These four types of medications may be drying your skin. Here’s what you can do about it

While there are many factors that can contribute to dry skin, including your skincare regimen, weather changes and sun exposure, many people do not realize that certain medications can also lead to dry, flaky skin.

If you can’t seem to get to the bottom of why your skin feels dry or itchy, it might be a side effect of a medication you are taking. Here are four common types of medications that may cause dry skin.

1. Statins

Statins are commonly used to lower cholesterol levels. However, cholesterol is also an important component of your skin’s protective barrier. With lowered levels of this lipid, your skin’s barrier can become more permeable, allowing moisture to escape. This can lead to dry, flaky skin.

How to manage:

▪ Use a barrier repair moisturizer to help replace these lipids in your skin’s barrier.

▪ Avoid harsh soaps and washing in very hot water, since these can strip more oils from your skin.

▪ Incorporate foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, like salmon, walnuts, and flaxseed into your diet to help hydrate your skin from the inside out.

2. Blood pressure medications

Beta-blockers and diuretics are two common types of blood pressure medications. Beta-blockers are known to increase the skin’s photosensitivity, which can make you more susceptible to sunburns.

Diuretics work by helping the kidneys remove excess salt and water from the body. Unfortunately, this can lead to dehydration, leaving your skin feeling dry and tight.

How to manage:

▪ Wear a broad-spectrum SPF every day, even when indoors next to windows.

▪ Stay hydrated.

▪ Use a barrier repair moisturizer as needed throughout the day.

3. Antihistamines

Antihistamines work by blocking histamine receptors to reduce allergy symptoms like itching, sneezing, and watery eyes. However, antihistamines can also reduce the amount of sebum, or oil, that your skin produces, which can lead to dry, flaky skin.

How to manage:

▪ Don’t use antihistamines for longer than necessary.

▪ Apply a barrier repair moisture as needed throughout the day.

▪ Use a humidifier to help add moisture to the air and your skin, especially in the winter or in a climate-controlled indoor environment.

4. Antidepressants

Some antidepressants can reduce the amount you sweat and may cause dehydration, which can also affect your skin. Some may also increase skin photosensitivity, making your skin more prone to damage and dryness from the sun.

How to manage:

▪ Drink enough water throughout the day.

▪ Apply a barrier repair moisturizer to help seal moisture into your skin.

▪ Use a broad-spectrum SPF daily to help prevent sun damage.

Bottom line

While dry, itchy skin can be a side effect of medications like the ones mentioned here, the benefits of those medications often outweigh these mild side effects.

Fortunately, there are some small changes you can make like switching to a good-quality barrier repair moisturizer, wearing sunscreen and even using a humidifier to help manage dry skin.

For more skincare news and advice, follow @SkinTypeSolutions on social media, or browse the Skin Type Solutions library. If you have a question for Dr. Baumann, talk to her on Reddit at r/skintypesolutions. She’s on sabbatical until 2025 and not seeing patients.

This story was originally published December 10, 2024 at 5:00 AM.