Dehydrated skin lacks water, resulting in a dull complexion with visibly fine lines. Skin is often more sensitive, and can feel uncomfortable. The best way to treat dehydrated skin is to rehydrate it. Here’s how.
When skin feels tight, it is often because of a lack of hydration in the epidermis- the skin’s top layer. Dehydrated skin lacks water, and should be considered as a tiporary skin condition rather than a skin type. Dry and dehydrated skin is often erroneously grouped together due to the common misconception that if the skin is dry, it must be dehydrated skin. This incorrect approach inevitably leads to an erroneous treatment of your skin type or condition which may prolong the treatment in the case of dehydrated skin and exacerbate it in the case of dry skin.
What causes dehydrated skin?
External factors like weather, pollution and UV damage can contribute to a damaged barrier function of the epidermis, resulting in dehydrated skin. Other factors such as genetics or the process of aging, which causes the deterioration of the skin barrier function or natural hyaluronic acid, are offset by skin care products and medications. These influences can play a part in rioving skin’s surface moisture, causing dehydrated skin and leaving it susceptible to damage(1). This can result in skin feeling tight and appearing flakey, rough and dull, due to the lack of elasticity brought on by dehydration. In fact, once the skin is dehydrated, the barrier is impaired between the human body and the outside world. In turn, it can lead to skin being more sensitive and reactive.
How can you tell if your skin is dehydrated?
Dehydrated skin can be manifested in a number of ways. These include:
- A feeling of tightness or discomfort on the skin
- Stinging
- Visibly fine lines
Main characteristics of dehydrated sensitive skin
A person can suffer from a combination of both dehydrated and sensitive skin. This can result in highly susceptible skin that needs appropriate hydration to rectify the effects of skin dehydration. Other common causes of sensitive skin include an underlying skin disorder, allergies and stress. However, as sensitive skin is a symptom of various factors and resulting reactions rather than a skin type, it can occur together with dehydrated skin.
How to take care of dehydrated skin?
A day cream or a moisturizer that has ingredients that are derived from water can be the ideal solution to restore your skin’s moisture content. They allow skin to maintain an adequate daily hydration level while protecting it against external factors. If you suffer from oily, dehydrated skin, a moisturizing serum may be ideal to boost your skin’s hydration without contributing to sebum production (leading to oilier skin).
What’s the best way to treat dehydrated sensitive skin?
Aqualia Thermal and Minéral 89 skin care lines are designed for deep rehydration of the skin. The precise ratio of mineralized water, plant sugar and hyaluronic acid from natural origins supply skin with 48 hours of rehydration, leaving skin looking dewy and plumped. A specific active combination has been developed by our labs, creating a rehydration solution that provides skin cells with an optimal environment to stay healthy. Incorporated into the Aqualia Thermal skin care line, it helps to replenish moisture that has been compromised by environmental factors on the skin. These skin care products can improve the barrier function of skin to prevent skin dehydration from occurring (or returning).
SOURCES:
1. Derrick, C. W. et al, "Moisturizing Different Racial Skin Types" in The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology 7.6 (2014) pp. 25-32
