Are dry skin and dehydrated skin the same thing? The answer is no. They are two completely different conditions and are treated differently. Learn all about the differences in this post.
What is the difference between dry and dehydrated skin?
Dry skin is a skin type where the skin lacks sebum while dehydrated skin is a (temporary) skin condition where the skin suffers from a lack of water and moisture. You can have both dry and dehydrated skin. If dehydration is not treated, you may eventually develop dry skin as a symptom. Read more about dry skin and dehydrated skin.
Different signs of dry and dehydrated skin
Dryness and dehydration manifest in different ways even though there are a few similarities:
Dehydrated skin can cause fine lines, superficial wrinkles, dull and lifeless skin, uneven skin tone, itching, dark circles, tired sunken eyes, dry lips
Dry skin can cause dry and white skin flakes, scaly skin, rough skin | x | irritated and red skin, tendency toward skin problems like eczema, itching, psoriasis, dermatitis, tight feeling especially after showering, bathing or swimming, both small superficial and larger deeper skin cracks that can bleed and dull skin.
Find out if your skin is dehydrated
If you don't see clear signs of any of these skin phenomena, you can do a simple pinch test. Here's how:
Pinch your skin together for a few seconds
Let go
If the skin quickly returns and smooths out immediately, your skin is probably not dehydrated.
If the skin returns slowly or takes a while to return to its original, smooth form. Then your skin is likely dehydrated.
Which ingredients help with dry skin versus dehydrated skin?
Dryness and dehydration are treated in different ways. If you've used products that haven't helped, it might be because you've been treating your skin with the wrong types of products. Here is a list of ingredients you need depending on whether your skin is dry or dehydrated.
For dehydrated skin:
Aloe vera, Glycerin, Honey, Hyaluronic acid, Lactic acid, Seaweed, algae, Water, hydrosols.
For dry skin:
Hyaluronic acid, Lactic acid, Rich oils such as nut oils, avocado oil, Shea butter, Mango butter, Lanolin, Waxes like beeswax.
What foods help with dry versus dehydrated skin
When skincare products don't help all the way, you need to eat and drink right to bring your skin back into balance. Here is a list of food and drink you need extra of depending on whether your skin is dehydrated or dry.
**For dehydrated skin: **Water, fresh fruits and vegetables, water-rich foods like watermelon, celery, and cucumber.
**For dry skin: **Omega-3 rich foods like avocado, seeds, nuts, fish and shellfish, as well as healthy fatty acids (e.g. olive oil).
