Everybody has a different skin type, whether you have oily skin, combination skin, dry skin or mature skin. Dehydrated skin is not a skin type; it is a problem, and you need to take steps to rectify it as quickly as possible. The most basic advice for dehydrated skin is to moisturize it, but it can be a little bit more complicated than that.
Dry or Dehydrated
The first thing you need to do is understand the difference between normal-dry skin and dehydrated skin. They may have several commonalities and symptoms, but they are two very different conditions that are treated in different ways.
Dry skin is one classification for skin type and is something you will have inherited through your genes. If you have dry skin, then one of your parents also had the same condition, and in some cases, both of them will have had dry skin. It refers to the body’s natural ability to produce skin oils, and in dry skin, not enough oil is being made. Dry skin can also be caused by an underactive thyroid and imbalances in the hormones. If you suddenly have dry skin, it is worth getting this checked out. Dry skin means your skin is not producing enough sebum, and this means that your skin is lackluster and dry. When you have a skincare routine for dry skin, it must incorporate oil-based products that are specially designed to put natural oils back.
On the other hand, dehydrated skin is a skin condition. People get dehydrated skin because of external factors like seasonal changes and weather, a diet that lacks fresh fruit and vegetables, lifestyle choices that include excessive caffeine or alcohol consumption and other factors. What happens, in this case, is the moisture in the skin is depleted and the skin that takes on an appearance that is less fresh. Dehydrated skin differs from dry skin because it is a lack of water in the skin, not oil in the skin. Dehydrated skin can be rectified by making changes to the lifestyle and using the correct products and treatments.
Symptoms of Dehydrated Skin
While there is a definite commonality with dry skin, there are some symptoms which are exclusive to dehydrated skin and should help you understand which condition you are dealing with.
Itchy skin: having a skin type of dry skin should not cause any itching on the face. However, if you suddenly feel that your skin is itching, and tight especially if you have been out in the sun, on the beach, or in the wind, this would indicate dehydrated skin. You may also find that the skin begins to flake off in patches.
Sensitive skin: if the skin is dehydrated, it also becomes incredibly sensitive. If your face does not have any moisture, then it is unable to protect itself from things in the atmosphere. So, things like pollution, bacteria and other things irritate the skin and cause the top layer to become red, itchy and irritated.
Fine lines: one test for dehydrated skin is to pinch yourself on the cheek gently. The skin should be smooth and not appear to have fine lines. If you do see fine lines, your skin is dehydrated. When skin is dehydrated, it emphasizes ageing signs, but they are more subtle and delicate than the crow’s feet and smile lines that come with ageing.
Dull skin: when your skin is dehydrated, it also appears to look dull. You will not look fresh-faced because there is no ability for your skin to get rid of the dead cells. This means that the pores of your face can get clogged and your complexion becomes dull.
Fixing Dehydrated Skin
Fixing dehydrated skin is a process that can take some time, but there are many steps you can take. First of all, you can make sure you are staying well hydrated with plenty of fresh water. This means cutting back on the amount of alcohol and caffeine you have. one or two cups of coffee should not have any adverse effect on your skin, and one glass of wine in the evening is also safe.
You need to be gentle with dehydrated skin, so make sure any products are gentle and use lukewarm water to wash your face. Remember that dehydrated skin is prone to being sensitive and irritated; therefore, harsh chemicals in products will only exacerbate the problem and make it worse. Organic plant-based products offer a gentle experience and do not include things like petroleum, parabens, mineral oils and other fake manufactured elements such as sodium lauryl sulphate. Apply a moisturizer that is light and not too oily, but will put enough moisture back in your skin to help with the dried-out effect. Finally protect your face from the elements when you head out by wearing scarves in winter, and sunscreen throughout the year.