It seems that my skin only gets flaky on my face when I have stubble.
Moisturizer doesn’t seem to work, as eventually the stubble area gets flaky again if anything touches it.
Anyone have this problem?
I’ve been reading advice on how to deal with dry skin and it all boils down to:
Colder showers
milder soap
Moisturizer
Rare plant only found in Africa
Dermotologist
More moisturizer
Could this be a dandruff problem? I have dandruff on my hair so maybe my facial hair is causing the flakes? Otherwise it seems like I should either shave more often or get stronger moisturizer.
I think it’s a hair problem because moisturizer keeps all the other areas on my face from drying up.
I don’t know the answer, but I have the same problem. On close inspection, it’s almost as if each facial hair “lifts” a little flake of dry skin up as it grows. If I stay clean shaven, my skin isn’t dry at all - in fact it tends to be quite oily.
I think shaving takes off a layer of skin, so it isn’t so much that your skin is flakier, only that you aren’t removing your flakes in the morning all at once with a shave.
Indeed. I don’t have that problem, but I will maintain a close shave as a sign of solidarity. Has anybody claimed green wristbands for their cause yet?
Actually I have experienced something similar on occasion and agree with Colophon’s assessment that it seems like it is the stubble pushing the flakes up. Maybe you could try shaving with the grain so that the post-shave stubble remains at or above skin level. Does the problem persist in the second, third, fourth day post shaving?
Do you ever exfoliate? I’m not a dude, but maybe it would help? I use St. Ives Apricot Scrub (recommended by DiosaBelissima, resident makeup queen). I only use it once a week but I was just reading in a magazine that you can exfoliate like 3 times a week.
Did you actually get milder soap? I keep a bar of Cetaphil in the shower and use it exclusively on my face. After I’m done with everything else, I turn down the hot water and wash my face with the bar. I never use any other soap on my face. I clean my face every night with their liquid cleanser. Cetaphil is the dermatologist’s darling!
Have you tried dandruff shampoo on your chin? Can’t see why it would hurt, and it may help.
Oh, and pretty much every man I’ve been with has had this same issue. I think it’s one of those things lots of people experience but, until the internet, no one talked about it, so everyone thought they were the only one!
I already shave with the grain. Once the stubble grows out I stop having this problem. That’s about two days after the shave. Basically the more ridged the facial hair the more flaky the skin around it becomes.
I don’t exfoliate. I Googled it and it seems too excessive. I’ll try it as a last resort.
I’ll try dandruff shampoo after my next shave and see how that goes.
Lakai, if you don’t exfoliate, all the moisturizer in the world won’t help you if there’s a thick layer of dead skin cells blocking your moisturizer. The flakes you see are dead skin cells that are still clinging to your face and must be removed. Exfoliation is as simple as using a plush washcloth to work the cleanser into your face and gently scrubbing all contours until everything feels smooth. After that, any moisturizer you use will sink in better and make your face feel amazing. Just remember to be gentle and not attack your face like you’re scrubbing your bathtub.
I use a Wondercloth ($10-$12) at Bed, Bath and Beyond, every morning in the shower and my face is smooth and clear. Hope this helps.
I’m pretty sure the solution is shaving. I’m a woman, and right now the whole lower half of my face is flaking and peeling and raw, and I assure you, this wouldn’t be the case if my boyfriend would just freakin’ shave on weekends.
Wash first with soap/cleanser and water, then exfoliate - but exfoliate only 2-3 times a week or so, or else you risk irritating your skin too much. (I personally use AHA/BHA products for exfoliation, and use them daily, but that’s a more complex matter to get into.) Don’t scrub or even rub hard.
I’ve also been told that, especially in cold weather, washing any bit of you in hot water (versus somewhat warm) is more drying to the skin. So no blasting your face with hot water in the shower, use lightly warm water to wash with.
Considering that it will be damp for a lot of time and thus a breeding ground for bacteria, I would be concerned with rubbing it all over my face without cleaning it every time.
I have the same problem and haven’t given it much thought, I guess I’ll grab a washcloth and give myself a scrub too. Let’s be stubble exfoliating buddies!
Does your skin get red and itchy in those areas? If so, what you have might be seborrhea. It has nothing to do with dry skin (mine is oily), but definitely gets worse with stubble. If this is what you have, a dermatologist may prescribe Fluocinolone. And you should be using Head & Shoulders “Intensive Treatment” shampoo (the kind in the dark blue bottle). And shave more often.
Everyone’s needs are different. I exfoliate about 2-3 times a week. I cleanse first, rinse my face and wet the Wondercloth and wring it out till almost dry. I then rub the Wondercloth all over my face, down my neck and around my ears. I stop when I don’t feel any resistance or scratchiness. I rinse out my Wondercloth and wring it as dry as possible. I then hang it to dry, since I don’t exfoliate every day. Since I’m the only one who uses it, I wash it once a week with my other towels and washcloths. You might want to get more than one Wondercloth. I use my other one to exfoliate my body skin and now body lotions sink in and do their work a lot better. My legs and armpits are a lot easier to shave and dry, flaky skin is a thing of the past; even in the dead of winter.
