Dry skin is a common concern many of our clients struggle with at one point or another in their lives. There are many different reasons why our skin starts flaking or feeling rough. Often, dryness is temporary and a result of environmental factors, like extreme temperatures, sun exposure, or spending too long in a hot bath. Sometimes, our skin isn’t simply dry, but dehydrated.

While dry skin and dehydration may look and feel the same, they are two different issues. Dry skin is often a category for skin type, but it is a result from your skin not producing enough oil. Dehydration, on the other hand, is due to lack of water.

SO HOW DO THEY DIFFER?

In the world of skincare, you may find the terms ‘dry’ and ‘dehydrated’ used interchangeably. They are not the same, though.

Dry skin is caused by a chronic underproduction of sebum – or oil. It is usually persistent and a struggle that is consistent through your teenage years and into adulthood. The symptoms include itching or tightness which can worsen depending on environmental conditions.

On the other hand, dehydrated skin refers to the amount of water in your skin. Healthy skin contains around 30% water, which is essential for maintaining the skin’s structure, strength, and resiliency. When the skin loses too much water, it becomes dehydrated.

The symptoms of dehydrated and dry skin are often similar and may include roughness or a loss of elasticity. While dry skin is a specific skin type, dehydrated skin can affect anyone—even those with naturally oily skin. If you have dry skin you may be more prone to having dehydrated skin, as the skin’s natural oils play an important role in retaining water and minimizing water loss.

SYMPTOMS OF DRY OR DEHYDRATED SKIN?

Because dehydrated skin can be exacerbated by dry skin and dry skin is more prone to dehydrate, you may have a mix of these symptoms: