what does dry skin look like :

Is your skin feeling a little lackluster? Has your skin tone become uneven and dull with fine lines that have suddenly become more obvious? If so, there’s a high chance that your skin is dehydrated.

But what is dehydrated skin? What’s the difference between dehydrated and dry skin? Which skin types are susceptible to dehydrated and dry skin? And what are the best ingredients to repair and replenish dehydrated skin?

In this blog, we’ll address all such concerns and look at the ways to fix dehydrated skin.

What Is Dehydrated Skin?

In simple words, dehydrated skin is skin that doesn’t have sufficient water to optimally function. Often called “dry skin”, it is a common condition that can result from medical conditions, aging, sun exposure, exposure to cold and dry weather, as well as excessive use of soaps and detergents.

However, it’s not necessary for the skin to be dry to be dehydrated. In fact, it’s quite common for oily and acne-prone skin types to have dehydrated skin. In such cases, it’s generally difficult to identify dehydrated skin as overproduction of sebum can usually veil the symptoms of dehydrated skin. (How To Fix Dehydrated Skin, 2019)

 

 

Dehydrated Vs Dry Skin

Dry skin literally refers to skin without moisture or water and the physical aspect of scaly, brittle, and rough skin. Moreover, dry skin is often mistaken to be on the opposite end of the spectrum of “oily skin.” This is primarily because early researchers believed that dry skin is a result of lower sebum production. Nevertheless, in several cases of dry skin, sebum production remains within normal limits.

Moreover, research shows that dry skin is not always linked to changes in the level of water within the skin. However, other research shows that the speed of transepidermal water loss increases with increasing skin dryness.

This conflicting evidence is partly because there’s no clear definition of dry skin in the medical literature. Rather, it’s defined in terms of symptoms, causes, and physical characteristics.

However, the skincare community has distinguished between dehydrated and dry skin in the following ways:

• Dry skin lacks oil and water

• Dehydrated skin overproduces oil and lacks water.

Acne-Prone, Oily, and Dehydrated Skin


In simple words, acne-prone skin generally contains too much oil and not enough moisture and hydration.

Moreover, evidence also shows that oily and acne-prone skin is also associated with malfunctioning of the stratum corneum that is responsible for keeping the skin hydrated. Several acne treatments can even further damage the stratum corneum by excessively drying out the skin.

How to Repair Dehydrated Skin?

Since dehydration is caused by reduced levels of natural moisturizing factors and dysfunction in the stratum corneum barrier, effective treatments for dehydrated skin include:

• Increase in natural moisturizing factors

• Improve overall skin barrier function

• Balance stratum corneum lipids – especially ceramides

 

Best Ingredients to Fix Dehydrated Skin

Here is a list of some of the best ingredients that can fix dehydrated skin.

Urea

Research shows that topical urea at concentrations of 10 percent or less can reduce trans epidermal water loss and improve water retention and skin hydration. It does this by functioning as a humectant.

Ceramides

Topical application of ceramides improves the skin barrier function and lowers trans epidermal water loss. One study (Adele Sparavigna, 2014) shows that a topical cream containing cholesterol, ceramides, and fatty acids significantly improves the skin barrier function and enhances skin hydration.

Last Few Words

To prevent dehydrated skin, make moisturizing an essential and irreplaceable part of your skincare regime. Even if you have oily or acne-prone skin, make it a habit to never skip the moisturizer. And ensure that the moisturizer you use has the hydrating ingredients mentioned above.

 

Reference

(1) Adele Sparavigna, B. T. (2014). Preliminary open-label clinical evaluation of the soothing and reepithelialization properties of a novel topical formulation for rosacea. Clinical, Cosmetic, and Investigational Dermatology, 275–283.

(2)How To Fix Dehydrated Skin. (2019, March 13). From Science Becomes Her: https://sciencebecomesher.com/how-to-fix-dehydrated-skin/