Dry vs dehydrated skin. What’s the difference?

Winter just keeps on giving and thanks to the gusty winds and cold temperatures of late, you might well have noticed a change in your skin and self-diagnosed as having a dry, dehydrated complexion? The thing is while dry skin and dehydrated skin share many of the same traits, they are in fact two very different skin conditions and therefore need to be treated in different ways.

Dry skin is actually a skin type (just like your combination, sensitive and oily skin) inherited through your genetics (thanks parents!), whereas a dehydrated complexion is simply a skin concern caused by external factors and can be more easily rectified my making a few lifestyle changes. Curious to know which of the two you might suffer from? Read on as we explain the difference between dry skin and dehydrated skin and the best products and ways to remedy both of these skin concerns.

 

Dehydrated skin

Dehydrated skin is a skin condition that occurs when there is a lack of water in our skin. Dehydration can actually happen to anyone no matter your skin type – you can even have oily skin and experience dehydration! Sounds counterintuitive right? The thing is our skin is made up of layers of water-based cells, in fact, it’s estimated that our skin contains 64% water! Crazy right? The outermost layer of our skin is made up of lipids, keratin and sebum.  Sebum is actually used as a way to keep the skin moisturised and acts as a waterproofing mechanism, keeping water from leaving your body. It also helps maintain flexibility in the skin and can act as a barrier from external factors.

Sometimes our skin is however compromised due to external factors like the weather and pollution, or we simply aren’t getting enough water and sleep! When this happens the outermost layer loses its ability to maintain hydration which can result in itchy, tight and dull skin. The good news though, is that these signs of dehydration can be easily reversed by re-hydrating our bodies and moisturising our skin!

So, if you’ve noticed that your skin suddenly looks a duller than before, your fine lines and wrinkles look a little more obvious even, or perhaps your skin feels tighter than normal, it’s a pretty good indication that the cause could be temporary dehydration. To learn more about why your skin is dehydrated and how to fix it click here.

 

Dry skin

Dry skin on the other hand doesn’t lack water, it in fact lacks oil! The oil our skin naturally secretes from our sebaceous glands in our pores to keep skin protected and stop it from drying out! When there is a lack of oil our skin takes on a more flaky, scaly, dry appearance. Skin can also look inflamed with redness and irritation.

For dry skin, moisturising is paramount. It’ll help dry skin better retain water and maintain a proper level of hydration. The key to addressing dry skin is to ensure the skincare you are using is formulated with specifical ingredients. Look for dry skin creams rich in nourishing ingredients including shea butter, squalane, safflower, jojoba, tea tree, hyaluronic acid and ceramides. Also opt for products that help you lock in moisture, such as your overnight oils.

To learn more about dry skin and the best products for this skin condition click here.