Dry Skin vs. Dehydrated Skin
Do you have dry skin or dehydrated skin? You might know the answer, you might not - you might not even have a clue what I’m talking about right now. This is why, as my gift to you, I am giving you a view into the world of skin and an aesthetician’s guide to dry vs. dehydrated skin.
First things first, let’s define skin type and skin condition or concern. Your skin type is determined by your genes - it’s the skin that you are born with. It is important to note that with hormonal changes, it is possible for your skin type to change. A skin condition or concern is a temporary state of the skin, that can be diagnosed and treated using skin care products or implementing lifestyle changes. Skin types can be controlled, while a skin condition or concern can be cured.
Both dry skin and dehydrated skin can exhibit the same symptoms, and for this reason it can be hard to treat the skin at home. Both dry and dehydrated skin can present as itchy or feeling tight. However, dehydration can affect all skin types - even oily skin - because it is a condition and can be characterized by a lack of radiance, persistent and sometimes intense tightness and itching. Dry skin is characterized by tightness, roughness, flaking, itching and a lack of radiance.
So now that you have a basic understanding of the difference between a skin type and skin concern, let’s dive deeper into the specifics of dry vs. dehydrated skin.
Dry Skin
First off, there are three layers of the skin. The epidermis, dermis, and hypodermis. When it comes to dry skin, we are mainly concerned with the first two layers.
As we have discussed, dry skin can feel itchy, tight, painful and your pores are practically invisible. Dry skin is most commonly caused by under active sebaceous glands or genetic factors that decrease the water content of the cells within the epidermal and dermal layers.
Sebaceous glands are microscopic structures that can be found at the base of the hair follicle in the dermal layer of the skin. They produce a wax-like substance called ‘sebum’ and they control the amount of oil that is secreted by the skin. The sebaceous glands are intended to naturally lubricate and moisturize the skin’s surface. Sebum helps maintain the skin’s natural barrier, and it can also aid in the maintenance of elasticity. Sebaceous glands can be found all over the body, except for the hands and the feet - which is why many people suffer from dry skin in these areas.
What are some factors that cause dry skin?
As we know, dry skin can be caused by a lack of sebum production within the sebaceous glands or genetic factors that decrease the water content of the skin. But there can be other causes the lead to dry skin, which I will list and explain below.
A huge factor of dry skin is dehydration. While it might sound like I’m contraindicating my previous statements, dehydration does in fact lead to dry skin. Dehydration can exacerbate dry skin with the heavy consumption of caffeine, alcohol, and foods that are high in sodium. We will cover dehydration in depth later in the article.
Then we have everyone’s favourite - aging. While aging does not necessarily decrease the number of cells in the skin, aging will result in the skin thinning out. This means that the skin’s elasticity will decrease, along with its fluid retention and the production of sebum which can make it more susceptible to becoming flaky, tight and dry.
Some medications can also contribute to dry skin. Diuretics such as Furosemide and Hydrochlorothiazide help with limiting water retention. While this can be good for individuals who suffer from high blood pressure, it leaches the majority of the water from your body. Medications that are used to control acne (ie. Accutane, Epuris, antibiotics, Spironolactone, topicals, etc) can also dry out the skin, as their main function is to limit the amount of sebum that is produced by the sebaceous glands.
Some people might also suffer from medical conditions that can cause dry skin. The types of conditions can include diabetes, eczema, psoriasis, hypothyroidism, lupus and malnutrition. People who suffer from these conditions are more likely to experience dry skin. If you fall under one of these categories, please talk to your primary care physician about a solution that might be right for you.
Your environment will also play a big role in the state of your skin. Environments that are too hot or too cold can evaporate the water content of the skin, making it dry. It is important to be extra mindful of your water consumption when you encounter such an environment, to avoid passive dehydration.
Sunburns. This is the same as if you were to take a straightening iron and press it to your face (extreme example, I know). When your skin becomes burnt, ESPECIALLY from UV rays, the water molecules within the layers of the skin are instantly evaporated and the sebaceous glands are fried. This is why it is so imperative that you wear your SPF (a minimum of SPF30 is recommended).
The type of water you clean your skin with is also important to look at when discussing dry skin. Chemically treated waters such as swimming pools or hot tubs will dry out the skin, because the chlorine strips all the oil from the skin. Hard water will also strip the oil from your skin, which tells the sebaceous glands that they don’t need to produce as much sebum, so they will begin to under lubricate your skin.
Your current skincare products are another factor to consider when talking about dry skin. Products that contain harsh detergents, fragrance, soaps, sanitizers and deodorants can irritate and dry out the skin. If you are unsure of your skincare products, be sure to consult with a skincare professional to get the best help deciding on what products to use and avoid.
Overall, dry skin can be a very complicated skin type to diagnose. Many factors can play a role in a client having dry skin, and that is why it is so important to ask all the questions and go through the process of elimination to come up with a skincare plan that best suits your needs.
Dehydrated Skin
We know that dehydrated skin is described as having a lack of radiance that is often accompanied with a persistent ‘tight’ sensation. Unlike dry skin, this is a temporary state that can be easily reversed when the right products are used and treatments are implemented. This means that oily skin can be affected by dehydration at times.
In order to understand dehydrated skin better, we need to talk about the role water plays in the skin. In the average adult, water will account for 65% of their body weight. This means that if someone weighs 150lbs, 97.5lbs of that is actually water. 15% of that is concentrated within the skin, meaning that the skin holds roughly 15lbs of water. The skin is like a water reservoir that other organs in the body utilize to get their water. Water flows between the dermal and epidermal layers of the skin, and is protected from evaporation by the skin barrier. The skin barrier is a hydrolipidic film that coats the very first layer of the epidermis, known as the horny layer. When this barrier becomes compromised or stops functioning properly, the water content of the skin evaporates leading to dehydrated skin. This process is known as transepidermal water loss or TEWL.
What are some factors that cause dehydrated skin?
Just like dry skin, many factors can play a role in the dehydration of your skin. Things like your environment, emotional factors, certain cosmetic products, external factors and certain medical treatments can and will result in dehydrated skin.
Emotional factors such as stress and fatigue can cause dehydration all throughout the body, including the skin. External factors like smoking, use of tobacco or the consumption of alcohol will also lead to dehydration.
Now because the skin is very sensitive to water content or the lack thereof, it has a self-implemented mechanism known as hydroregulation. However, in order for this mechanism to work the way it should, there needs to be two elements present within the skin. Static water and dynamic water. Hydroregulation works to maintain a balance between the two elements, which helps keep your skin plump and moisturized. When this mechanism is unable to achieve balance between the two elements, this is when we start experienced concerns such as dehydration.
What can I do if I have dry or dehydrated skin?
In order to manage dry skin and cure dehydrated skin, it is important to follow a few crucial steps which I’ve outlined below.
Complete diagnoses
have a skincare professional or physician look at your skin and diagnose your concern before you go any farther with your skincare journey
Stay hydrated
drinking at least 1.5 litres or 8 cups of water a day can curb the symptoms of dry skin, and rehydrate your dehydrated skin
Maintain a healthy indoor atmosphere
avoid rooms that are too hot or too cold to avoid passive dehydration of the skin. If you are unable to do so, make sure you drinking plenty of water to combat the effects of your current atmosphere
Avoid using cleansers containing detergents or soaps
swap these products out for rehydrating or fatty cleansers and moisturizers. Use products that have the correct pH for your skin
Remember to moisturize and protect your skin from UV rays
Your skin is the largest organ in (or on) your body. Treat it with love, and it will love you back.
If you are curious about your skin type, what products you should be using or you want to learn more about the skin, please feel free to reach out. We can book a free 15-minute consultation to go over your concerns, or come up with a custom skin regimen.