 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 said. Consider scaling back if these are regular practices for you.
• Try using a humidifier. Running a humidifier overnight can do wonders for alleviating dry skin. “How it works is that it basically circulates cool, moist air, which can help hydrate your skin overnight,” explained Dr Lal. “That is very soothing for people who have conditions like eczema or for those who have dry skin in general.”

When to see a doctor about dry patches on your face

If you tried home hacks and your dry patches are sticking around, Dr Goldenberg said it’s time to call 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.

Once they’ve completed an exam, 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. If a vitamin deficiency is suspected, your doctor can order a blood test to determine if you need to increase your intake of any particular vitamins or minerals.

In most cases, Dr Rodney said 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 to be safe.