How To Get Rid Of Dead Skin

Dry and dead skin can have many different symptoms. Often these symptoms vary depending on age, health and the cause of the dead skin. Symptoms include; 

• Skin tightness - especially after showering or swimming.
• Skin that peels, flakes or appears scaly
• Itchiness 
• Redness 
• Skin that appears grey or ashy
• Cracks or fine lines on the skin

Weather - The weather affects how well your skin retains its moisture. In Winter, when the temperature and humidity is low, your skin struggles to naturally stay hydrated. This can result in your skin becoming dry and dead. Winter is a common cause of dead skin on face. 

Hot Showers and Baths - Hot showers and baths can damage your skin’s natural moisture barrier. As a result, your skin becomes less effective at battling dry skin. This creates a build up of unwanted dead skin cells. 

Harsh Soaps - Soaps are used to clean your body and reduce the amount of oil in your skin. Overly harsh soaps can remove too much oil in your skin, causing it to dry out and appear dead. The skin on your face is sensitive, and so using harsh soaps on your face can cause dead skin cells. 

Other Skin Conditions - Other skin conditions, such as psoriasis and eczema are prone to cause dead skin. (If you think you may have one of these, seek advice from a medical professional or you GP) 

Swimming Pools - Public swimming pools are often filled with chlorine to keep them clean. Chlorine is a chemical that can irritate the skin and cause it to dry out. Overexposure to swimming pools and chlorine can cause dead skin cells on face and body.  


So now that we know what the causes are, how do we get rid of dead skin cells?

1. Cut down on baths and showers
Keep your showers and baths short, spending no more than 10 minutes, once a day. This way you will reduce the damage done to your skin's moisture barrier and prevent any dead skin cells from forming. Many people are unaware of how often to shower and tend to spend far longer than they should. We also recommend bathing with lukewarm water, again to minimize the damage often caused by hot water. 

2. Use gentle skincare products!
Some skincare products can be harsh on your skin and cause it to become dry, particularly face products. Oftentimes, dead skin on face is caused by fragrant products that damage the skin's natural moisture barrier. When face cleansing, we recommend using gentle products to prevent and get rid of dead skin. NIVEA Biodegradable Cleansing Wipes gently cleanse the skin whilst maintaining its natural balance. 

3. Exfoliate 
Exfoliating your skin will remove any unwanted dead skin, particularly on your face. It’s important to know how to safely exfoliate to avoid any further damage to the skin. NIVEA Gentle Exfoliating Scrub gently exfoliates without damaging your skin and removing all of your skin's natural moisture. We recommend lightly exfoliating the affected areas twice a week, to get rid of dead skin. Try not to do this too often, as over exfoliating can cause skin cells to tear and become irritated.

4. Use a humidifier
If you struggle with dead skin, getting a humidifier will provide your home’s environment with moisture and prevent your skin from drying out. As a result, not only will you get rid of dead skin, you’ll prevent it as well.

5. Wrap up warm
In the Winter, covering your skin from the elements will prevent it from drying. As we mentioned before, your skin struggles to retain its moisture in cold weather. Try wrapping up warm when it's cold outside; hats, gloves, scarves, the lot!

6. Apply moisturizer after washing 
Our final suggestion is to ensure that you’re moisturising after you wash. This helps to lock in your skin's moisture to prevent the build up of dead skin. The NIVEA Soothing Day Cream is a revitalising moisturiser that will leave your skin feeling soft and supple. 

These six tips will help you to understand how to get rid of dead skin whilst also preventing it. 

Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is great for hydrating and soothing the skin, amongst other benefits. It is also useful for sensitive areas, such as your face. The oil will prevent your skin from becoming dry and dead skin cells from forming. Just apply the Coconut oil to the affected area and let it soak in. Rinse with warm water and apply a moisturiser to keep your skin hydrated.


Coffee Scrub 
A coffee scrub can be used to exfoliate and get rid of dead skin. Coffee is also effective in improving the complexion of the skin, especially on your face. To create the coffee scrub, mix the ingredients below and apply the scrub to the desired area. Leave the scrub for 5-10 minutes. Afterwards, wash with warm water and apply moisturiser to keep your skin hydrated. 

3 x tablespoons of coffee granules
1 x tablespoon of olive oil
1 x tablespoon of honey
1 x tablespoon of sugar


Oatmeal scrub 
Oatmeal is particularly useful for dry, itchy skin. It has antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties that soothe irritation. The coarseness of oatmeal can also be used as an exfoliant to remove dead skin from face. Using circular motions, apply the scrub to the face. Leave for 10 minutes and then rinse with warm water. Again, be sure to apply moisturiser afterwards to keep your skin hydrated. Ingredients to use:

2 x tablespoons of oatmeal
2 x tablespoons of yoghurt 
1 x tablespoon of honey