Dehydrated Skin Is More Common Than You Think
What skin types get dehydrated? Contrary to popular belief, all skin types are prone to dehydration.
When there is a lack of water, even combination or oily skin can show signs of severe dryness. Dry skin is usually more at risk of dehydrating because it produces an insufficient amount of sebum, the natural oil secreted on the skin’s surface and responsible for retaining water in the subcutaneous layers.
What are the main symptoms of dehydrated skin?
The majority of signs of dehydration are easily recognizable. The face is dry and has a rough texture that is commonly referred to as “crocodile skin.” Dehydration also affects the skin’s firmness and can cause even young skin to show wrinkles.
Oily and Combination skin types will look shinier and produce excess sebum or even have closed comedones (blackheads) because there is not enough water to flush out the excess sebum.
Here are the most common symptoms of dehydration of the skin:
- Tightness or discomfort that lasts all-day
- Itchiness or redness
- Skin that wrinkles when pinched with fingertips
- Dull complexion without radiance
- Visible signs of desquamation (skin dandruff on the surface)
- Rough patches of textured skin
- Presence of oily areas on the sides of the nose, forehead, or chin
Here’s why your skin might be thirsty!
The skin can have a natural tendency to lose water, but dehydration can be accelerated or amplified by certain external factors:
- Medication
- Heating and air conditioning
- UV rays from the sun and heat
- Wind and cold
- Aging of the skin
- The atmospheric pollution
- Hormonal fluctuations
- Too frequent or abrasive cleaning of the skin
- Insufficient water and mineral consumption
- Too much alcohol
- An inadequate skincare routine that strips the skin without restoring moisture and hydration
At the first signs of dehydration, avoid …
- Drying your skin in the open air after a shower: drying by evaporation increases water loss. Use a towel to gently pat dry instead and use a moisturizer while the skin is still damp.
- Heavy consumption of alcohol: these beverages are known for their dehydrating effect. Swap them for a good glass of water or a cup of herbal tea: your skin particularly needs them.
- Fats: remember that the best cream for dehydrated skin does not contain lipids. Your skin doesn’t need oil, it needs to be rehydrated with water. Using a fatty substance may accentuate the problem of oily areas and even create comedones (blackheads) or acne.
How to combat dehydrated skin:
It only takes a few simple daily actions that will quickly relieve your thirsty skin.
- Drink more water mixed with minerals! To treat dehydrated skin, the first solution: drink water + a twist of lime and fruit slices! It is recommended that you drink a minimum of 1.5 L daily, which is equivalent to approximately 8 glasses of water per day. No need to chug down your water, take small sips throughout the day as you feel thirsty. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LpR83Roybk 2) Balance your lifestyle.
2. Adopt a healthy and balanced lifestyle that makes skincare manageable. A healthy body and mind contribute significantly to healthy skin through the regulation of biological systems.
- Sleep a minimum of 7 hours per night
- Eat well
- Learn how to manage stress
- No smoking
- Participate in physical activity that you enjoy
3. Adopt an adequate skincare routine. Incorporating a daily skincare routine adapted to your skin condition will help fill its water intake, restore its suppleness and regain its softness. The important thing is to allow the skin to preserve its protective barrier and thus better retain water in the skin tissues.
- Use a gentle cleanser with a balanced pH: it will not dry out the skin and will not modify its acidity.
- Incorporate a moisturizing serum into your skincare routine. A good facial serum will allow your skin to retain its water well. Serums based on hyaluronic acid or vitamin B5, for example, are very good anti-thirst allies!
- Morning and evening, apply an oil-free moisturizer to the skin of your face and neck. Remember to treat your hands well, which are also exposed to harsh weather conditions! A fluid or moisturizer will create a thin layer on the surface of the skin, which will help retain water in the epidermis. The best moisturizers contain emollient agents that will help your skin restore suppleness and elasticity to the tissues.
- Apply sunscreen every day to protect the skin from the sun’s harmful rays, which are also responsible for premature aging and many skin cancers. We recommend only using physical SPF’s such as Zinc and Titanium Dioxide. Sun filters are allies for well-hydrated skin!
- Once or twice a week, use an ultra-hydrating mask to plump tissue and relieve symptoms of discomfort associated with dehydrated skin.