Any esthetician worth their salt will tell you that hydration is key to achieving and maintaining healthy, youthful-looking skin. But what does that really mean? And what’s the difference between dry skin and dehydrated skin, anyway? Keep reading to find out.Checkout Dry Skin vs. Dehydrated Skin for more info.
Dry Skin vs. Dehydrated Skin: What’s the Difference?
Dry skin is a skin type, while dehydrated skin is a condition. That might not seem like a big difference, but it makes all the difference in the world when it comes to how you treat your skin. Here’s a more detailed breakdown of each:
Dry Skin: A dry skin type means that your skin doesn’t produce enough sebum (AKA oil). As a result, your skin is more susceptible to dehydration, flaking, and irritation. If you have dry skin, it’s important to use products that are hydrating and non-irritating. Symptoms of dry skin include tightness, redness, itchiness, flakiness, and fine lines.
Dehydrated Skin: Dehydration occurs when your skin lacks water. This can be caused by weather conditions (think: windy days), exposure to irritants (like harsh cleansers or detergents), unhealthy lifestyle choices (such as smoking or drinking alcohol in excess), or simply not drinking enough water throughout the day. Dehydration can occur in all skin types, even oily ones! Symptoms of dehydration include dullness, roughness, redness, tightness, and wrinkles.
Now that you know the difference between dry skin and dehydrated skin, it’s time to take action! If you have dry skin, focus on using hydrating products that won’t irritate your delicate complexion. If you’re dealing with dehydration, up your water intake and cut back on diuretics like caffeine and alcohol. And last but not least, make sure to use a broad-spectrum SPF of 30 or higher every day to protect your skin from damaging UV rays—dehydration and dryness are just two of the many ways that UV exposure can wreak havoc on your complexion!
