Ever wonder what the difference is between dry and dehydrated skin?
Dehydrated skin is a lack of water whilst dry skin is a lack of natural lipids or oils. If we look at the skin a little deeper we see that our top layers of skin cells naturally draw moisture from our environment daily to keep skin flexible and feeling hydrated. This process can sometimes be interrupted due to dry environments like a toasty fire and central heating over winter months and poor quality cosmetic products. When our skin loses its optimal levels of water this is when we may feel tight or notice some flaking on the surface. You might also notice that your skin will not feel as smooth as usual, this is due to poor cell renewal and are all very common complaints during winter. All skin types can and usually do suffer with these symptoms but it will generally come and go.
Lipid dry or naturally dry skin may be something that you have been complaining of for a long time. You may also be prone to excema or dermatitis. It presents with similar symptoms to dehydration such as skin feeling uncomfortable but will generally also be prone to irritation/cosmetic allergies and can feel coarse or rough to the touch. You may be genetically predisposed to dry skin but also bear in mind that natural oils in our skin are supported quite significantly by diet which is why dry skin is often found on clients on diets that are not getting enough healthy fats in their food.
Tips to treat:
- Increase water intake particularly if spending more time in dry environments
- Make sure you are eating healthy fats as part of your diet – walnuts, salmon & avocados are skin saviours and really help keep natural oil levels up and inflammation down.
- Supplement where necessary with a good quality fish oil or flax seed supplement.
- Add a mild exfoliator into your routine but don’t over exfoliate. A gentle enzyme exfoliant is perfect to help lift any dead cells due to renewal slowing down.
- Add a serum into your routine for winter months to boost hydration – hyaluronic acid is a great ingredient to bind and hold vital moisture in your skin. Oils are also a great thing to add to your routine if you are suffering with dryness.
- Get a professional facial – a good facial can dramatically improve hydration levels in a flash
