Dry Skin vs. Dehydrated Skin: Decoding the Difference

It is important you have a skin care professional diagnose this as the solutions are very different and if incorrectly diagnosed can lead to either to drier skin, oily skin or acne.

Dry Skin: Dry skin is a skin type characterized by a lack of oil or sebum production. This can lead to a compromised skin barrier, resulting in a parched, flaky appearance. Dry skin tends to be a long-term condition and may be influenced by genetics or environmental factors.

Dehydrated Skin: Dehydrated skin, on the other hand, is a temporary condition that occurs when your skin lacks water. Even oily skin types can experience dehydration. It often presents as tightness, dullness, and fine lines, especially after exposure to factors like weather, air conditioning, or excessive caffeine intake.

With dehydrated skin your skin may contain plenty of oil, but there’s no water underneath to keep things balanced and healthy. To compensate for the lack of moisture, your skin may overproduce oil. As a result, your skin can feel dry and oily at the same time. This overproduction of oil can result in clogged pores, breakouts and dry patches all at the same time.

Dry skin can seem similar, but it will be more chronic and can lead to eczema in extreme cases. Because this skin is a result of a lack of oil. Your treatment plan is very different and will include oils, ceramides and essential fatty acids. Because a large part of this skin type can be a genetic internal imbalance, it can be treated efficiently but never cured completely.

Potential Causes of Dryness and Dehydration:

1. Weather Extremes: Harsh weather conditions, be it cold winds or scorching sun, can strip your skin of its moisture.

2. Environmental Factors: Air conditioning, indoor heating, and pollution can contribute to skin dryness and dehydration.

3. Skincare products: Using products that aren’t suited to your skin type can worsen dryness or dehydration.

4. Cleansing habits: Over-cleansing or using harsh products can disrupt the skin’s natural balance.

How can you help….

1. Stay hydrated: It sounds simple, but ensuring you drink enough water throughout the day is crucial for maintaining your skin’s hydration levels. This is recommended to be 0.033 x your body weight (add a bit more in summer or heavy exercise)

2. Gentle cleansing: Opt for a more milky cleanser that doesn’t strip away your skin’s natural oils. stay away from cleansers with SLS or acids in them.

3. Use some products with oils: Oil helps retain water in the skin, so it is imprtant to have both with your skincare. If you use just water, it will evaporate out of your skin and have no benefits. .

4. Omegas: if you feel dry or dehydrated all over, it is important to add in omegas. whether this be with food (fish, nuts, avocado) or a supplement.