Are you under the presumption that bottled water can cure dehydrated skin? More and more research studies are proving the complete opposite. Our skin can become dehydrated from not drinking enough water, but once it has crossed the threshold from the normal category to dehydrated, water is no longer the cure all. While, it will help to carry important nutrients to the skin it is unable to correct the imbalance of moisture in the skin.

I constantly have clients telling me “I have dry skin”. After a thorough skin analysis I frequently reply, “your skin is dehydrated.” These words are so often intermingled but there is a significant difference. Dry skin is an actual skin type that usually stems from genetics, maturing skin (menopause) undergoing hormonal changes (i.e. pregnancy); while dehydration is a skin condition that can be reversed overtime with the appropriate steps based on an individual’s skin type, not condition. Dry skin can significantly improve, over time, if you were to take several actions. It is a skin type in which few oil glands produce enough oil or moisture to properly hydrate the skin’s surface in which case the skin needs some help in correcting itself.

Dehydration in the skin means that the skin is lacking sufficient water for its lipid, or moisture barrier to remain intact and full usually from a poor diet and skincare regimen. The skin looks tight from up close with faint fine lines anywhere on the face or body. As mentioned earlier, it sounds like a no-brainer to drink and drink, and drink excessive amounts of water and the problem will go away. This may help for some, but for the rest of us we must set sail on a journey leading to flake-free skin by means of a clinical vessel: some skincare do’s and don’ts to rebuild the skin’s moisture levels, and keep them there.

1. Moisturize with a cream. Most lotions have unnecessary, stripping alcohol that will take you farther from your goal of soft, smooth, flake-free skin. Try Cetaphil or Cerave ‘Cream’ for the body. If you constantly have a taut, tight feeling, you may need to apply moisturizer up to 6 times a day to rebuild your skin’s moisture.

2. Exfoliate with a gentle scrub (you may use sugar or salt with honey or olive oil. You may purchase a sensitive scrub from the grocery store as well. Try this once or twice a week at night if no irritation occurs. If you have inflamed acne, broken capillaries or telangiectasia’s, red, irritated, itchy skin you must avoid any scrubbing beads, grains or textured cloths to the face as these will likely worsen your irritated symptoms.

3. Avoid HOT water at all costs. Hot water depletes the skin of its natural oils, or its natural moisture. Yes, hot feels so good, but for dry skin it’s so bad. Say it with me, ‘lukewarm water is my friend”. It very much is. Additionally, avoid elongated showers and baths if you are using hot water (I can only throw out the recommendation, it’s up to you to follow through).

4. Nearly all average-bought bar soaps contain extra chemicals to keep those bars in ‘bar-form’. These added chemicals strip the skin and take away its moisture. While I love Dove more than most over the counter skincare brands, their Nutrium Moisture Body Bar (Nutrium moisture is completely made up by the way, just like all the other cute non-existent words created for our easily-swayed purchasing pleasure) is counteracted by the unnecessarily added chemicals. Since we are a society easily tricked into believing just about anything on a label because we want to so desperately believe in instant gratification alongside the false promises, we believe the companies who tell us we want that “clean feeling”. That clean feeling should be advertised as that ‘stripped feeling’. We have more than enough environmental factors to battle this time of year. Let us not be the cause of our dry skin because the body bar was so much cheaper to buy. Similarly, a heavily foaming cleanser or body wash is not ideal either. The same applies. Surfactants and detergents cause a product to foam and we think the more foam the better. Try thinking; the creamier the better, this way you are putting moisture into the skin, not taking it away. There’s a reason you can get a pack of any body bars for a few bucks – they’re cheap, in more ways than one.
5. Omega-3 Fish Oil supplements. This is one that may be here to stay for all skin types. The essential oils and fatty acids in Fish Oil are known to help strengthen capillary walls which in turn strengthens skin from the inside out- in as little as 3 weeks. Try it.

Reminder, with the exception of #5, these tips are for dry skin types ONLY. If you do not suffer from any skin conditions associated with dry skin, please avoid these tips. More tips and suggestions to come on how to deal with dehydrated skin with all skin types

Always wishing you healthy, flake-free skin,

Melissa