Dry skin on the face

Introduction

Many people suffer from dry skin on the face. Especially people at a higher age often have to struggle with the symptoms of dry skin, because with age the facial skin loses more and more moisture and therefore appears very dry, cracked and brittle. The lack of moisture causes the skin to contract, become rough and cause unpleasant itching. Many different factors can be the cause of dry facial skin. In addition to external influences, such as cold, heat or a wrong and unhealthy nutritional style, internal factors, such as lack of moisture or hormone – and metabolic diseases, play an important role in the development of dry skin.

Causes

The causes that promote the development of dry skin on the face can be very diverse. Many patients tend to dry skin on their face all their lives. This is partly because they have a genetic predisposition for it, but dry skin can also be aggravated by an unhealthy diet and incorrect skin care.

The various causes of dry skin can be roughly divided into internal and external factors. Among the factors that can affect the skin on the face from the outside are heat, cold and sunlight. Both cold and heat cause the skin to lose fluid and become brittle and chapped.

Especially in winter, the facial skin suffers from the alternation between the cold and the dry heating air. Excessive exposure to the sun leads via reddened and tense skin areas to a disruption of the protective barrier of the upper skin layers. Other external factors include excessive or inadequate personal hygiene, too frequent visits to swimming pools, unhealthy nutrition, and the use of facial care products containing fragrances or alcohol.

However, some internal factors can also be the cause of dry skin on the face. The skin loses a lot of moisture through increased sweating and insufficient fluid intake. Damaging substances such as alcohol or smoking make the facial skin look very old and wrinkled. If no external causes for dry skin can be found, metabolic diseases or hormonal imbalances should always be considered. Psychological stress or taking medication can also lead to dry skin.