The difference between dry and dehydrated skin

One, two, dry! Oh yes, who hasn't experienced the problem of dry skin? I'm sure everyone has experienced it at some point - after sunbathing on the beach or in winter. I have to admit, I'll probably struggle with it for the rest of my life. I seem to have inherited it. dry skin to face, but also on my body - I'm constantly applying cream. This is because dry skin is a skin type and can therefore be genetic.

But what I didn't know for a long time was that not all dry skin is the same. There is another term that is different: dehydrated skin! Many people probably also refer to dehydrated skin when they say "Oh, my skin is so dry!"

In this article, I would therefore like to give you a brief introduction to the topic. You will learn...

What causes dry and dehydrated skin ?

What effects they have on the appearance of your skin

Which care is best to use in each case

So, in its normal state, the complex system of our skin functions as follows:

With the help of its sebaceous glands, it produces up to 1-2 grams of fat per day.

Together with water and sweat, this fat protects the skin from external influences in the form of a hydrolipidic film and makes it resistant.

This barrier also prevents moisture from evaporating unhindered.

In addition, our skin constantly loses water unnoticed - this is called transepidermal water loss (TEWL). If our skin barrier is strong, it compensates for this loss. But if it is weakened, the water escapes like water through a sieve.

If we have problems with this protective layer, the skin loses moisture and lipids. And here we have actually already arrived at the core difference between dry and dehydrated skin. Depending on what the skin is increasingly lacking, we have one or the other problem! Or sometimes both together.

The difference between skin type and skin condition is also important here:

dry skin is a permanent, genetically determined skin type - your "birth card", so to speak,

while dehydrated skin is a temporary condition that can affect anyone, whether you have naturally dry, normal or even oily skin.

DRY SKIN

HOW DOES DRY SKIN DEVELOP?

So how does dry skin come about? Put simply, the cause is a lack of lipids. The sebaceous glands in the deeper layers of the skin simply do not produce enough sebum, which keeps the skin supple.

And often this is actually a genetic problem! Or hormones once again have a hand in it.

HOW DOES DRY SKIN APPEAR?

dry skin usually has rather fine pores and hardly any oily sheen. Rough and cracked areas are also not uncommon. In addition, the complexion can Treat sallow and lines and wrinkles form.

dry skin is also rarely limited to the face, but also affects the skin all over the body.

HOW DO I KNOW THAT I HAVE DRY SKIN ?

In both cases, scaly, itchy and sensitive areas of skin can occur - as well as a dull complexion and feelings of tightness.

So to find out whether you have dry or dehydrated skin , you can do the following:

An hour after cleansing your face, press a thin cloth to the bridge of your nose to see if a fine greasy spot remains. If not, then you probably have dry skin.

WHAT DOES DRY SKIN NEED?

The logical conclusion is that dry skin needs exactly one thing: lipids! So rich and moisturizing water-in-oil emulsions or simply pure plant oils are particularly suitable here. It is important to strengthen the skin's protective barrier and help the skin to better retain oils and moisture.

Moisturizing products are not out of place here either. After all, it is basically about providing the skin with everything it needs to be healthy, look healthy and feel healthy.

These include:

high-quality vegetable oils

Shea butter

Squalane

Special ingredients also play a role in dry skin: lipid-replenishing substances and emollients (such as vegetable oils and butters) help to renew the natural lipid film and thus improve moisture retention.

By the way - you can also try the "knee test" for self-diagnosis:

Press a small piece of skin between your fingers and see how quickly it returns to its original shape.

If this takes longer, it could be an indication of dehydration - but dry skin is usually simply due to a lack of lipids.

DEHYDRATED SKIN

WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF DEHYDRATED SKIN?

For "dehydrated" you could also simply say "dehydrated". This is because compared to dry skin, there is mainly a lack of moisture.

The outer layer of the skin, the epidermis, is normally well moisturized and keeps the skin flexible, firm and radiant. If more water than normal evaporates from the upper layers, the skin becomes dehydrated - because the transepidermal water loss (TEWL) is simply too high!

There can be several reasons for this:

A disturbed skin barrier,

Weather fluctuations,

hormonal changes,

but also baths that are too hot,

aggressive soaps

and too frequent cleanser the skin.

In addition to external influences, our lifestyle habits also play an important role:

Showering too hot,

Dry heating air

and drinking too little water can dehydrate your skin.

As dehydrated skin is not a skin type, but a condition, you can encounter dehydrated skin in combination skin, oily skin and even dry skin. And yes - oily skin can also have too little moisture!

It often tries to compensate for the loss of moisture by overproducing sebum - a paradoxical effect that you would not expect.

HOW DOES DEHYDRATED SKIN APPEAR?

Even with dehydrated skin, the complexion appears sallow and saggy. Lines that are not age-appropriate appear, the skin tightens after cleanser and is sometimes more prone to blemishes and acne.

WHAT DOES DEHYDRATED SKIN NEED?

Ingredients that can moisturize the skin and bind it are important here - but also substances that support the skin's protective layer to prevent further water loss.

These include:

Hyaluronic acid

Aloe Vera

Sorbitol

It is also important for dehydrated skin that special ingredients (humectants) such as Hyaluronic acid, glycerin and betaine ensure that the water remains in the skin. These Treat deeply by attracting and binding water from the environment.

Additional tips for internal hydration

Don't forget that your skin doesn't just need care from the outside - it also needs care from the inside! Drink enough water, reduce hot showers and protect yourself from extreme environmental influences. A conscious lifestyle will help your skin to maintain its natural moisture balance.

Conclusion

So, whether you are struggling with dry skin - the permanent, genetic skin type - or dehydrated skin - the temporary, dehydrated condition: With the right combination of replenishing skincare and moisturizing products, you're all set.

Remember that even small adjustments to your daily routine (like drinking more water and using mild cleansers) can make a big difference. Take care of your skin from the outside AND the inside - and you'll feel the difference!