Flaky skin is most commonly skin that’s too dry, although it can
occasionally be a sign of another skin condition called
seborrheic dermatitis. Most cases of flakiness come from skin
that lacks moisture. Dry, flaky skin is especially common in the
winter months when the air is dry and people spend more time
indoors where their skin is exposed to dry heat. Dry, flaky skin
is caused by a lack of moisture in the outermost layer of the
skin called the epidermis. The epidermis consists of clusters of
skin cells that are held together by lipids. These lipids help
to prevent loss of water from the surface of the skin. Some
people don’t have enough of these lipids or the lipid layer is
damaged, which makes it difficult for their skin to hold on to
moisture. When this is the case, skin cells in the epidermis
aren’t shed in an orderly manner. Instead, they build up and
cause skin to look flaky and feel rough to the touch. Some
people are genetically prone towards dry skin. For others, the
lipid layer that protects the