4 Simple Ways to Tell if Your Skin is Dehydrated
We all know the telltale signs of dry skin, but what if your skin is just crying out for a little more moisture? Dehydrated skin is more common than you might think, and it’s pretty simple to tell whether you’re suffering from it or not. Here’s what you should know.
Learning the Difference Between Dry and Dehydrated Skin
While dry skin and dehydrated skin might seem like different ways to say the exact same thing, the truth is that these skin afflictions aren’t really similar at all. Dry skin is classified as a skin type. This means it’s typically an inherited trait. Dry skin is also defined as a skin type that is predisposed to a lack of production of natural oils. It can also be connected to hormonal imbalances and conditions like hypothyroidism. If you have dry skin, treatment options typically include oil-based skincare products, which help your skin retain more moisture and the few natural oils it produces. Dehydrated skin, on the other hand, is a skin condition. This means it’s not inherited and it can be treated. Fortunately, it’s also temporary and can be alleviated with a few simple remedies. Dehydrated skin is typically caused by external factors, like changes in the weather and parts of your diet. The key difference between dry skin and dehydrated skin is this: dry skin indicates a lack of natural oils, while dehydrated skin indicates a lack of water. Both conditions require intensive moisture, but knowing the difference between them can make all the difference in your treatment results. Here are some key symptoms to look out for.
Itchy Skin
Does it feel like you have a dry skin rash or your eczema is flaring up? Itchy skin can be one of the first signs of dehydrated skin. When the moisture is sucked from your outer layer of skin, it can result in tightness and itchiness. So if you’re in a particularly dry room or environment, itchy skin will probably be pretty common. Make sure you have moisturizer with you!
Fine Lines
The last thing you want on your skin is fine lines. But when skin is dehydrated, that’s exactly what can happen. Granted, these lines don’t look like regular wrinkles. Rather, they look more like a network of fine, triangular lines all connected together.
Decreased Skin Brightness
Dull skin is another common sign of dehydrated skin. When your skin is dehydrated, it’s likely that you’ll have a buildup of excess skin cells keeping your skin from renewing itself properly. Gentle exfoliation can help you get rid of those dead cells. Just be sure you moisturize as soon as you’re done.
Increased Skin Sensitivity
When skin is dehydrated, its natural moisture barrier is depleted and it has no way of protecting itself from irritants like wind, smoke, and other pollutants. As a result, you could be looking at some extra sensitive skin. If you know your skin is prone to sensitivity, it’s worth carrying around some moisturizer or eczema cream to help restore your skin’s moisture barrier.
Dehydrated skin can be a chore, but once you know how to spot it, you should have an easy time treating it. If you have questions about dehydrated skin and what you can do, don’t hesitate to set up an appointment at North Pacific Dermatology Specialists today.