Dry vs Dehydrated Skin
So, I’ve always thought and mentioned on the blog that I have dry skin. I’ve also mentioned that my skin is not as dry as it used to be and I would almost classify it as normal, now. So, I’m sitting on the couch, watching the best comedy show ever (The Office – please please watch it if you haven’t already, it’s a series) and it dawned on me that my skin wasn’t dry to begin with, it was DEHYDRATED. I felt so stupid for not having realised that my skin lacked hydration and not necessarily moisture. I figured there are so many people out there who, like me, have probably misdiagnosed their skin. So, I decided to just blog about it, you know, coz I gat you!
WHAT IS DRYNESS
okay, before we start talking about how to deal with this, we should talk about what IT IS. In a nutshell, dry skin is skin TYPE. It’s classified by dry – looking skin which tends to be flaky. If it’s sensitive, it can exhibit some irritation such as redness. Dry skin is characterised as being unable to produce enough sebum (oil). So, from this description, we can say that dry skin is OIL dry because it lacks, well… oil!
WHAT IS DEHYDRATION
Dehydrated skin, on the other hand, is all about the water. If your skin is dehydrated, it’s lacking on hydration, NOT moisture. Think of a grape and a raisin. The grape is packed with water, it is full, juicy and supple. The raisin, on the other hand, is wrinkled up, and dehydrated. Just for clearance, you want your skin to be the grape. Dehydration is not specific to any skin type; even the oiliest individual can have skin which is dehydrated. You know your skin is dehydrated because it because tight, feels taut and may sometimes look flaky. Dehydrated skin cannot be fixed by applying oils. So you will find that, if you have dehydrated skin, no matter how much Shea butter or whatever oil-based product you use doesn’t work. Why? Because your skin doesn’t need oil, it needs WATER.
WHY IS HYDRATION GOOD
When you think of hydration it’s only natural to think of water. To hydrate something means to increase its water content. In relation to skin care, hydration means increasing the amount of water in your skin cells, which results in a healthy, smooth and plump complexion.When your skin is regularly hydrated, it keeps the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles at bay. In addition to appearing younger, your skin cells maintain their overall cellular functions when hydrated. How do we hydrate our skin? Drinking plenty of water will do the trick, but since our skin is the last organ to absorb hydration, using topical ingredients that promote hydration is beneficial as well such as MelenialSkin water – based lotions which contain a minimum of 70% water ;).
WHAT ABOUT MOISTURE
Attached to our hair follicles we have our sebaceous glands. These aptly named glands produce “sebum,” an oily substance that helps to protect, lubricate and nourish our skin, preventing it from drying out and causing premature aging. For those with clogged pores or oily skin types, there might be an overproduction of sebum, while those with dry skin types might have a lack of it.
Regardless of your skin type, moisturizing is an essential part of your daily facial routine.
Now we know that oil is to moisturise and water hydrates, what if you need moisture AND hydration? Well, you have a double job. You would have to invest in both a hydrate as well as a moisturising cream or butter. Apply the hydrate/water – rich lotion first. This helps to bind the water with the skin. You would then need to go, over an above that, and apply your moisturiser. This applies especially to dry skin individuals who have both dry and dehydrated skin. For oily skin, this may not apply because your skin produces enough or more sebum. But you can decide that for yourself by feeling your skin.
Oil is not going to solve dehydrated skin. So invest in something helpful. Drink plenty of water. Here’s a cute little visual:
