Dehydrated Skin Condition

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So what exactly is the cause of dehydrated skin?

While dry skin occurs due to a lack of oils and is considered more of a skin type, dehydrated skin refers specifically to a lack of water and is a temporary skin condition often resulting from a compromised skin barrier. Although it may feel like a contradiction it is quite common for people to have both oily and dehydrated skin.

The skin barrier is made up of skin cells and lipids. The types of lipids which make up the mortar of the skin barrier fall into three classes; Ceramides, Cholesterols and free Fatty Acids. It is normally a lack of these lipids which leads to a compromised skin barrier and its associated water loss and increased sensitivity.  Some of the primary causes of a compromised skin barrier include:​

  • Over cleansing

  • Over exfoliating

  • Exposure to extreme weather/ temperature changes

  • Stress

  • Poor diet

  • The effect of some medications

If your skin barrier has been compromised you may feel a tightness within the skin and feel that your usual skin care products start to cause irritation. The damaged skin barrier becomes permeable and is no longer able to retain moisture through a process known as trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) or keep out irritants. As a consequence the skin becomes dehydrated and sensitive. You may even experience dehydration lines on forehead and the rest of the face.

how can dehydrated skin condition be treated?

There are a few suggestions below which should help to combat the problems associated with dehydrated skin:

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  • Reduce the amount you are cleansing and if you are not already then use a cleanser which is gentle and has a pH of 4.5-6.5

  • Reduce the frequency and strength of your exfoliation routine

  • Temporarily avoid 'Actives' in your skin care such as; Retinoids, Vitamin C, AHA/BHAs etc

  • Avoid extremes of temperature; always use luke warm rather than hot or cold water when cleansing

  • If you wear make-up try to reduce or avoid this for a period as these products often contain drying ingredients

  • Avoid potential irritants and allergens in your skin care such as synthetic fragrance and/or fragrance derived from essential oils

  • Eat a greater amount of omega rich foods such as fish, nuts and seeds​

If you do not already then it is recommended that you introduce skin care products into your routine which have the following properties:

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  • Skin Barrier Repairing i.e. contain; cholesterol, ceramides and/or essential fatty acids to rebuild the skin barrier.

  • Moisture Boosting i.e. contain humectants such as hyaluronic acid or glycerin which bind water to the upper layers of the skin.

Which skin care products could help combat dehydrated skin condition?

Below are a some of our favourite products which have the properties listed above and which we hope will help you in your fight against the cause of dehydrated skin: