How to Get Rid of Dead Skin

What's more embarrassing than the Breakfast Club-esque snowfall of flakes that can occur if your skin is dead and dry? Dead skin is something that everyone has to deal with in some form or another (in fact, most people shed about a million dead skin cells per day.)^[1] However, if your dead skin is getting out of hand, there are plenty of solutions available — some of which may already be available in your own home! By exfoliating your dead skin, treating any damage, and taking steps to prevent dead skin in the future, you can maintain the happy, healthy "glow" of fresh, smooth skin for the long term.

Steps

Removing Dead Skin

1. Use gentle exfoliating rubs for delicate areas. Perhaps the simplest, most direct way to start exfoliating dead skin on delicate patches of skin (like your face) is to simply go out and buy an exfoliating product. For instance, exfoliating rubs, which are available at most cosmetics stores, are a great first step. These products usually contain gentle, moisturizing ingredients as well as minor abrasives. When rubbed into the skin, the abrasive breaks up and removes dead skin cells and the moisturizer sets into the newly-exposed skin to protect and soothe it.
   
   • There's no "right" way to exfoliate, but, generally, with this option, you'll want to use fairly gentle, low-abrasive exfoliating rubs. Using a strong abrasive (like, for instance, a stiff brush) on your face or another delicate area can leave the skin red and irritated and in rare cases even lead to infection.
2. Use pumice, a brush, or another abrasive for thick skin. For areas of your body where the dead skin is thick and "ashy" (or dry and powdery), like your feet, heels, elbows, and so on, you can get away with using a harsher abrasive than you would on your face. In these cases, you may want to consider using a pumice stone (a porous rock-like abrasive), a stiff-bristled brush, or even special exfoliating products that look like cheese graters. Rubbing with these stronger abrasives can help you get rid of thick calluses and built-up skin, but use caution — rubbing too hard or too long even on tough patches of skin can leave your skin raw.
   
   • For a happy middle ground between the gentle exfoliation of a facial rub and the strong exfoliation of a tool like a pumice stone or grater, try using an old, soft toothbrush or a medium-soft sponge. These common tools are perfect for medium-level exfoliating needs and, best of all, you probably have them lying around the house.
3. Use a chemical exfoliant as part of your daily cleanse. Physically removing dead skin by rubbing it off is only one way to exfoliate — certain products contain chemicals that exfoliate dead skin without much help from you at all. For instance, creams and balms containing hydroxy acids (such as lactic acid or glycolic acid) are often sold as exfoliating solutions. These products work by topical application (i.e., being applied directly to the skin.) Though the exact science behind these cosmetics isn't 100% understood, it's thought that the chemicals in these products encourage the growth of new skin, causing the old skin to slough (or fall) off.^[2]
   
   • Note also, however, that some researchers dispute this explanation, claiming instead that these chemicals simply make the skin more flexible and compact.^[3] What's not disputed is that these chemical exfoliants do usually give the skin a slightly more youthful appearance and improve its natural moisture levels.
4. Use salicylic acid to exfoliate the pores. Your skin's pores are small holes in your skin that emit sweat and natural oils to keep the skin healthy — take a close look in the mirror and you'll probably be able to see some on your face.^[4] When a pore becomes clogged with dead skin, dirt, or debris, this can sometimes lead to unsightly blemishes like blackheads and pimples. To exfoliate your pores, apply a gentle salicylic acid solution (usually sold as an anti-acne product) in problem areas where you've noticed blemishes before. A few applications per week can help keep your pores clean and clear for more attractive skin.
   
   • When shopping, check the active ingredient's concentration level before buying. Most effective products have a salicylic acid concentration of about 1-3% — less concentrated solutions won't exfoliate pores effectively and more concentrated solutions are usually too harsh for anything other than removing warts.^[5]
5. Try a cosmetic peel/mask. If you've ever seen someone with what looks like grey or light-green clay caked over their face (perhaps with cucumber slices laying over their eyes), you've seen an exfoliating mask. These products are usually rubbed over the face, then allowed to set and dry. When the mask is peeled off, it pulls dead skin away with it, leaving fresh skin in its place.
   
   • These types of products are available in a wide variety of prices and are made from countless ingredients — anything from mud from an exotic sea to artificial chemicals — but nearly all work based on this same principle. If you're serious about exfoliating your face, consider visiting a cosmetics shop for a face mask that's right for you!
6. Exfoliate your scalp to fight dandruff. To reduce flaky, itchy skin on your scalp or in your facial hair, use the same sorts of treatments that you would for dead skin elsewhere on the body. Try using a gentle abrasive rub or exfoliating with a soft brush to remove dead skin cells and help eliminate the embarrassing flakes that can ruin dark-colored outfits.
   
   • Note that there are also a wide variety of commercial anti-dandruff shampoos available at most department stores and pharmacies. These products usually contain derivatives of the chemical zinc, which kill the bacteria and fungus which can contribute to dandruff.
7. Try an all-natural solution using home ingredients. Not all exfoliating solutions are products bought in a store — in fact, it's easy to make your own exfoliating creams, peels, and rubs at home. Below are just two easy-to-use recipes (a simple search engine query will reveal hundreds more):
   • Sugar and Oil Scrub: Combine equal parts brown sugar and any cooking oil (like olive oil, grapeseed oil, etc.) for a highly economical, highly effective skin scrub. Rub into skin to exfoliate, then rinse with soap and water. Add a tablespoon of honey and a few drops of lemon for extra nutrients.
     
   • Greek Yogurt and Papaya Enzyme Face Conditioning Mask: Mix 1/2 cup of Greek Yogurt and 3 tablespoons of mashed up papaya. Apply to face or body, and leave for 15 to 30 minutes. Peel off and rinse face when done.^[6]
     

Soothing Dry, Dead Skin

1. Use lotion liberally. Usually, your skin secretes natural oils to keep it soft, healthy, and moisturized. However, if something removes these oils or interferes with their production, your skin can get dry, flaky, and cracked. To soothe your skin once it dries out, apply a moisturizing lotion or balm often. These moisturizing solutions work by holding moisture close to the skin with a layer of oil or fat. If your skin is severely dried out, you may even want to make lotion application part of your daily routine — for instance, you might try keeping a bottle of hand lotion at each of your kitchen and bathroom sinks so you can apply after each wash.
   
   • As a very general rule, the thicker the moisturizer, the more it will help your skin regain its moisture.^[7] Thus, thick creams, balms, and "butters" are usually more effective than thinner, watery lotions, though these can sometimes leave you with an unpleasant "greasy" feeling.
2. For chapped lips, use chap stick, vaseline or lip balm. The skin on the lips, which is naturally somewhat delicate and flaky to begin with, is especially vulnerable to drying out. To breathe some life into dead, dry lips, try applying a gel-based lip balm or "chap stick"-like product every few hours to keep your lip skin moist and protected. For severely dried-out lips, you may even want to use a heavier solution (like Vaseline) to provide lasting relief.
   
   • Note that, contrary to popular rumor, lip balms aren't physically addictive and don't contain ground glass.^[8] However, some claim that it is possible to develop a psychological dependency on lip balm's soothing effects.
3. Try a gentle steam bath. For some, spending a few minutes in a steam room or sauna can help soften dry skin, unclog pores, and, most importantly, just feels great. If you have access to a professional-quality steam room (for instance, many modern gyms contain saunas), consider spending a few minutes to a half hour or so in the steam room occasionally as part of your weekly routine.
   
   • If you don't have access to a steam room, however, you can get a similar effect from holding your face over a pot of boiling water or by sitting in your bathroom after a hot shower.
   • Stay safe when using a steam room — never stay in longer than is comfortable, never raise the heat so high that it's hard for you to breathe or stay awake, and, most importantly, never combine sauna time and alcohol use.^[9]
4. Consider a natural home remedy. Many substances you have lying around the house can be used to soothe and repair dry, dead skin. Usually, these work the same way as a topical lotion or balm would — by holding moisture in close to the skin. Below are just a few things you may want to try to cure a case of dead skin (for more info, see our article on organic lotions.)
   • Olive oil: Rub a thin layer of olive oil onto dry skin as a moisturizer. Several ancient cultures (including the Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans) used olive oil in this way for medical and cosmetic purposes.^[10] For extra protection, add your normal moisturizer on top of the olive oil.
     
   • Honey: Apply a light layer of honey to your lips before you go to sleep. Honey can also be used to help heal cracked elbows and rough heels (plus, it tastes great!).
     
   • Aloe Vera: Purchase an Aloe cactus and place it where it will get plenty of sun. Break open a leaf once a week, and apply a layer of sap to your skin, letting it sit for 15-30 minutes. The skin benefits of aloe vera are well-known, especially its ability to soothe sunburns.^[11]
     

Preventing Dead Skin

1. Cover up in cold weather. In many parts of the world, winter means cold, dry air outside and hot, dry air (from a heating system) inside. Together, these conditions can be murder on your skin, causing dryness, cracking, and irritation. One of the best ways to keep your skin safe in the winter is to keep it covered up with long sleeves, long johns under your pants, and other skin-covering accessories. The less of your skin that's exposed to the dry, biting air, the less you'll have to deal with its dehydrating effects.
   
   • Gloves can be an especially important addition to your wardrobe in the winter. Our hands tend to be one of the most exposed parts of our bodies, so they need extra protection. Try to wear gloves in cold weather, especially when you do outdoor activities like jogging or biking.
2. Avoid overuse of harsh abrasives. Stronger abrasives (like pumice stones and stiff brushes) can sometimes be great for eliminating tough, built-up dead skin deposits. However, if used too often (or if used on sensitive skin), these abrasives can leave the skin red and raw, making it vulnerable to dryness and irritation in the long run. If you're noticing pain or redness after exfoliating, take a few days off from your daily routine, then switch to a milder abrasive.
   
   • For instance, if your stiff-bristled shower brush has been irritating your skin, try switching to a gentle washcloth, which should allow you to exfoliate at a much more manageable pace.
3. Avoid long, hot showers. Hot water, though relaxing, strips away essential oils from your skin and leaves it vulnerable to drying out. To avoid this, simply keep your water temperature warm, not hot, and limit your showers to a reasonable length — about 10 minutes or less. The cooler (and shorter) your shower, the less likely you are to dry out your skin.
   
   • The same principle applies to baths — short and cool is best. You'll also want to avoid bubble baths and other soap-based soaks (except those advertised as "moisturizing"), as these can also strip your skin's natural oils.
   • Pat (rather than scrub) yourself dry after bathing. The back-and-forth action of a towel can remove natural oils loosened by the warm water and irritate delicate skin.
4. Consider switching your soap. As noted above, some soaps and cleaning products contain chemicals that can dry out sensitive skin and remove its protective natural oils. Alcohol-based soaps are especially bad — though it's great for killing germs, alcohol can seriously dehydrate the skin.^[12] While good hand hygiene is crucial for preventing the spread of disease, you don't need to ruin your hands with harsh soaps to stay clean, so try switching to a milder soap or one billed as "moisturizing" to prevent dry, cracked skin.
   
5. Shave with minimal resistance. Dry, flaking skin in places where you shave can sometimes be the result of bad shaving practices. Try to shave so that you encounter minimal resistance — that is, your razor should glide effortlessly over your skin without catching. Usually, this means shaving with the grain of your hair, not against it, and using a shaving gel with natural moisturizers such as aloe, rather than those that contain alcohol. In addition, you'll want to use warm (rather than hot) water to wet your hair. As noted above, hot water can strip skin of its moisturizing oils.
   
   • If, after using the tips above, you're still noticing dead skin where you shave, consider getting a new razor. Old, blunt razors can rip at hairs rather than making clean cuts through them, leading to rashes and irritation.
6. Lower your stress. Some recent research has suggested that skin problems (including irritated, itchy, and dead skin) may be aggravated by a person's stress levels.^[13] Though this connection isn't yet understood completely, studies have shown that some patients' skin disorders show signs of improvement when the patient stops feeling stressed.
   
   • Though there's no guarantee that this might work for your dead or dry skin, other health benefits of lowering stress levels are numerous and include reduced risk for heart attack and stroke.^[14] Thus, it's almost always good idea to try to lower your stress. See our guide on reducing stress for relaxation tips.

Tips

• Shea butter, a natural ingredient derived from the Shea nut, is a great natural moisturizer — look for it in lotions and balms.
• Consider purchasing a humidifier if you find that you're having a hard time getting rid of your dry skin. Dry air in the household is a common contributing factor for dry skin.

Warnings

• For most people, dry skin is a minor cosmetic issue. However, in rare cases, dry skin can signify a serious health problem, like psoriasis or eczema. If you have patches of excessively rough, stiff, or painful dry skin, seek professional medical attention.
• In rare cases, recurrent dry skin may be a symptom of diabetes, malnutrition, hypothyroidism, or even certain cancers. If your dry skin doesn't go away with basic treatments in a few weeks, make an appointment with your doctor.
• If your dry skin is accompanied by itching, try to resist scratching. This is a great way to irritate the skin and leave it vulnerable to infection, especially if you haven't washed your hands recently.

Related wikiHows

• How to Remove Dead Skin Using Sugar
• How to Get Great Looking Skin
• How to Take Care of Your Skin

Sources and Citations

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