Causes of exfoliating facial skin and how to overcome it

Facial skin peeling is a normal process that occurs in response to the body to remove layers of dead skin. But this process is sometimes followed by other symptoms such as rash, itching, and dryness, which can be caused by several things such as skin irritation, sun exposure, infection, or allergies.

Flaking skin does not only occur on the skin of the face, but can also occur on the skin of other body parts, such as the hands, feet, around the nails, or other areas of the body. What makes facial skin flake off? How to handle it? Let's look at the following explanation.

Causes of exfoliating facial skin

Here are some of the causes of facial skin peeling:

Sunburn

Frequently exposed to the sun can make facial skin flake off. Before peeling, the phase you will experience is that the skin is red and painful and hot to the touch. Usually this happens about a few hours after exposure to sunlight. A few days later, the damaged skin layer will peel and the skin begins to heal on its own. This peel may make the skin color uneven and look like a pattern.

Dry skin

For those of you who have dry skin types, you are at high risk of experiencing flaking facial skin, especially if you are constantly in contact with water, soap or cream containing irritating substances, hot water, very hot and cold weather, and sunlight. The aging process can also make skin dry.

Having dry skin is actually not dangerous, but there are also dry skin caused by serious disorders, such as iktiosis. Iktiosis is a skin disorder caused by hereditary factors.

Allergy

Some people often experience allergies. When facial skin comes in contact with allergens (allergens), the skin can react. Not only exfoliation, the reaction may cause itching, rashes or blisters.

Side effects of drugs

Some drugs such as retinoid cream, salicylic acid, glycolic acid, and AHA (Alpha Hydroxy Acids) apparently can make facial skin flake off. Retinoid creams are used to treat acne, reduce wrinkles, and brighten brown spots on the skin. This cream works by pushing skin cells to die and regenerate. As a result, the top layer of facial skin peels to pave the way for the growth of new skin cells. In addition, the side effects of chemotherapy drugs, allergic drugs such as antibiotics, epilepsy drugs, and certain blood pressure-lowering drugs can also make the skin flake off.

Atopic dermatitis (eczema)

This condition is chronic (long-term) and tends to recur frequently. The cause of eczema cannot be known with certainty, but is often associated with dry skin, weather, immune system disorders, Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, and genetic factors.

Until now there is no cure for atopic dermatitis. However, there are treatments that can prevent the skin from peeling and relieve itching.

How to deal with flaking skin

Overcoming facial peeling skin must be adjusted to the cause. But in general, flaking skin can be handled in the following ways:

  • Compress the skin with cold water.

  • Consume lots of water.

  • Routinely applying moisturizer, especially after bathing.

  • Do not scratch the flaking facial skin because it can aggravate the condition and cause infection.

  • Avoid exposure to substances or chemicals that can irritate the skin. Replace facial soap with soft soap that is safe for the skin.

In addition to the simple treatments above, you can take extra care if you experience facial peels caused by certain diseases or conditions that you experience. Among them:

  • How to deal with facial skin peeling due to allergies, namely taking antihistamine drugs. This drug can relieve reactions caused by allergies.

  • If you suffer from eczema, you should consult a doctor. It is possible that the doctor will prescribe a cream containing corticosteroids, tacrolimus or pimecrolimus. Doctors may also recommend therapies such as light therapy.

  • Exfoliation due to the effects of drugs can be overcome by stopping its use. But if you are undergoing chemotherapy, you should consult a doctor to get further treatment.

  • To overcome facial skin peeling due to genetic diseases, it's good to immediately consult a doctor to get the right treatment.

As long as facial skin peels, you are advised to avoid things that can worsen skin conditions, such as sun exposure, soaps, creams, lotions and cosmetics that contain irritating ingredients, hot water, and extreme weather conditions such as very hot or cold.