Dry vs. Dehydrated Skin: How to Tell and What to Do

Beauty and Skincare, Blog, Health, Lifestyle
October 9, 2024
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Is your skin dry or dehydrated? What’s the difference between them?

Is your skin dry or dehydrated? Did you know that you can have dehydrated skin even if you have oily skin?

Dehydrated skin is a skin condition that lacks water, while dry skin is a skin type that lacks oil. So any skin type can actually have dehydrated skin. However, you could be either one of them or both. So today at Spheremedium I’ll talk about the difference between dry and dehydrated skin, how you can actually have both, and how to combat dry and dehydrated skin.

What is dry skin?

Dry skin is a skin type. It’s when your skin is dry and parched all year round. There are rough, dry patches, and even after moisturizing, it still looks like a dry desert.

Causes of dry skin

Normally, it’s due to genetics and sometimes causes you to have more sensitive skin.

The upside to having dry skin is that most likely you will not have acne, breakouts, or blackheads. However, you might see wrinkles and lines forming just a little bit earlier than those who have oily skin.

Solution

Solution for dry skin is to always keep your skin nice and hydrated and moisturized. People with dry skin tend to require more external moisture in order to compensate for the lack of oil production by sebaceous glands. And so it’s like lacking that natural nourishment, so you have to restore it.

Also, dry skin lacks lipids to retain moisture in the skin, and that leads to not having a strong skin barrier, and therefore dry skin can be irritated quickly.

Their prime focus should be on building a strong skin barrier system, and it’s done by using products or moisturizers that have ceramides.

Simple dry skin care routine

Cleansing

With a cleansing milk or a cleansing lotion is more ideal for those who have dry or sensitive skin

Exfoliate

Exfoliation applies to everyone. It doesn’t matter what skin you have, whether it’s oily, dry, sensitive, or a combination; you should always exfoliate, and it doesn’t matter what climate or what weather as well.

When you have dry skin, a lot of the dead skin cells, the flaky, the dry skin patches form on top of the skin, and it creates a barrier, so then the moisture that you put on top is not going to get fully absorbed.

So exfoliating once or twice a week is very, very important. And that should definitely be in your routine no matter what. So opt for something that has AHAs or BHAs, which are chemical-based exfoliants that you don’t need to physically scrub or rub on your face.

toner

it rebalance the pH levels, to remove any cleanser residue, makeup residue.

serum

Look for serum containing ingredients, such as humectants like glycerin, peptides, and nourishing ingredients like Vitamin E, those are the things that are going to help to hydrate and moisturize your skin. And give you that moisture for long-term as well.

Moisturizer

Use a thick moisturizer with ceramides. I’ll recommend Physio gel for it.

Beauty oils

They are a savior to dry, flaky skin. It forms a protective layer over skin, locking in all the moisture and preventing Tran’s epidermal water loss. And beauty oils can range from Vitamin E, rosehip, jojoba, and coconut oil.

So what about dehydrated skin?

Does your skin feel a little tight after cleansing? Do you get like dry patches of flaky skin on your face? If yes, then most likely you have dehydrated skin.

Assuming everyone knows skin has layers; a dehydrated skin lacks water in all layers of skin. And when there is less to no water, essential nutrients are not delivered, and our face ends up looking dull.

One of the telltale signs of dehydrated skin is when you start to see fine lines and applying some moisturizer makes them disappear, or at least it lessens the look of it, so that’s how yow can know that you have dehydration.

Cause of dehydrated skin:

Weather: Hot as well as cold weather can cause your skin to dry out and to be tight and dry if you aren’t drinking enough water and replenishing yourself.

Diet: a high sodium diet or a lot of processed foods , excessive alcohol and Caffeine consumption.

Exposure to UV rays

Over washing face or using harsh products for washing face

Over exfoliation: frequently using products with salicylic acid, for instance, can dehydrate skin.

So I know I ‘v mentioned a lot of things that can cause dehydrated skin, but it’s really important for you to identify what’s causing you a dehydrated skin. That way, you can help manage it and maybe eliminate that situation.

Also I’d want to share with you incase of dehydration what our body does is amazing. It will actually overcompensate for the lack of water in the body, and it produces a lot of oil for the skin to hydrate itself. And sometimes when it overproduce oil and you already have oily skin, that’s what causes the oil on oil factor, lead to blockage and bacterial infections, hence acne and breakouts .

How to treat dehydrated skin

Drink more water. The good news is you can treat dehydrated skin, so first and foremost, the most important thing is you have to hydrate your body from inside by drinking more water.

Eat juicy fruits and vegetables: it doesn’t have to be just water . Eating fruits and vegetables that are high in water content, including cucumbers, lettuce, watermelon, tomatoes, watermelons, strawberries, spinach, and broccoli. will help to replenish water .

Use a humidifier: most skin types that have dehydrated or dry skin can benefit from a humidifier in the room.

Skincare routine for dehydrated skin

Usually people with oily skin suffer from dehydrated skin because over the years to combat the oiliness of skin or when trying to treat their breakouts, they might’ve used harsh products, and now they’re suffering from oily, dehydrated skin!

Basically, it’s all about moisture and putting back moisture into dehydrated skin.