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 is a temporary condition rather than a skin type. Dry and dehydrated skin are often erroneously grouped together, such as the common misconception that because skin is dry it must be dehydrated, and treating it accordingly. But by incorrectly treating your skin type or condition, you may be prolonging it (in the case of dehydrated skin) or exacerbating it (in the case of dry skin).
A person can suffer from a combination of both sensitive and dehydrated 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 cosmetics and medications. These influences can play a part in removing surface moisture, which dehydrates the skin, and leaves 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 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.
SYMPTOMS OF DEHYDRATED SKIN
Dehydrated skin can present in a number of ways. These include:
Main characteristics of dehydrated and sensitive skin
A person can suffer from a combination of both sensitive and dehydrated skin. This can result in highly susceptible skin that needs appropriate hydration to rectify the effects of skin dehydration. Other common causes of skin being more sensitive include an underlying skin disorder, allergies and stress.
However, as sensitive skin is a symptom of various factors and the resulting reaction rather than classified as a skin type, it can be combined with dehydrated skin.
How can you treat dehydrated skin?
A day cream or moisturizer that has ingredients that are derived from water can be the ideal solution to restore your skin’s moisture content.
This allows 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 hydration, without contributing to sebum production (leading to oilier skin).
What’s the best way to treat dehydrated and sensitive skin?
Aqualia Thermal and Minéral 89 are designed for deep rehydration of the skin. The precise ratio of mineralized water, plant sugar and hyaluronic acid from natural origins supplies skin with 48 hours of rehydration, leaving skin looking dewy and replumped.
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 range, it helps to replenish moisture that has been compromised by environmental factors on the skin.
These products can improve the barrier function of skin to prevent 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 [Accessible at:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4086530/]