What is the difference between dry skin and dehydrated skin?

Did you know that it is very easy to confuse dry skin type with dehydrated skin type? In this post, we will help you understand the essential differences between a dry skin type and a dehydrated skin condition, and most importantly, how to take care of your skin in both cases.

It is no secret that the causes of skin dehydration can be various. But why does our skin become dehydrated and what does it have to do with it?

Dehydration of the skin is a temporary condition of the skin , when there is a lack of water in the cells, and one of the many reasons is not only insufficient water consumption, but also poor nutrition and improper skin care . This skin condition is greatly influenced by environmental conditions: too cold or dry air. In addition, dehydration often occurs with aging, as the skin loses its ability to maintain adequate moisture levels with age. Interestingly, certain genetic factors can also be associated with this skin condition !

Thus, if the protective function of the skin, or more precisely the hydrolipidic barrier, is disturbed, the skin cannot retain moisture. Such a process is otherwise called transepidermal water loss and as a result the skin becomes dehydrated . Signs of skin dehydration include dryness and roughness, redness, flaking, itching, wrinkling, reduced elasticity, and uneven color. This skin condition can occur in any skin type !

Improper skin care, or more precisely, improperly selected skin care products that do not match your skin type and condition is a major blemish that leads to skin dehydration.

In contrast to skin dehydration, the protective barrier of dry skin is intact, but the sebaceous glands in the skin naturally produce less sebum , which is one of the components of the hydrolipidic (protective) barrier. Dry skin type is characterized by dryness, sensitivity, in rare cases constant discomfort, and such skin ages faster.

= Dry skin is a type that has a healthy protective barrier but produces less lipids (fats).

= Dehydrated skin is a skin condition in which the skin lacks not lipids, but water and may occur due to a damaged protective barrier.