Dermapathologist Questions Dermapathologist

My face is dry and peeling?

I’ve been having a problem with dry red and peeling skin on my face. I’m trying to figure out what it is exactly and how I can treat it. Thank you for your time.

Male | 25 years old
Complaint duration: A couple years off and on but mostly off
Medications: None
Conditions: None

3 Answers

Sorry, the pictures that they give us are always so blurry. It looks like the dry/flaky areas are mostly in your mustache area. If that’s the case and it’s also happens around the sides of the nose or eyebrows and you may or may not have dandruff, then it is most likely seborrheic dermatitis or dandruff on the face. This typically comes without much itch or pain, but has yellow or white scales flakes and is red. If this seems to fit with what you are experiencing, then below are some tips:

Use anti-dandruff shampoo as a face wash and let it sit for a minute, then rinse. This should help a bit. Sometimes a little hydrocortisone cream for reduce treatment. There are lots and lots of treatments for this.

As always, for best guidance you want to see a board certified dermatologist. I should get a copy paste feature for that last bit… :)

Warm regards,

JJC
The condition seems accentuated in mustache/beard areas. This is characteristic of seborrheic dermatitis, the same condition that causes dandruff in the scalp. Both can be treated by a dandruff shampoo. I prefer the ones containing zinc pyrithione. Shampoo the affected areas and rinse daily. Needs to be continued.

Hi,

Rashes of the face can be caused by a number of conditions. Try the combination of 1% hydrocortisone cream and clotrimazole (Lotrimin) cream. If the problem persists, best to visit a local dermatologist.

Stephen Schleicher, MD