Flaky eyebrows/face in general - sorry, bit gross

[CambridgeBlue]

My skin is terribly flaky at the moment especially around my eyebrows, forehead and nose. It looks awful even with make-up on and I'm very self conscious. I cleanse (cream or hot cloth), exfoliate and moisturise regularly so have no idea why it's happening. Any suggestions for where I'm going wrong or products that might help?

Not sure how to avoid the dry skin if you're already exfoliating & moisturising, but I also use an old toothbrush to comb my brows into shape and remove any flaky bits.

It could be a form of psoriasis, in which case a medicated ointment would help.

But if it's just really dry and flaky skin, I would ease back on the exfoliation and makeup for a few days (it will just aggravate things) and use a heavy moisturiser like Neutrogena Norwegian formula, or anything for chapped skin.

Exfoliating will make it worse.
I fear hot cloth and water may too.
Also, if you use longwearing foundation or powder, they may be too drying on you.

Try Eucerin 5% urea cream - I had some of the flakiest winter skin known to man (nose, eyebrows: snowfall, y'know what I'm sayin'). I tried many creams and they didn't help at all. The gross-sounding urea is the miracle ingredient.

What works for me: Eucerin provides immediate relief overnight, so I now use it as a daily moisturizer. I avoid soap washes, soaking my skin, exfoliating and anything else that can be drying. Skin in very good shape now.

If Eucerin 5% urea cream doesn't work, it's a good idea to see a GP or a dermatologist and check that you don't have a skin disorder.

A friend had the same thing, and went to the GP in the end after trying various moisturisers, and it turned out to be a kind of dandruff thing. She was prescribed an anti-fungal cream and it went away quite soon.

Cicaplast by La Roche Posay is a light soothing balm that really works on when my face gets sore flaky and feels tight. Larger Boots store sell it. You can use it under make up as a primer too

Thanks all, some good ideas to try - it's such a glamorous problem to have so I hope I can sort it!

You could try using a mineral water spray instead of using tap water. It really helped me. Avene do one.

I have very dry and sensitive skin. For a while it became flaky like yours and I sought the same advice here. One lovely poster recommended Steamcream moisturizer (read about it on their website then buy it cheaper here). It has absolutely transformed my skin: no longer dry, sensitive, flaky. It's plump and the pores reduced. It gives a velvety/airbrushed look. I can't be without it now. You can use it all over the body not only the face, which is my excuse for stockpiling the pretty tins

I agree that you may be aggravating it with over washing.

This is the most amazing cream ever - Dream Cream by Lush. It says it's a body cream but it's perfectly good to be used on the face too.

It's really moisturizing, light, only natural ingredients and is very good for eczema and psoriasis. It's got chamomile and loads of good stuff like that in it.

Honestly! You must try it.

It's about £10 or £12 for a big pot.

Ooh, those steamcream tins look lovely, Hyva! I like the carp one.

Sounds like serborrhaic dermatitis to me - sorry if I have spelled this wrong. I had it in eyebrows and along scalp and finally cleared it up using Nizoral shampoo, applying a bit of foam to affected areas for a minute or two. It's essentially a form of dandruff I think. Gross but true.

I've had something similar and it has almost gone now. I am using Elizabeth Arden 8 hour cream, they do a daily moisturiser SPF 15 one which I use during the day, the thick heavy "classic" one over night. Improvements come over night.

I suffered with a very similar problem for years. I now use the Aloe range from the Body Shop and my skin has been completely transformed.

The day cream is £10 and lasts a long time.

I had a similar thing and I used allergenics shampoo and cream here it cleared it up a treat.

Eurecin Aquaphor balm is good too, especially for those dry bits either side of the nose + eyebrows.

I agree it sounds like seborrheic dermatitis. You can get a steroid cream prescribed which helps, but what I use now is organic apple cider vinegar as a toner which works great.

everythread I am on recently I seem to be saying Pure virgin coconut oil but it really is wonderful for all sorts of stuff.

Thanks again all who responded especially DonaAna - I got some Eucerin as suggested and it's totally sorted the flakes, my skin was better almost overnight! I can see I need to be much gentler with it and stick to simple products with gross ingredients.