Dry vs. Dehydrated Skin: how to tell the difference and how to treat them

In order to find the best way to take care of our skin, it's important to get to know it first. And that, as you know, is the main mission of SkinModo.com

Some skin types are easier to spot than others. Let's take for example my skin: oily nose and dry cheeks. These are the key distinctive characteristics of combination skin.

Not all skin types are so easy to distinguish, though. In fact, most people find it difficult to tell dry and dehydrated skin apart, and the latter is not even a skin type.

What Is Dehydrated Skin and How to Determine if You Have It?

Dehydrated skin is a skin condition, that occurs when there's a lack of water in the top layer of the skin💧.

All skin types can become dehydrated - even the oily skin type.

Dehydrated skin looks dull. It lacks elasticity and can show signs of ageing.

Characteristics of Dehydrated Skin:

• looks dull
• feels tight
• more pronounced fine lines and signs of ageing like sagging skin and deep wrinkles

What Are the Main Causes of Dehydrated Skin?

Dehydrated skin is caused by many environmental factors. The sun ☀️, the low air humidity, the ACs, they all contribute to the dehydration of the skin. But most commonly, not drinking enough water is the main cause.

How to Take Care of Dehydrated Skin?

Products containing hyaluronic acid as active ingredient are a good choice when it comes to treating dehydrated skin.

It's important to pay attention to oral hydration, in addition to topical care. Eat foods with high water content - such as watermelon 🍉, stawberries 🍓, cucumbers 🥒, celery. And always bring a bottle of water with you.

Skincare Ingredients for Dehydrated Skin:

• glycerin
• aloe
• honey
• snail mucin
• lactic acid

When it comes to dry skin, the things look different in terms of cause and treatment.

What Is Dry Skin and How to Determine if You Have It?

Dry skin is a skin type, as the oily, combination and normal. Dry skin produces less sebum and lacks lipids, therefore the skin doesn't have enough moisture content. Dry skin looks flaky and feels dry.

Characteristics of Dry Skin:

• flaky look
• dull complexion
• red patches
• almost invisible pores
• the skin is dry on other parts of the body as well (hands, feet, scalp)

What Are The Main Causes of Dry Skin?

Dry skin is caused by genetic factors. Due to the underactive sebaceous glands, there's too little lipids to retain the moisture in the skin. As a result too much water "leaves" the skin and we have a weakened skin barrier. This process is known as transepidermal water loss (TEWL). The goal is to prevent that.

How to Take Care of Dry Skin?

Products containing humectants, emolients and occlusives are a good choice when it comes to treating dry skin. Dry skin needs all of those components. Use them regularly, in the morning and in the evening.

💡It's good to note, that we should first hydrate and then moisturize.

Avoid long hot showers. Invest in a humidifer.

Skincare Ingredients for Dry Skin:

• nut oils - coconut oil, almond oil
• plant oils - squalane, jojoba oil, rosehip oil
• shea butter
• lanolin

Skincare Ingredients for Dry Skin & Dehydrated Skin:

• hyaluronic acid
• ceramides - they work to strengthen the weakened skin barrier and prevent moisture loss

Well, now you know that dry and dehydrated skin are, in fact, different things and have different needs.

Hydrating and moisturizing are important for the healthy look of our skin. And while with dehydrated skin, we can use only hydration, with dry skin the problem will, actually, get bigger if we only hydrate and moisturize.

I really hope that this material helps you to get to know your skin better.

Meanwhile, in this hot summer, don't get dehydrated!

Cheers to radiant skin!