Dehydrated Skin

Dehydrated skin is more like a skin condition than a skin type. People with any skin type can have dehydrated skin. Causes of skin dehydration involve with both factors that affect inside of the skin and those that affect the skin from the outside. To properly treat dehydrated skin, you need to understand what causes your skin to become dehydrated in the first place.

Dehydrated skin can cause problems such as creases, scaly, taut skin, superficial lines and premature aging. It is very difficult to put makeup on dehydrated skin because you will look older and less dewy after you apply the makeup. To reduce the appearance of these skin problems is to keep the skin hydrated.

The Difference between Dry and Dehydrated Skin

People with dehydrated skin often mistake their condition for dry skin. Dry skin is the result of a lack of oil or sebum while dehydrated skin is the result of a lack of moisture. As a result, the treatment for dry skin should differ from that for dehydrated skin.

Causes of Dehydrated Skin

– Poor skin care: Cleansing your skin with harsh soap and too hot water can strip moisture from the skin. The use of alcohol based toners also draw moisture from the skin. Scrubbing the skin too often can cause cell cohesion to break down, reducing the capability of skin to retain moisture. Inadequate moisturizers cannot help prevent moisture in the skin from evaporating.

- Certain skin treatment: Improper use of acne treatment such as retinoids and benzoyl peroxide can dehydrate the skin.

– Sun exposure: Repeated sun exposure causes water to evaporate from the skin. In addition, in summertime hot temperature increases sweating rate which increases loss of water from the skin.

– Too little water intake. It is recommended that one should drink 6-8 glasses of water a day to stay hydrated. If you do not like drinking water, you can eat vegetables and fruits that contain a lot of water such as cucumbers and watermelons.

– Smoking: Smoking cigarette constricts blood flow which decreases the flow of moisture and nutrition to the skin cells.

– Alcohol and caffeine drinks: Alcohol and caffeine have diuretic properties and can result in frequent urination and dehydrated skin.

– Medication: Certain medications such as cold medicines lead to skin dehydration.

– Low humidity: In winter, indoor heating and low outdoor humidity draw moisture from the skin. In summer, air conditioning can also lower the humidity level of the indoor air and thus cause the skin to become dehydrated.

– Poor diet: Eating foods that contain salt can have a dehydrating effect.

Dehydrated Skin Treatment

– Use a moisturizer that contains humectants such as glycerin, Hyaluronic acid, honey, aloe vera, and urea. Humectants draw the moisture in. People with dehydrated skin often make a mistake by slathering thick face creams onto their skin. Doing so can lead to clogged pores and acne because these creams are too rich.

– Apply sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 every morning to protect the skin from UV rays.

– Use a humidifier during wintertime.

– Drink plenty of water.

– Reduce alcohol and caffeine intake. Also, drink one extra glass of water for each cup of coffee, black tea, or alcohol drink you have.

– Limit consumption of salty foods.

– Quit smoking.