Why is my face peeling? And what can I do about it?

[crispinglovershighkick]

It's worst around my nose and mouth but I also have peely patches on other parts of my face. Any attempt to apply even a light tinted moisturiser or sunscreen is impossible, it looks awful. It's been there for maybe a month, worse in the last couple of weeks with increased mask-wearing.

I've been using the same skincare for ages: oil cleanse/hot flannel, a Neal's Yard hyaluronic serum, niacinamide, plus adapalene and tazarotene on alternating nights. I used to use a rich cream or drop of oil on top but sunscreen was pilling so I reduced the moisturisers.

Some possible causes could be:

• perimenopause? My last period was in January. But the rest of me is fine, not dry or itchy.
• underactive thyroid? GP reduced my thyroxine a few months ago.
• mineral sunscreen? I recently switched from a silicone-based to a silicone-free version (Drunk Elephant). Tbh all mineral sunscreen feels drying to me, it all seems to pill so it's a real pain.
• seborrhoeic dermatitis and/or mask wearing?
• there was a period of about 10 days where I didn't use the retinoids, then reintroduced them (albeit in tiny quantities), could this be making it worse?

Grateful for any help figuring it out.

I sometimes get really dry skin that peels around my hairline/ eyebrows. I use bio-oil as a base/ moisturiser. It's a dry oil so you don't look greasy afterwards, and make up sits on it fine. I find it really helps

Central heating does this to me. Creates dry patches around the nose and mouth. And occasional random patches on my face.

I suppose the weather and surroundings in general can do it too.

Try getting a humidifier? Or just putting a bowl of water beside any heaters when they are on.

Yeah my skin did peely patches for a phase in peri. It went away for a few months then would come back.

Fluffy yes, that sounds like it could be seb derm too. I do use oil regularly, or I did before the sunscreen fiasco, now I just use it for cleaning. Will reintroduce before bed I guess. I'm confused about whether it's good or bad for dermatitis as it's an oily skin problem.

Umberella probably if it was autumn (I'm in England) I'd assume it was central heating but we've been sleeping with the windows open for ages now. And it has been the wettest May on record

lady interesting, thanks. I've noticed recent changes - everything's gone rather saggy so maybe this is part of it.

I used to always get this until I started the double cleanse method. I think the oil and exfoliation of the flannel helped me

carrot what do you use? I oil cleanse with a flannel already, often twice (just to get everything off) and I sometimes use TO squalane cleanser. I avoid most other products (eg foaming cleanser) because my skin is so sensitive, lots of things make me itchy or otherwise uncomfortable. Even if I cleanse with a flannel at night and again in the morning, then moisturise, then apply makeup (or tinted moisturiser or whatever) the flaking and peeling is still there. Driving me mad!

It’s probably your skin readjusting to the retinol again. It also doesn’t sound like you’re using anything to hydrate your skin, your hyaluronic serum will suck moisture from your skin if you don’t use a mist before and after using it. You’d be better off doing that and a lighter moisturiser. I like the Jordan Samuel skin mist, but there are less expensive options that will be just as effective, Sukin is nice.

Are you drinking enough water? I find that my skin sometimes goes like that when I am dehydrated.

I used to get bad flare ups of seborrheic dermatitis around my nose, mouth and ears. Sebclair cream is the only moisturiser I use on those patches of skin now and if it starts to flare up I treat it with Nizoral anti dandruff shampoo! Sounds harsh, but after years of trial and error it’s the only thing that works.

Mine came along with (early) peri menopause

I also am peri and suffer from seb derm. It can feel quite thick, dry and scaly around my nose, eyebrows and cheeks.

I've found oil cleansing (using only squalene oil as it's fungus friendly), and yes to nizarol shampoo on face - it works!
Rubbing away the dry patches with a towel twice a day helps keep the peeling away, and finally this bad boy soothes any sore, red, thick, scaly, dry areas clean away i found it on reddit and it's awesome!

Also, nearly forgot about glycolic acid which really helps with the peeling skin, leaving it fresher looking.
Hada labo hyaluronic serum and cerave cream, topped off by vaseline on the dry areas finishes it off.

WhoEats I apply when skin is still damp, is that not enough? I used to use a mist but it was just water and glycerine iirc.

scrivette yes this is possibly a problem. I've got out of sync with meals (eating later than usual) and have terrible heartburn which I'm trying to heal so it's hard to know where to fit in enough water. I'm addressing it though.

Sock thanks, have heard good things about Sebclair, I'll buy some. I tried Head and Shoulders on my face, didn't do much and had a horrible perfumed smell. I think I could better tolerate Nizoral - is that the coal tar stuff? I quite like that smell

mixed I think I'm doing most of that, will add Nizoral to the mix. Have you had your thyroid tested? I had hard scaly skin on my nose when I wasn't on enough thyroxine.

Many thanks for the replies, will try your suggestions.

Crisping yes, I have had my thyroid tested. I'm convinced it's the seb derm though, as it's the same between my eyebrows (with hard bits of sebum), especially if I have been lax about skincare).
I have just ordered the Sebclair too. Thanks Sock

My skin has improved loads recently, I haven't had any of these breakouts for months, which could be down to any of the following changes I've made :
Hrt
Skincare routine, strictly morning and nightly cleansing with sensitive face wash, using a toner ( boots), vitamin c serum and decent moisturiser, again boots, nothing pricey, and using a vitamin c overnight mask twice weekly, and a boots facial scrub every few days.
Also drinking loads of water
Reduced caffeine
Given up sugary products, if its hidden in pizza, beans etc then so be it but I don't do sugar, sweets, cakes, biscuits etc any more.

Sorry I did that as a list, but it came out in a flow of nonsense 🤣

Lol made perfect sense to me 👍🏼

I use the hot cloth cleanser from aldi and then a non foaming facial cleanser

Me too!
And it's now been 6 months and mainly around the nose and mouth.
I have tried everything including Aveno, double base, diprobase, steroids and anti fungal creams all to no avail. I use Tret every night but never had an issue before and now don't apply to the the areas of flake and redness. In my case it is definitely mask related.
Anyway- I think I have finally cracked it!
Drumroll....
Two weeks ago I started applying petroleum jelly/Vaseline to the areas and it cleared up quickly. I don't know why but I'm relieved it has finally disappeared.