SKIN TYPE
Water Your Lovely Plants … and Your Skin: A Complete Guide to Avoid Your Skin Looking Like a Desert
BY: ISHANI JAIN
The interaction of skincare is never more apparent than when your skin has become dry and dehydrated, and you are not fully certain of the exact nature of the problem. Dry skin and dehydrated skin are different, but they will give you a similar feeling of discomfort, itchiness, and a lifeless look. However, the remedy for each will have to be different. This blog will guide you through what dry skin actually is, how to tell if you have it or if you have dehydrated skin, what causes these conditions, and how you can remedy them to obtain naturally glowing skin.
What is Dry Skin?
Xerosis, or dry skin, is a skin type that has less sebum content than normal skin. Dry skin cells are also vulnerable to irritation and tend to become scaly and rough in texture. This means that the skin loses the natural ability to retain moisture and form a thick layer that shields it from tightness, flakiness, and inflammation. It is a chronic or long-standing disorder associated with heredity, aging, or environmental factors.
Common Characteristics of Dry Skin:
● Flaky or rough texture
● Soreness, becoming tight and itchy, especially after washing
● Dull or uneven appearance
● Sensitive tendency and prone to irritation
What is Dehydrated Skin?
Dehydrated skin is a skin condition caused by a lack of water, not oil. This means any skin type, including oily skin, can become dehydrated if there is poor skin hydration. Loss of moisture weakens the skin coat, causing a dry, rough surface that may become scaly and develop a wrinkled or crinkled look.
Common Characteristics of Dehydrated Skin:
● Dry and pale skin, or even looking listless
● Tight, uncomfortable feeling
● The skin may look thin and dry, with fine lines and wrinkles becoming more noticeable
● Oily skin with dry patches (intermittent eruptions of such symptoms)
Difference Between Dry and Dehydrated Skin
Understanding the difference between dry and dehydrated skin is key to treating each condition effectively:
|
Dry Skin |
Dehydrated Skin |
|
Lacks oil/sebum |
Lacks water in the skin’s deeper layer |
|
Permanent or long-term issue |
Temporary condition |
|
Caused by genetics, aging, environmental factors |
Caused by lifestyle, diet, and environmental factors |
|
Appears flaky, rough, and may be itchy |
Looks dull, feels tight, but may be oily in areas |
|
Requires products that provide moisture and restore lipids |
Needs hydration, specifically water-based products |
How to Diagnose Dry Skin
To determine whether you have dry skin, consider these self-diagnosis tips:
● Observe your skin after cleansing: If you notice that the skin feels rough and has a white appearance when you have not applied moisturizer, it is dry.
● Look at texture and sensitivity: Dry skin also comes with conditions such as rough skin and irritation.
● Skin type history: If your skin has always been dry with little or no sebum production throughout your life, then your skin type is dry.
● Seasonal impact: It becomes worse during the cold season as the atmosphere is dry, complemented by the heater in our house.
How to Diagnosis Dehydrated Skin
To diagnose dehydrated skin, look for these signs:
● Tightness with oiliness: However, dry skin may cause a sensation of skin tautness, at the same time as an excessively oily shine can be observed in the T-zone. This means there is little water—in this case implied as dry—present even though there is oil production.
● Fine lines or wrinkles appear exaggerated: Dry skin commonly appears dull and especially aged looking because water is very instrumental in reducing the look of wrinkles and fine lines.
● Pinch test: Pinch yourself on the cheek and do it softly. If it does not return rapidly to its original shape or becomes puckered and has a ‘tent-like’ look, then it could well be dehydrated.
● Sudden changes: Dry skin is less able to maintain stability; it feels tight or dry during certain periods, whether it is strictly adherent to a hot/wet climate, alcohol/caffeine intake, etc.
What Causes Dry Skin?
Several factors contribute to dry skin:
● Genetics: It is therefore important for you to note that if any of your family members is or are suffering from dry skin, then you are also likely to be affected.
● Aging: In our climax of aging, the skin production of oils declines, and so the potential of replenishing the skin's moisture decreases.
● Cold weather: This is because during the cold season the air is already dry, and this has the effect of taking away every natural moisture with it every time we breathe.
● Harsh skincare products: Sulfates found in soaps or cleansers and alcohol not only remove the oils on the skin but leave the skin dry.
● Overexposure to water: Taking long showers or washing your skin too often can actually act to strip away this protective layer, leaving skin dry and leathery.
● Medical conditions: Eczema, psoriasis, and other similar conditions are aspects of dermatology that cause chronic dry skin.
What Causes Dehydrated Skin?
Dehydrated skin is primarily caused by environmental and lifestyle factors:
● Inadequate water intake: Lack of water intake during the day can really affect your skin and cause it to be dry from the inside out.
● Climate: Sun tan or excessive exposure to a dry environment or using heaters or coolers for a long time can dry the skin.
● Diet: Skin dehydration can be caused by consuming too few foods that contain lots of water, inadequate fat, or by taking foods that have diuretic effects such as coffee and alcohol.
● Over-exfoliating: Scratching damages the skin and makes it lose its sheen because exfoliating is actually smoothing over the skin up to seven times a day.
● Sun exposure: Secondary to photoaging, skin loses its capacity to retain water, hence leading to skin dehydration due to exposure to UV light.
● Harsh skincare routines: Skin dehydration may be caused by using products containing drying agents or by neglecting to sufficiently moisturize skin.
My skin is still dry after moisturizing—why is this?
If your skin remains dry despite regular moisturizing, several factors could be at play:
● Using the wrong products: This means that all moisturizers are not appropriate for use on skin that is dry. Water-soluble creams can be quite inadequate in preventing this situation, while products containing alcohol or chemicals can even worsen the situation. Go for a heavy moisturizer like NEWLOOK 24HRS RICH MOISTURIZER.
● Lack of hydration: Applied on the skin, moisturizing without hydrating only fails to solve dehydrated skin. This is, you may be forced to add moisturizing agents into the product such as hyaluronic acid.
● Not sealing moisture: It also goes without saying that applying moisturizer on dry skin will not be as effective as applying this product on damp skin.
● External factors: Changing of the seasons, elements like cold, using heaters indoors, or even winds dry up the skin, thus making it become chronically dry.
● Underlying skin condition: If you have conditions such as eczema or psoriasis and there is severe dry skin, those basic types of moisturizers will not cut it. You’ll need a treatment recommended by a dermatologist.
The Best Skincare Routine to Treat Dry and Dehydrated Complexion
The thing to remember when it comes to addressing both dry and dehydrated skin is to follow good skincare that is all about moisturizing, feeding, and shielding the skin. Here are some essential steps:
- Avoid the Use of Hot Water While Displaying Showers
This is even more dangerous because hot water has a nasty tendency of starting with the skin’s natural moisture-preserving oils, stripping off the skin even further and causing even more dryness and dehydration. Use warm water to wash in order not to compromise the skin’s protective layer. - Select Sulfate-Free Soap
Sulfates should not be used since they are harsh and can dry skin and hair. For cleansers that contain them, select gentle variations that will not harm the skin and hair. However, one should opt for sulfate-free or cream-based cleansers like NEWLOOK CLEAN IT ZERO , NEWLOOK CLEANSING MILK that moisturize while making the skin clean. - Exfoliate Don’t Be Too Rough (But Don’t Overdo It Either)
Visible peeling occurs as a result of exfoliation, but scrubbing the skin too much can worsen dryness or dehydration of the skin. Try not to exfoliate your skin more than two times a week; avoid strong peeling mixtures, using instead lactic acid or enzyme solutions. - Hydrate with a Serum
Apply a moisturizing serum that will attract water, containing substances such as hyaluronic acid or glycerin like NEWLOOK GLYCERIN GEL. The above-mentioned ingredients assist in the recovery of skin moisture contents that are lost in dehydrated skin. - Moisturize Daily
Moisturizing is critical for dry and dehydrated skin. Use a rich cream like NEWLOOK 24hr RICH MOISTURIZER or lotion like LOVEWARMTH BODY LOTION for dry skin that contains ingredients like ceramides, fatty acids, and shea butter to restore the skin’s lipid barrier. For dehydrated skin, opt for gel-based moisturizers like NEWLOOK GLYCERIN GEL with water-binding ingredients like glycerin or hyaluronic acid. - Seal in Moisture with Occlusives
For very dry skin, follow your moisturizer with an occlusive product like petroleum jelly or oils to lock in moisture and prevent water loss. - Use Sunscreen Every Day
There must be sunscreen, as both tanned and dry skin tend to become worse after sun exposure. Apply sunscreen every two hours or if you’ve been swimming or sweating, and stick to a NEWLOOK SPF 30 PA+++ or SPF 50 PA+++ or higher, like LOVEWARMTH SPF 50+++. - Consider Overnight Masks
Applying an overnight hydrating mask once or twice a week can highly moisturize and restore skin through the night. Masks that are the most effective often contain ceramides, honey, and hyaluronic acid.