Normally, your skin sheds 30,000 to 40,000 dead cells each minute! And, your skin renews every 28 days. But, when the outer layer of your skin (which contains these dead cells) is damaged, the renewal process is disturbed, which leads to flaking. This makes your skin itch and dry out. Although these symptoms sound unpleasant, there are some simple remedies you can rely on. We have compiled a list of excellent home remedies that can help in alleviating the symptoms of flaky skin. Keep reading for more information.

Table Of Contents

• What Does Flaky Skin Mean?
• What Causes Flaky Skin?
• Home Remedies To Treat Flaky Skin
• Prevention Tips

What Does Flaky Skin Mean?

Flaky or peeling skin is the result of unintended damage to the surface of your skin that causes the loss of its upper layer. Healthy skin should have 10-20% water content. Flaky skin occurs when the natural oils produced by your skin begins to dry up and cause it to dehydrate in the process. This results in dry skin losing water 75 times more than normal skin, thereby causing the outermost layer of your skin to flake and peel away.

Let us now dig a little deeper into what could actually be causing your skin’s oil and water content to dry up.

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What Causes Flaky Skin?

A number of factors can contribute to the development of flaky skin. Some underlying diseases or conditions can also cause flaky and itchy skin. They are:

• Allergies
• Staph or fungal infections
• An immune system disorder
• Cancer
• Genetics diseases like acral peeling skin syndrome
• Athletes foot
• Eczema
• Dermatitis
• Psoriasis
• Ringworm

Other factors that can contribute to flaky skin are:

• Cold weather
• Forced-air heat
• Lack of humidity
• Cancer treatments like radiation therapy
• Certain topical medications like retinoids
• Hot baths
• Heated pools
• Harsh skin cleansers

Irrespective of the cause, you can try out any of the home remedies listed below to treat flaky skin.

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Home Remedies To Treat Flaky Skin

1. Coconut oil
2. Essential Oils
3. Honey
4. Olive Oil
5. Turmeric
6. Aloe Vera
7. Vaseline
8. Apple Cider Vinegar
9. Jojoba Oil

Natural Remedies To Treat Flaky Skin

1. Coconut Oil

You Will Need

1 tablespoon of coconut oil

What You Have To Do

1. Warm a tablespoon of coconut oil.
2. Rub the oil between your palms and apply it gently all over your face.
3. You can also apply this oil to other affected areas.

How Often You Should Do This

Do this twice daily for best results.

Why This Works

Coconut oil can help improve the hydration levels of your skin and also acts as a natural emollient (1). This can prevent your skin from peeling further and can also treat the existing flakes.

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2. Essential Oils

a. Tea Tree Oil

You Will Need

• 3-4 drops of tea tree oil
• 1 teaspoon of coconut oil

What You Have To Do

1. Add three to four drops of tea tree oil to a teaspoon of coconut oil.
2. Mix well and apply it all over the affected area.
3. Leave it on until it dries completely.

How Often You Should Do This

You can do this 1 to 2 times daily.

Note: Always mix essential oil with a carrier oil because essential oils are highly potent and concentrated and can cause an allergic reaction.

Why This Works

The anti-inflammatory properties of tea tree oil can help soothe skin conditions like eczema that could be responsible for causing your skin to flake (2).

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3. Honey

You Will Need

½ tablespoon of honey

What You Have To Do

1. Take half a tablespoon of honey.
2. Apply it evenly to the affected skin.
3. Leave it on for 20 to 30 minutes before washing it off.

How Often You Should Do This

Do this twice daily.

Why This Works

Honey exhibits soothing and emollient effects that can help in treating flaky skin. It is also widely used in creams and other formulations to treat various skin conditions like dermatitis and psoriasis that are known to trigger flaky skin (3).

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4. Olive Oil

You Will Need

Olive oil (as required)

What You Have To Do

1. Take a little olive oil in your palms.
2. Apply it evenly all over your face.
3. You can also apply olive oil to other affected areas.

How Often You Should Do This

You can do this once daily, preferably before bedtime.

Why This Works

Like coconut oil, olive oil also does a wonderful job of keeping your skin moisturized because it contains phenols that exhibit skin barrier repair effects (4). Hence, olive oil can help heal flaky skin.

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5. Turmeric

You Will Need

• 1-2 teaspoons of powdered turmeric
• Yogurt (as required)

What You Have To Do

1. Mix one to two teaspoons of turmeric powder with a little yogurt to form a thick paste.
2. Apply the mixture all over your face and other affected parts of your body.
3. Leave it on for about 20-30 minutes before washing it off with plain water

How Often You Should Do This

You can do this once every alternate day.

Why This Works

Turmeric contains a compound called curcumin, which has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It can speed up the healing of your skin from conditions like eczema and psoriasis that could be causing it to peel and become inflamed (5).

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6. Aloe Vera

You Will Need

Fresh aloe vera gel (as required)

What You Have To Do

1. Take a little aloe vera gel and apply it all over your face.
2. You can also apply it to the other affected areas in an even layer.
3. Leave it on for 20-30 minutes before rinsing it off.

How Often You Should Do This

Do this once daily.

Why This Works

Aloe vera is a popular remedy used to treat many skin conditions. Its anti-inflammatory and moisturizing properties can treat flaky skin and as well as the inflammatory skin conditions that could be causing it (6).

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7. Vaseline (Petroleum Jelly)

You Will Need

Vaseline (as required)

What You Have To Do

1. Apply a very thin layer of Vaseline to the affected areas.
2. Leave it on overnight or until it dries completely.
3. Reapply as necessary.

How Often You Should Do This

You can do this multiple times daily as per your requirement until your skin heals completely.

Why This Works

Vaseline has excellent moisturizing properties and can form a protective layer on your skin (7). This can help treat dry and flaky skin.

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8. Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar contains acetic acid. The pH-balancing properties of acetic acid can help treat dry, flaky, and inflamed skin (8).

You Will Need

• 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar
• 8 teaspoons of water
• Cotton pads

What You Have To Do

1. Mix a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar with eight teaspoons of water.
2. Soak a cotton pad in this mixture and apply it all over your face.
3. Leave it on for 15-20 minutes and rinse it off with water.

How Often You Should Do This

Do this once daily.

Why This Works

The pH balancing properties of apple cider vinegar can help alleviate symptoms of dry, flaky, and inflamed skin.

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9. Jojoba Oil

You Will Need

Jojoba oil (as required)

What You Have To Do

1. Take some jojoba oil in your palms.
2. Apply a thin, even layer on your face and other affected areas.
3. Leave it on until it dries completely.

How Often You Should Do This

You can do this 1 to 2 times daily.

Why This Works

Jojoba oil possesses multiple benefits when it comes to skincare. From helping in the treatment of inflammatory skin conditions to acting as a moisturizer, jojoba oil does it all (9). Thus, it is an excellent remedy for flaky skin.

You can also follow these tips to protect your skin from flaking further.

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Prevention Tips

• Use a gentle cleanser to cleanse your face.
• Take a facial steam/steam bath regularly.
• Exfoliate your skin regularly.
• Keep your skin moisturized.
• Drink enough water to keep your skin hydrated.
• Quit smoking tobacco.
• Limit alcohol intake.
• Wear a scarf to protect your face in extreme climates.
• Avoid taking hot baths. Instead, opt for lukewarm baths.

These tips and remedies will surely help you in your battle against flaky skin. If you notice that there is no improvement in your condition or if your condition gets worse, it is best to seek a dermatologist’s advice to find out the root cause of your problem.

If you are aware of any other remedies for flaky skin, please feel free to leave a message in the comments section below.

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Expert’s Answers For Readers’ Questions

How long does it take for flaky skin to heal?

If you follow your treatment regimen regularly, you will notice an improvement in your skin in just a couple of days. If there is no improvement in your symptoms, consult your doctor immediately.

What does it mean when your skin starts to peel?

Your skin can start peeling for a number of reasons. Certain skin conditions, infections, or even an immune system disorder could be causing your skin to peel.

What is the best moisturizer for dry, flaky skin on the face?

There are many excellent moisturizers in the market like Cetaphil and Aveeno. However, if you are looking for natural alternatives, any of the above remedies will do the trick.

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Shaheen Naser

Shaheen holds a postgraduate degree in Human Genetics and Molecular Biology. She is a Geneticist with proficiency in Biotechnology, Immunology, Medical Genetics, Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Genetic Counseling. Her passion for writing and her educational background have assisted her substantially in writing quality content on topics related to health and wellness. In her free time, Shaheen loves to explore the world and the different flavors/cuisines it has to offer. Photography is another hobby she has developed of late.