Dehydrated Skin: Know Its Symptoms, Causes, and Prevention
Does your skin sometimes feel unnaturally dull and tight? If that is the case, it is a clear indication that your body has lost water in the upper layer of the skin. Most people often confuse dehydrated skin with dry skin. But, actually, the terms ‘dehydrated skin’ and ‘dry skin’ are two different skin problems. Dehydrated skin refers to the skin condition where our body loses a significant amount of water. On the other hand, dry skin refers to a skin type that has low natural oil.
Although dehydrated skin is a temporary condition, having a clear idea about it, its symptoms, causes, and prevention is essential. In this blog, we will break down the essential aspects of dehydrated skin to help you in your skin care journey.
A Brief Idea about Dehydrated Skin
As briefly discussed above, dehydrated skin refers to a temporary skin condition in which the upper layer of the skin is negatively affected. The prime factor of this skin condition is the lack of water in our uppermost skin layer. This particular skin condition leads to significant loss of moisture, resulting in skin dullness and fine lines.
If you have been experiencing a similar issue, try to have a clear idea about the causes of dehydrated skin, symptoms, and prevention methods to get a radiant and healthy skin.
Key Reasons for Dehydrated Skin
It is evident that dehydrated skin and dry skin are two different skin problems. So, here are some of the key factors causing dehydrated skin:
1. Lack of Consistency in Skin Care
A proper skin care routine is one of the key factors responsible for radiant and glowing skin. Using the skin care products suitable for your skin type is essential to address the existing skin-related problems, such as dullness, wrinkles, and fine lines.
However, not following a skin care routine may negatively affect our skin’s hydration levels, making it susceptible to dehydration. If heavy moisturizers irritate your skin, leaving it itchy, opt for an effective gel-based moisturizer to treat dehydrated skin. However, if you have dry skin, consider using cream-based moisturizers as they can hydrate the skin properly.
2. Drastic Weather
Extreme weather conditions, such as increasing temperatures during summer, negatively affect our skin. Further, the harsh and dry winters with extremely low temperatures can make the skin dry, leading to extreme dehydration.
3. Consumption of Caffeine and Alcohol
Coffee is one of the most consumed drinks in India and every part of the world. However, despite its popularity, coffee is not considered to be a good choice for the human body. It is one of the key factors responsible for dehydrated skin as it can pull water out of the body and skin cells. As a result, it leads to significant water and fluid loss. Alcohol, on the other hand, does the same to the human body. Acting as a diuretic, it can also pull water from the body. So, it is advisable to reduce caffeine and alcohol consumption in order to get glowing and healthy skin.
4. Stress and Spending Sleepless Nights
Stress and inadequate sleep can cause several health problems in the human body. It can further lead to skin barrier weakening, water loss, and dehydration.
Possible Symptoms of Dehydrated Skin
If you want to treat dehydrated skin, then you need to have a clear understanding of the possible signs and symptoms of the same. Here, we have provided some of the key symptoms of dehydrated skin:
- Exhausted and dull skin
- Noticing dullness even after washing your face (mostly noticeable in individuals with oily skin)
- Visible flaky patches on the skin
- Skin itching and sensitivity
- Noticeable fine lines on the face
- Appearance of dark circles in the eye area.
Key Methods to Treat Dehydration
There are multiple factors responsible for dehydration. You need to drink an adequate amount of water to keep your body hydrated. Nevertheless, here are some skin care routines you need to follow to maintain your skin's hydration.
1. Follow the Gentle Cleansing Formula
A gentle cleansing of the skin is important to maintain our skin’s moisture. So, choose a mild cleanser containing efficient humectants that can provide the skin with proper hydration. It is advisable to choose a gel-based cleanser for those with oily skin. On the other hand, individuals with dry skin may opt for cream-based cleansers. Additionally, having proper knowledge about your skin type may assist you in selecting a cleanser suitable for your skin.
2. Use a Suitable Toner
Toner is often considered to be an ingredient responsible for balancing of pH level of our skin. Additionally, it can also positively contribute to minimizing the enlarged pores, providing proper hydration to the human body. It is advisable to apply a proper toner containing the best hydrating ingredients to protect your skin from dehydration.
3. Proper Moisturization Is Important
If you want to know how to treat dehydrated skin, consider moisturizing it properly. Individuals with dehydrated skin are advised to select a hydrating moisturizer containing emollients and humectants to lock in the moisture.
On the other hand, choosing a non-comedogenic, water-based moisturizer can be beneficial for individuals with oily skin. Consider selecting moisturizers containing ingredients such as niacinamide, green tea, and hyaluronic acid to get the best results.
4. Apply Sunscreen Suitable for Your Skin
Sunlight is one of the key factors responsible for dull and dehydrated skin. In that case, the application of a proper sunscreen, suitable for your skin type and skin condition, is important to retain skin moisture.
Additionally, if you are someone with dehydrated skin, you should consider applying sunscreen that has the right amount of hyaluronic acid or niacinamide. However, individuals with sensitive skin should select a sunscreen containing enough ceramides for its skin barrier protection.
Dehydrated skin is one of the most common skin problems that the majority of people face nowadays. While not drinking enough water is a crucial reason behind this, our lifestyle is also another driving factor for the same. So, if you want to solve this skin problem and get back your lost radiance, then understand the causes, symptoms, and prevention methods of dehydration.