Reviewed by Souad Charifi Hadj, licensed pharmacist nº 2676.

Dehydrated skin, everything you need to know.

Dehydrated skin is skin that lacks water; any skin type can suffer from dehydration, whether it's dry, combination, or oily skin.

What causes skin to become dehydrated?

As we all know, water is life. In the human body, it represents almost 70% of the total volume, and 20% is present in the skin.

The outermost layer of the skin, called the epidermis, is responsible for protecting our skin from dehydration, among other functions. It performs this task perfectly thanks to the stratum corneum, which is the outermost layer of the epidermis. This stratum corneum is in turn protected by a layer called the hydrolipidic film, which prevents water loss through evaporation. This process seems simple but is quite complex.

Three factors are involved in the regulation of skin hydration:

1-Natural moisturizing factor: These are a group of molecules that fix water in the outer layer of the skin called the stratum corneum. Among these molecules are urea, lactic acid, and glycerin, which is an excellent humectant and is therefore incorporated into most moisturizing creams and are called humectants.

2-The stratum corneum is composed of lipids that act as the cement of this layer. These lipids ensure the integrity of the hydrolipidic film and thus prevent water loss through evaporation.

3-Aquaporins: The epidermis is an avascular layer. The dermis is responsible for nourishing and hydrating the epidermis. To do this, the latter has channels inserted into its structure called aquaporins, which are proteins produced by keratinocytes.

What causes skin dehydration?

Dehydration is an abnormal and temporary phenomenon of the skin that can affect any skin type: dry, oily, or combination.

The most common causes are:

- drinking little water.

- excessive and unprotected exposure to UV rays

- cold environments, wind.

- living in areas with high pollution levels.

- taking certain medications, such as acne treatments.

- diets poor in fruits and vegetables.

- Use of certain cosmetics such as aggressive soaps, cleansers, excessive exfoliation...

- any factor that causes an alteration of the skin's hydrolipidic film.

- smokers

- alcohol intake

As we can see, an unhealthy lifestyle is a major cause of skin dehydration.

Symptoms of dehydrated skin

The most common symptom is tightness, that feeling you get when you wash your face and it feels stretched. Dehydrated skin looks dull, without radiance. It can be itchy and in extreme cases, flaky.

The good news is that dehydrated skin is not a skin type; it is a temporary condition that, with the correct care, improves in almost 99% of cases.

For the diagnosis of dehydrated skin, it is advisable to consult a specialist, your doctor or trusted pharmacist, and together you can decide which treatment is most suitable for your skin, as depending on your skin type—dry, oily, combination, or if you suffer from sensitive skin—a different routine will be chosen.

How can I restore my skin's hydration?

The most important step is water intake, at least 2 liters of water per day, and increasing the consumption of fruits and vegetables.

Avoid alcohol intake and reduce smoking.

Protect your skin from the sun using appropriate sunscreen for your skin.

Regarding the cosmetics you can use:

Avoid harsh cleansers with strong detergents and avoid using solid soaps to cleanse your skin.

Practice daily facial cleansing to prevent the accumulation of environmental pollutants and to remove makeup residue and other cosmetics.

Opt for gentle cleansers like cleansing balm, and if that's not for you, use gentle cleansers. If you use micellar water, remember to rinse it off at the end of the process, as it is still a detergent.

You absolutely must have a hyaluronic acid serum on your nightstand so you don't forget it. Hyaluronic acid is essential for skin hydration; it absorbs 1000 times its weight in water and is your ally to increase water levels in your skin.

Use moisturizing creams that will help your skin's barrier function by preventing water evaporation from its surface. Creams with vegetable glycerin are a must.

Once or twice a week, use hydrating masks to further enhance your skin's repair and hydration.

Avoid over-exfoliating, and if you love it, opt for enzymatic exfoliants.

Use serum with vitamin C; it will help repair the oxidative damage your skin suffers, thus improving the hydrolipidic barrier.

In summary: dehydrated skin can affect any skin type. It is a temporary condition that, with proper care and a change in lifestyle, can be completely reversed without major complications. It is in your hands to keep your skin beautiful.

Our products for dehydrated skin:

If you need my help, do not hesitate to contact me to create the routine that best suits your needs at:

consultas@biovardi.com

Thank you for reading