Gross flaky skin - help me please!

[MissRead]

I don't know what the hell is going on with my skin, it's so disgustingly flaky these days (sorry I know it's a bit gross).

I haven't got dry skin, on the contrary it's quite oily, but particularly around what I think is known as the T-zone (where I would expect it to be most oily, and it is a bit) it goes horribly flaky/patchy despite regular cleansing, 2/3 times a week exfoliating and trying a variety of moisturisers from very light (feels nice but makes no difference to the flakiness) to quite heavy (makes no difference and give me spots).

I have tried products that claim to attack this like the Clinique Clarifying lotion but it's not shifting - with make-up on my forehead/nose/chin/cheeks - actually most of my face :( - just look awful as the foundation clings to the patchy bits. And without it my skin looks dull and lifeless as well as patchy and flaky.

Can anyone recommend any products/treatments to help sort this out or failing that a manufacturer of industrial strength brown paper bags :(

Mine wasn't really bad but I also used to have quite flaky uneven skin, then I read reviews on makeup alley about Dove soap (PH Balancing properties etc) and ditched any cleansers and toners, since using this (about 5 yrs now) my skin is in pretty good condition and wouldn't go back to cleansers, and at 90p a bar I save a fortune

I get this on my forehead too and Boots Time Delay serum seems to have done the trick. It's not expensive (in fact I used one of their voucher thingies to get a fiver off so it was only a couple of quid) and it's really nice and rich. I use Lush Ultrabland to cleanse and that helps too.

Do a sudocrem mask over night - check the Project Princess thread for details.

It's gooooooooooood.

I find that exfoliation and astringent things like Clinique pure vodka clarifying lotion make my flakiness worse, and make my face red and itchy into the bargain.

I do a version of the OCM at night with waitrose baby bottom butter and a baby muslin, and use a facial oil overnight (Sanctuary is good, I also like Neal's Yard ones but they might not be so good for oily skin), and this has cleared the flakiness RIGHT up - as well as clearing up blackheads/blocked pores. Have had better skin this winter than ever before.

I do also use my regular facial wash every morning because if I do the oil thing all the time I break out.

Microdermabrasion to get rid of the dead skin - that's all it is.

Use a serum under your evening moisturiser. Should even out your skin.

If you want to try a new brand, take an empty pot and as them to fill it. Alternatively, go to every beauty counter, ask them to analyse your skin, then grab all the free products you can

Central Heating and not drinking enough will also play a big factor.

Use a flannel - does anyone remember them, I certainly forgot about them and put them to the back of the airing cupboard once DC's ceased to be washed ifycwim. Anyway, to cleanse, basin, warm water flannel, rinse, repeat. Moisturise with something inexpensive such as has been suggested here. You will glow within two days or your money back, guaranteed - nothing to lose!

Oh yes, a flannel does work wonders. I shall dig some out tonight!

Clarifying lotion has a really high alcohol content - NOT kind to delicate skin!

Use a rough flannel as Driftwood suggests with cleansing lotion or a muslin cloth.

Liz Earle always bleats on about how good Cleanse ad Polish is - I am convinced it's the muslin cloth that does the trick and not th overpriced cleanser actual C and P

Thanks MNetters, some great tips to try here. Will report back if I have any luck - fingers crossed the brown paper back will not be needed after all :)

Def a sudocreme mask I had a hideous flake bit on ny cheek and after two nights of sudocreme on it it has nearly gone. Have had it for months before trying this

If you have no luck you might want to see your GP, it could be something like sebhorreic dermatitis if it is itchy or sore as well as flaky.

I got rid of flakey facial skin by using eucerin 5% urea facial cream, couple of days and it was gone. Tis about a tenner in Boots.
Urea is the magical ingredient , exfoliates and moisturises at the same time apparently.
eucerin

Thanks so much for these suggestions! I immediately bought a bar of Dove Soap and Eucerin (couldn't find the urea creme, but the one containing 5% carbamide seemed equally good) and upped my water intake. I'm not sure whether it's some of these factors or just the fact that I ditched my normal cleanser and alcohol-based toner, but my dry and scaly skin improved immensely just after one night!!! No more snowfall IYSWIM!

I've tried various day and night cremes, cheap and expensive, but none of them has worked as well as the humble Eucerin.

Finally, be aware that some skin care products have salicylates (Aspirin) in them. They and also some retinoids tend to cause flaky skin. So check out whether your daily skincare stuff contains any of these. I have a feeling I've been using formulations that are too complex and that end up drying and clogging my skin.

I don't use toner - you only need a splash of cold water after cleansing. That stuff is like paint stripper!!

DonaANa are you Missread?

Glad the eucerin cream worked .

No, just listening in. I've been too lazy to post about this, but central heating induced flaky nose/eyebrow area has been driving me crazy of late.

It's a vicious circle: dry skin -> more products on my skin -> more clogged pores -> more breakouts -> more coverup -> need to use extra harsh products and toners to cleanse -> scary dry flaky skin...

Glad anyhow that ppl think that there are many things that will help. Fingers crossed that Eucerin won't cause breakouts.

I am loving the eucerin cream , do get the occassional spot but nothing huge and nasty . Makes makeup look muchbetter without flakey skin.

Ggirl, I just found out that "carbamide" and "carbonyl amide" are fancy names for urea. I don't live in the UK and apparently "Eucerin Dry Skin Relief Face Cream 5% Urea" is called "Smoothing Face Creme 5% Karbamid" in Scandinavia - wonder if they had to reformulate the name because it didn't sell

Have mixed feelings about resorting to a pee-based product, but whatever works... anyway, Eucerin has amazing consistency and my skin feels lovely.

yes , urea not an exactly appealing word

Sorry that I sound obsessed, but checked up Eucerin urea cream reviews on Makeupalley. Spooky, it sounds like the reviewers are describing my skin. Worth checking if this sounds like you - one of the reviewer sums up my problems: "My skin is normally pretty trouble free if I keep my routine simple, but I had TOTALLY wrecked it by using some products that were way too strong for my sensitive skin. I can't stress enough how bad it was - bright red, irritated, itchy, peeling, the works. This wonderful moisturiser was soothing from the first application and calmed everything right down faster than I'd ever hoped possible! Within just 2 days there was no sign at all of the horrendous state my skin had been in - miraculous!"

Thanks Ggirl for the tip - I would never have found this on my own. Fingers double crossed it isn't too rich for me.

I'm glad it's helped. I got the tip from watching youtube 'gossmakeupartist'
. I wanted to find a good exfoliater for the flaky bits and he said that a urea cream is a good exfoliater in itself, as well as moisturiser. Who'd 'ave thought eh?

Love makeupalley too.

Buy some Nizoral shampoo and use it as a face wash a couple of times a day. Ithink it will work quickly and then you may only have to use it very occasionally.
I had dry skin on my face for years, tried buff puff to exfoliate etc. Nothing worked.
Eventually paid to see a dermatologist and he recommended this. In those days Nizoral was prescription only, but you can buy it without prescription these days.
Good luck

Update 2 weeks later. What worked for me: Every night, take off the makeup with baby oil. Wash with Dove soap. Slather on some Eucerin urea cream.

My skin is fabulous, no more flakes, and my skin tone has improved too, I need much less foundation (have been able to switch from full coverage to sheer). Eucerin doesn't induce acne, my skin is clearer than it has been in a long time, and the hydrating effect is really long-lasting.

Drinking a lot of water doesn't hurt, but that alone hasn't had the effect the other products are having.

I was about to post and say you should look into more natural and organic products. Lots of nasty chemical (often in cream for dryskin and ezcema) can actually aggravate the skin and in the long term do not work.

You should try and avoid mineral oil, parrafin, SLS etc....

You seem to have found something that works for you.....althought the idea of urea makes me squirmish and it can make oily skin worse...so if you're combination then perhaps not the best.

Ooh wish I'd seen this thread before, the OP describes my skin perfectly.

Oil cleansing dried it out terribly and it always seems so greasy too. But I've finally cracked it with a gently rub with a warm flannel each night followed by a massage with Olay night cream, then same each morning but with Olay beauty fluid. Spots all gone, flakes all gone, skin smooth and dewy and feeling much better already after only 5 days.