You may be asking yourself - Is My Skin Dehydrated or do I have Dry Skin Type? I knew there was a difference between dry skin vs. dehydrated skin but never really looked more into it.
Dehydrated skin means that your skin is lacking water. It can be dry and itchy and perhaps dull looking, too. Your overall tone and complexion may appear uneven, and fine lines are more noticeable.
While dehydrated skin can be a nuisance, it’s relatively easy to treat with the right lifestyle changes. Treatment begins from the inside out to replenish and maintain hydration throughout your body.
Dehydrated skin can appear dry, but it’s not the same as having a dry skin type.
Severe dehydration and dry skin should be addressed with a doctor.
The biggest difference between having dry skin vs. dehydrated skin comes down to dry skin lacking oil, and dehydrated skin lacking water. Also, dry skin is a skin type, while dehydration is considered a condition.
Skin types are classified as normal, dry, combination, and oily. You’re usually born with one type of skin, but it can change with age and season. When you have dry skin, your sebaceous glands don’t produce enough natural oils.
What does it look like?
At its definition, dehydration means that your body is losing more water than it’s taking in. Aside from not drinking enough water, this can be related to increased urination from caffeine or diuretics. It may also occur from lots of sweating from exercise.
Unlike dry skin, dehydration can cause the following symptoms:
itchiness
dullness
darker under-eye circles
sunken eyes
“shadows” around the face (especially under the eyes and around your nose)
increased incidence or appearance of fine lines and surface wrinkles
Dry skin differs from dehydrated in these ways:
scaly skin
white flakes
redness
irritation
Factors that contribute to dry skin
Age, climate, genetics, hormones or untreated dehydrated skin, harsh conditions.
While many of the factors and appearances are similar between them, it comes down to dry skin being a skin TYPE and dehydrated skin being a skin CONDITION. What you do once you distinguish the difference is the most important; treating these two ailments are very different.
Treatments
Products that benefit dehydrated skin
Hyaluronic acid
Glycerin
Urea
Finding techniques to lock in that moisture for dehydrated skin is key. Using a hydrating mist, incorporating foods that are high in water content, and drinking at least half your body weight in water is a great start.
Products that benefit dry skin:
Mineral oil
Lanolin
Ceramides
For dry skin, it is important to lock in that moisture with proper hydration and finding products that will hold on to that hydration especially overnight. Using a humidifier especially in the winter months can drastically help dry skin.
Using specific products to target these skin ailments like a mineral water spray, deep hydration face cream, rose water, and hydrating aloe are all amazing at targeting dry and dehydrated skin.
Mineral Water Spray - Use day or night, before or after makeup application to freshen up your skin throughout the day.
Contains Glycerin and will hydrate, heal, and soothe
Calcium- helps preserve a healthy skin glow
Magnesium- helps improve skins overall appearance
Zinc- anti-inflammatory
Copper- antioxidant and reduces wrinkles
Vitamin B5- helps keep skin soft, smooth, and healthy
Pure Rose Line - includes a cream, water, serum, cleanser, clay mask, and soap. This line preserves the skin's pH balance and also regulates excess oil. It also has anti-inflammatory properties that can help diminish the redness and rid the skin of dermatitis and eczema.
Aloe Line - Different strengths based on your skin's needs, which are all labeled on the bottles. In this line, there is an Aloe Scrub, Cream, Lotion, Gel, and Mask.
Not only can aloe treat sunburns, stretch marks, lighten scars and blemishes, kills acne-causing bacteria. But what it can really help for us is that it treats dry skin, increases the elasticity and flexibility of our skin, improves natural firmness, regenerate new skin tissue, supplies oxygen to the skin cells, and it helps your skin heal rapidly.
Calendula Line – Specifically made for those who have dry/sensitive skin. This product is jammed packed full of amazing ingredients that will transform your dry skin. This line includes a Cream, Serum, Sleeping Mask, Cleanser, Soap, Tonic, and a Balsam Cream.
Calendula is full of flavonoids (plant-based antioxidants that protect cells from being damaged), the serum is anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, and anti-bacterial that makes it useful in soothing eczema. It also helps regulate the sebaceous glands oil production thus preventing wrinkles, dry skin, chapped lips, psoriasis, and rashes.
Another Tip - Exfoliate
When you suffer from dry skin it is very important to exfoliate and keep your skin healthy by getting rid of that dead dry skin. In doing this you are allowing new skin cells to come to the surface; making a difference not only in your skin's appearance but overall health.