Skin SOS: Understanding Dry vs Dehydrated Skin Symptoms

Welcome to the second part of my Skin SOS series where we’ve been talking about dry and dehydrated skin conditions and concerns. If you missed my first Skin SOS instalment, I would recommend you have a quick read here so that areas explored in this article make sense to you. In this article we will be exploring symptoms of dry and dehydrated skin a bit further and distinguishing between the symptoms that you may experience.

Are we talking about skin on the face or the body?

Skin differs all over the body. I will be concentrating on the skin on the face, however these symptoms do apply to skin on other parts of the body.

The skin on the face differs from the rest of the body for several reasons. As a result, particular considerations have to made when dealing with the skin on your face. It’s important to note that skin on the face is:

·     Thinner than the skin on your body

·     Constantly exposed to outside elements and is often ‘bare’

·     Gets the most sun exposure

·     Has smaller skin cells than the rest of your body

·     Is more sensitive to hormonal changes

On this basis, the skin on your face has to be differentiated from the skin on your body and we will cover the symptoms of dry and dehydrated skin below. (This is also the reason why we say no to Shea Butter and Coconut Oil on your face!)

Similar Symptoms, Different Cause

Dry skin and dry skin conditions are usually caused by a lack of oil in the skin and can be exacerbated by external factors. Dry Skin as a skin type also tends to also have a genetic element.  

Dry skin doesn’t easily absorb products and you may often experience what is described as products ‘sitting’ on the skin.

The symptoms of dry skin can include:

• Small pores
• Flakiness
• Dullness
• Lack of firmness
• A feeling of ‘tightness’ or ‘tautness’ in the skin

There may be other symptoms that you notice that may not be so obvious but can still be symptomatic of dry skin, relate to the condition of the skin and how your skin behaves when it comes into contact with products. For instance, it’s often said that dry skin can feel ‘angry’ as it can be easily irritated. It can also be aggravated further by poorly formulated skincare.

Dry skin can often suffer more reactions and it can be confusing if you have other inflammatory skin conditions.

A great example of this is someone who may have acne. Dry and dehydrated skin can often present alongside acne. Knowing how to provide solutions can be a challenge because how do you find solutions without making any one skin condition worse?

Milia, blackheads and spots can also still present on dry skin too.  So, to be clear dry skin can present itself with other skin conditions and concerns and this can make tackling dry skin and dry skin conditions challenging.

So what’s different about dehydrated skin symptoms?

Dehydrated skin symptoms are usually caused by a lack of water in the skin and symptoms can look very similar to those of dry skin. Symptoms of dehydrated skin can include:

• Large or small pores
• A ‘grey’ or ‘ashen’ look to the skin
• Blackheads
• Spots

Another symptom of dehydrated skin is speedy product absorption.

Products that have a high water content that come into contact with the skin are quickly absorbed and this can cause products to separate on the skin. (Erm patchy foundation anyone?)

Another major symptom of dehydrated skin is excessive oiliness. So many people who have combination skin have dehydrated skin. The skin produces more oil in order to self- lubricate and to compensate for the lack of moisture in the skin.

It is often thought that consuming more water helps to combat dehydrated skin. In reality, both topical and internal hydration are needed to balance water levels in the skin. Drinking more water alone is not the answer as the other major organs in your body will absorb that water for internal use before it reaches the skin.

Can I be both dry and dehydrated?

In a word, yes! This, in essence, is a more amped up version of combination skin.

So how do I get help?

Skin is an incredibly intelligent organ when it is given the opportunity to operate in its optimum condition. Dry and dehydrated skin can be managed once there is a holistic understanding of the skin. Causes must be identified in order to know how to eliminate or manage your skin symptoms. Product ingredients and their function must also play a part in helping you manage your skin type and condition. If you have already been to a certain type of clinician about your skin, visit a different kind of practitioner. In truth approaches to skin are very different across the board and the right skin approach for you is what is important. Go to a skin expert if you aren't one. Get the best help available to you for your unique needs.

Wishing you healthy and happy skin until next time.