When your skin is parched, it can cause a whole host of problems. It might feel dry, sometimes so dry that it feels cracked and it actually hurts. You could even experience a dull texture or complexion. Your skin might also not have that plump, glowy look that everyone dreams of. And those are just some of the issues that might come up. But there’s good news here—there are simple ways you can treat dehydrated skin and quench its thirst.
For some help figuring all of this out, I asked dermatologists all about the signs of dehydrated skin and what to do about it. Read on for what they had to say.
First, it’s important to understand the difference between dehydrated skin and dry skin. The terms are often used interchangeably, and although they are somewhat related, there are actually a few differences between the two. “There’s both a correlation and a difference,” explains Ife Rodney, MD, FAAD, of Eternal Dermatology and Aesthetics. “Typically, dry skin is a skin type, which is an absence of sebum (the skin’s natural oils), and dehydrated skin is only an absence of water that can happen to anyone. Excess oil loss, which can happen with age, affects the moisture barrier that reduces water loss. So dry skin can contribute to dehydrated skin. At the same time, it’s possible to be hydrated yet have dry skin.”
Ope Ofodile, MD, MPH, a cosmetic and medical dermatologist at Dermatology and Surgery Specialists of North Atlanta (DESSNA), adds that dry skin is secondary to natural genetic predisposition and not fully preventable, while dehydrated skin is an acquired condition. “Clinically, they feel the same way, but often the timeline, ‘dry skin all my life’ versus ‘dry skin later in life,’ can differentiate the two,” she explains.
So how do you know if you have dehydrated skin? The experts say to look for these warning signs:
1. Dry, cracked skin and also chapped lips
2. Rough and dull skin
3. Hollow and/or pale skin
4. Dark circles under the eyes or sunken eyes
5. Skin that feels tight
6. More noticeable fine lines and/or premature aging
7. Sensitivity to cleansers, sunscreen, and other topical products
8. Poor absorption of makeup or topical products
9. Body symptoms, such as dizziness, lightheadedness, and/or an elevated heart rate—when your body is dehydrated, that can affect your skin as well
Unlike dry skin, which has to do with your skin type, you can avoid dehydrated skin altogether. You just have to avoid certain things that might trigger it. Of course, the top thing that can cause dehydrated skin is a lack of water intake—even more reason to stay hydrated.
“Some of the common reasons include a poor diet, lack of sleep, stress, and using too many skincare products,” Rodney says. “Extreme changes in temperature, like moving to a very hot or very cold climate, can cause dehydration in the short term. Other reasons include excess caffeine, alcohol, chlorine from swimming pools, and spending long hours in air conditioning or heating.” And some other causes could be excessive sun exposure or excessive exfoliating.
If you’re dealing with dry skin, there are a few steps you can take to remedy the situation. The experts shared some tips below:
1. Make sure you’re drinking enough water: Ofodile recommends aiming for three eight-ounce glasses of water daily.
2. Invest in a humidifier: Rodney suggests getting one, especially if you’re in a humid location.
3. Exfoliate your skin: “This speeds up cell turnover, allowing your skin to absorb more water and benefit from moisturizers and other hydrating products. Once a week should be enough,” Rodney says.
4. But don’t exfoliate too much: Ofodile recommends minimizing aggressive exfoliation and also excessive use of abrasive products like retinols and AHA/BHA cleansers, which can further dry out the skin.
5. Add a moisturizer: “This is one of the best ways to lock in hydration to compact both dehydrated and dry skin,” Rodney says. “You’d want a product rich in humectants, ceramides, and other ingredients that are proven to add and retain moisture. Reapply your moisturizer at least once for the day to clean skin, and don’t forget to use sunscreen.”
6. Try a hydrating serum: Ofodile suggests incorporating one into your routine twice daily, like a hyaluronic acid one.
7. Choose your cleanser wisely: “Your cleanser should contain natural ingredients and no surfactants,” Rodney says. “This product cleans your skin while maintaining your delicate pH.”
8. Moisturize post-cleanse: “To treat dry skin, you need more than just water,” says Heather D. Rogers, MD, dermatologist, dermatologic surgeon, and founder and CEO of Doctor Rogers Restore. “When you wash your face on a daily basis, you need to make sure you apply a cream or lotion to help replace the oils you washed away. If you are very dry, the heavier the cream, the better. Look for products with glycerin, a powerful humectant that pulls water out of the air and back into the skin, and squalane, a fatty acid your skin can easily absorb (both are in the Doctor Rogers Restore Face Cream).”
9. Give slugging a try: This is when you slather an occlusive moisturizer on your face to lock in moisture. Rogers says you can do this with an ointment in extreme cases of dry skin. “A few tricks about slugging: Ointments do not contain water, so you want to dampen your face or apply a cream (water and oil mixed) before the ointment for added hydration,” she explains. “Also, most ointments have a petroleum base, which prevents water loss but does not add oil back into the skin. Our skin cannot absorb petroleum, mineral oil, or dimethicone. You will see a better result if you use a vegetable oil–based ointment like my Restore Healing Balm because our skin can absorb those fatty acids and use them.”
10. Try professional treatments: “Get monthly or quarterly deep facials such as Diamond Glow or Hydrafacials, which allow deeper infusion of the skin with hydrating serums,” Ofodile says.
11. Visit a dermatologist: “When skin is very dry and does not improve over a month of proper care, it could be because you have an underlying skin condition like eczema, seborrheic dermatitis, a skin infection, or skin cancer,” Rogers says. That’s when you’ll want to see a medical professional. Plus, when your whole body is dehydrated, it can cause other problems aside from dry skin, so you’ll want to ensure you’re replenishing your fluids.
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