Dry VS Dehydrated Skin: This Is How To Spot The Difference.

You may have seen dry and dehydrated used interchangeably, but they are not the same thing. There are predominantly 4 skin types – oily, dry, combination and normal skin. Dryness refers to a skin type while dehydration refers to a skin condition. It may seem confusing, but understanding the difference between these two things could be that factor standing between you and amazing skin! Yep – it’s good skin at stake here. So, let’s understand the difference between these two and learn how to treat dry skin as well as dehydrated skin.

What Is Dry Skin?

Unlike dehydrated skin, dry skin lacks oil. This isn’t a temporary condition, but rather widely considered a skin type that tends to be more permanent. This skin type is characterized by your sebaceous glands not secreting enough sebum. As a result, the skin barrier doesn’t get enough lipids to lubricate the skin. This usually causes flakiness and redness, making the skin appear rough, cracked and leathery. It lacks suppleness and elasticity and bounce, leading to premature signs of ageing. It also has uneven skin texture and appears dull and lifeless. While you can’t ‘fix’ dry skin, you can help support barrier function by including ingredients like ceramides, nourishing oils, fatty acids and more.

What is dehydrated skin?

The word ‘dehydrated’ refers to having a specific skin condition and one that anyone can experience at any time. Dehydrated skin doesn’t have enough water in the uppermost layer of the skin in fact, even oily and combination skin types can become dehydrated. Dehydrated skin looks flat and dull and can show flaking in patches. It also shows up as fine lines. Your skin will appear tighter, and you may encounter frequent breakouts as your skin tries to compensate for the lack of moisture by overproducing oils. It is usually caused by changes in seasons, harsh weather, stress and sun damage and lack of sleep.

How to Tell the Difference

One way to tell the difference between dry skin and dehydrated skin is to do the “pinch test.” Pinch a small area of skin on your cheek or the back of your hand. If the skin bounces back immediately, you have dry skin. If the skin takes a few seconds to bounce back, you have dehydrated skin.

Another way to tell the difference is to look at your skin’s oil production. Dry skin will produce less oil than normal skin, while dehydrated skin will produce a normal amount of oil.

If you have dry skin, you may also need to use a product that contains oils or emollients to help seal in moisture. If you have dehydrated skin, you may need to use a product that contains hyaluronic acid, which helps to attract water to the skin.

Dry skin and dehydrated skin are two different skin conditions, but they can cause similar symptoms. By understanding the difference between the two, you can choose the right treatment to improve the condition of your skin.

Want to know how to treat dry and dehydrated skin? Here are a few tips:

Use A Nourishing, Gentle Cleanser

Stay away from cleansers that leave your skin feeling dry and stretchy. Instead, go for cream cleansers or cleansing balms that are loaded with good fatty acids and oils that’ll help plump your skin as it cleanses it gently.

Exfoliate Every Few Days

Dry and dehydrated skin needs some exfoliation too! Dead skin cells tend to accumulate and make your skin look dull and tired. Having said that stray away from harsh soaps & exfoliating scrubs and instead use a gentle exfoliator that can bring back your glow and allow your products to work better! Use AHAs like lactic and glycolic acid instead of chemical exfoliants as they can cause micro-tears in the skin, making your skin feel worse. Use it twice or thrice a week to keep your skin glowing.

Moisturize Regularly

After cleansing and exfoliating, it is crucial that you moisturize using a cream or gel-based moisturizer to give your skin a boost. Look for nourishing ingredients like ceramides, lipids, omega fatty acids and lightweight oils to give your skin the moisture it needs.

Use A Face Oil

Sealing in your moisturizer can help do wonders for your skin. Use lightweight oils like jojoba oil, rosehip oil, grapeseed oil, squalene and even argan oil. Apply this as the last step of your skincare routine to reap the benefits.

Look for these ingredients in your skincare products in the table mentioned below based on if you have a dry skin type or a dehydrated skin condition:

Ingredients
Best for dry or dehydrated skin?
hyaluronic acidboth: be sure to apply an oil or moisturizers to lock it in
glycerindehydrated
aloedehydrated
honeydehydrated
nut or seed oil, such as coconut, almond, hempdry
shea butterdry
plant oils, such as squalene, jojoba, rose hip, tea treedry
snail mucindehydrated
mineral oildry
lanolindry
lactic aciddehydrated
citric aciddehydrated
ceramideboth: ceramides strengthen the skin’s barrier to help prevent moisture loss

 Here are some additional tips for caring for dry and dehydrated skin:

  • Avoid hot showers and baths.
  • Use lukewarm water when washing your face.
  • Apply sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher every day, even when you are indoors and on cloudy days.
  • Protect your skin from the sun by wearing a hat and sunglasses when you’re outdoors.
  • Eat a healthy diet that includes plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
  • Get enough sleep.Amp up your water intake to stay hydrated.
  • Use a humidifier in your home to add moisture to the air.

If you have any concerns about your skin, be sure to see a dermatologist. They can help you determine the best treatment for your specific needs.

Blog images sourced from Pinterest