Is Your Skin Dry or Dehydrated?

The two terms are interchanged as regularly as "dinner" and "tea," but dry and dehydrated skin is not the same thing. Yes, you might have spent the past few mornings staring into the mirror, marveling at how your once bouncy, glowy, happy skin has suddenly turned rough, dull, and dry, but did you ever consider that what you're looking at might be a severely dehydrated complexion? Or that perhaps the troublesome skin you've branded dehydrated could, in fact, be haunted by a deep-set dryness?

Granted, it might sound like we're splitting hairs here, but understanding how these two skin concerns differ (and how they're best treated) could be the one thing standing in between you and not just a good skin day, but a good skin life—yes, there's that much at stake here. So we've done our homework and have some guided skincare advice for you to check out. Keep reading to learn why dry skin is different from dehydrated skin and how to take care of each!

What Is Dry Skin?

Unlike dehydrated skin (which we'll get to later) dry skin lacks oil. This isn't a temporary condition, but rather widely considered a skin type that tends to be more permanent. The real giveaway is the skin's texture. Dry skin occurs deep between the layers of your skin but causes dry, flaky skin cells to appear on the surface, making skin appear rough, cracked, and a little bit leathery. It lacks suppleness and elasticity, which leads to wrinkles.

How Do I Treat Dry Skin?

You can't necessarily "fix" dry skin, but you can improve its appearance. First, you'll want to replace the oils that dry skin fails to make itself, so bolster your skin care regimen with a rich, nourishing face oil.

Avoid foaming cleansers that are going to strip the skin. Instead, use an oil-based cleanser that will inject moisture as it cleanses or a cleanser without foaming agents like sulfates. Skin care ingredients such as natural botanical oils and coconut oil are particularly good at peeling away that rough, flaky texture and replacing it with pillowy soft skin.

Supplements can help too. A supplement that's rich in omega-3 fatty acids (such as krill oil) will help nurture dry skin.

What Is Dehydrated Skin?

On the other side of the coin lies dehydrated skin. The word 'dehydrated' refers to having a specific skin condition—and one that anyone can experience at any time. In fact, even oily and combination skin types can become dehydrated.

Rather than lacking oil, dehydrated skin lacks water, which is vital in making it look plump and healthy. Dehydrated skin looks flat due to surface cell deflation, and it shows a network of tiny, triangular fine lines. Expect your face to feel tight and your complexion to appear as though someone turned the lights off inside it.

Why Do I Have Dehydrated Skin?

If you've just noticed the signs of dehydration setting in, it's probably thanks to the change in seasons. Skin dehydration can be caused by anything that damages the skin barrier, such as changes in temperature, harsh weather, stress, sun damage, and lack of sleep.

You'll also want to be careful with your skin care regime, as anything too potent can worsen the problem. Products that are too harsh can gradually damage the skin barrier, meaning it cannot maintain moisture levels adequately.

How Do I Treat Dehydrated Skin?

First, it's probably wise to chuck out those face scrubs. Avoid using overly harsh scrubs with coarse, abrasive particles, which will merely exacerbate the problem. Instead, look for serums that contain hyaluronic acid and collagen, as well as water-based face mists to replenish moisture reserves and give skin its bounce back. 

Of course, we all need to make sure we drink two to three liters of water every day to maintain skin's moisture balance, but food can help too—eat more water-rich foods such as cucumber, lettuce, avocado, broccoli, and watermelon.

And since most of this article goes over skin care products to help your dry or dehydrated skin, check out Wild Naturals for gentle, natural, plant-based products to get the job done and have your skin glowy and plump once more!