If you become frustrated with constantly having to deal with your dry skin, maybe there’s more going on here. It’s possible you may be dealing with dehydrated skin, which is an entirely different issue.
How can you tell whether your skin is just dry or if you’re dealing with dehydrated skin?
Symptoms of dry skin show up with white flakes, outbreaks of eczema or psoriasis, redness, irritation, and an overall scaly look to your skin.
Dry skin is caused by your skin lacking enough oil to keep it properly hydrated and moisturized on its own.
You may have dehydrated skin if you have dull, tired-looking skin. You may suffer with itchiness and are more susceptible to the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and losing elasticity in the skin. You may also notice dark circles under the sensitive area right below your eyes.
The cause of dehydration is due to a lack of water in the skin, even if you have combination or an oily skin type.
While all skin needs to be hydrated and moisturized to stay healthy, dealing with dry vs. dehydrated skin requires different treatment methods.
Here are some tips for treating each skin issue.
Too much hydration could make dry skin worse.
Hyaluronic acid works well for dry skin, followed up by a skin-loving oil such as sweet almond oil or other oil to lock in that hydration.
Ceramides are fabulous for treating dry skin because they help keep skin’s outer layer strong and help keep skin from losing too much moisture and protects from over-drying effects.
For combatting the effects of dry skin, try skincare products containing coconut, sweet almond, rosehip or jojoba oils, or shea butter.
Adding a humidifier in your living space helps keep air moist and helps combat the dry air that sucks moisture out of your skin.
Drink more water which is great for hydrating your skin.
Never skip moisturizing, especially overnight when skin renews and regenerates.
Too much moisturizing won’t do much to help dehydrated skin. For best results, use hydrating products first and lightly moisturize to seal and protect the moisture from escaping.
Hyaluronic acid works very well for dehydrated skin, followed up by a light moisturizer to seal in the hydrating effects. This acid plumps up and provides a lot of hydration for thirsty dehydrated skin.
Ceramides also work wonders for dehydrated skin because they protect and strengthen skin’s outer protective layer which helps seal in moisture and hydration.
For combatting the effects of dehydrated skin, try skincare products containing honey, aloe, citrus or lactic acids.
Drinking plenty of water and getting plenty of rest helps restore dehydrated skin.
Misting skin throughout the day makes your skin glow and helps keep it hydrated.
Wrap Up
Figuring out whether your skin is dry or dehydrated can help you make changes in your skincare routine that will make all the difference.
For an expert analysis, recommendations, and professional skin treatments, schedule an appointment with Laura Skincare in historic downtown Petaluma.