Medically reviewed by Minimalist Health Specialist - Written by Nikitha Terence (Beauty Expert) on 23rd Sep 2020

Everything About Dehydrated Skin- Causes and Prevention

We have always been practicing from a very young age about the thumb rule of staying healthy: Drink plenty of water, at least eight glasses of water every day. Little did we know that we would be thanking our elders for teaching us the greatest skincare tip of all time!

When there is a lack of water content in the body, it leads to dehydration, and the same applies to an awful skin condition called dehydrated skin. But does consuming enough of H2O heal parched skin completely, or does doing the reverse work? Before going deeper into it, we need to know what is defined as hydrated skin and its myths.

What is dehydrated skin? And why is it often mistaken as “dry skin”?

Many individuals go through the struggle of dealing with dry skin every day, which eventually means it has got something to do with your genes or something you develop over time that can depend upon factors like climate, environment, the pH level of water, etc.

You can then find your skin as dry as a bone all around the clock, except if you get lucky when you continuously work under the sun. So dealing with the dry skin “type” is a lifetime job, but it can turn out to be a boon when proper care is taken inwardly and outwardly.

Contrary to dry skin, dehydrated skin is no less of a troublesome child that rips the skin's glow. This skin “condition” also happens to have the same tight, dull appearance of the skin surface, but the main culprit remains well-hidden under a dry blanket: the oil. It is one hell of a mess on your face! But the good news: It is exclusively correctable.

According to Dermatologists, “When in doubt, one can test to confirm if they are renting out their skin for dehydration. How? Just take your hand, and pinch the part that is a little above your cheekbone. If it bounces back, your skin is blessed with the powerhouse of water, and if not, it is high time that you look out for the right skincare routine.”

What are the sources of this uninvited guest?

We all know that the ultimate cause of dehydration is the shortage of water content in our body. Doctors tell us how the skin is the last spot where the water gets accumulated after it has provided for all the necessary blood vessels and body parts. Then one can imagine the amount of water needed to achieve radiant skin. Keeping aside water deficiency, some distinct factors that contribute to the non - graceful complexion are:

OTT usage of rigid products like brushes with stiff bristles.
Investing more in skincare ingredients like alcohol toners that are too harsh enough to break the experts' protective barrier is the “skin’s flora.” In a nutshell, it is the maintenance of a healthy balance of the harmful and good microorganisms on our skin.
Increased consumption of caffeine which leads to reduced sleeping hours.
Less intake of liquids before and after a workout session.
Growing more fondness towards smoking and drinking alcohol.
And most importantly, the inequality of electrolytes. A leading dietician states that “It is crucial to include food items that are rich in electrolytes like potassium, sodium, etc. in our daily meals as they act as sponges who absorb the water and retain its moisture for a greater period.”

Areas that are most affected by this crisis

Some people have the worst shock when they wake up even after a long sleep of up to 8-9 hours: the dreadful dark circles. But isn’t lack of sleeping time the only cause of the occurrence pitch-black bags? No! Dehydration or excess amount of makeup (the biggest nightmare according to any skin expert) can also be the primary cause. But how can that happen?

When we look at it biologically, Dendy Engleman, who is a top leading dermatologist based in New York, explains that “40% of the skin that surrounds the area of our eyes has the most fragile layer of skin making it the most affected victim of the dark circles. Even chapped lips and the “shadowed” regions on the body can be claimed as a lack of hydration for their state.

The connection between drinking water and healthy skin - a myth?

It is common for any famous personality who is always under the spotlight to state that “drinking water has and will always be the greatest miracle for your skin.” But is it true that consumption of water does give you high-grade skin health? Margarita Lolis, a board-certified surgeon and dermatologist, suggests otherwise. She says even though world-renowned doctors have always claimed that drinking water is the solitary solution to beautiful, glowing skin, there has been no ground research that proves how drinking gallons of water can improve the texture of our skin surfaces.

The simple science behind that is water is essential for any basic function of the body to process smoothly. It provides the necessary nutrients for all blood cells alike, and it is also carried to other body parts. The skin is the largest organ of our body that gets the least amount of water, which shows how water has never been significant for our skin glow.

Another leading New York dermatologist, Joshua Zeichner, also supports the idea of drinking water being a mythical quote that everyone blindly believes. There have been no studies conducted so far that can confirm that less or more intake of water can affect our skin health. But that does not mean you can overrule the fact that severe dehydration can always come with a hefty price on your skin. It can tend to reduce the elasticity on your skin(i.e., the tendency of the skin to bounce back when you pinch it).

Good to know.

The easiest way to test the hydration levels of your body is to check your urine color. If it's pale, then you are on the safer deck.

How to get rid of the dehydrated skin? Both externally and internally

Now that you are aware of the drinking water situation, we will now have to analyze our other options to treat this oily-cum dry skin condition. It can be achieved by following some regular and simple skincare routine. You'll go a long way if you consume some wonderful dietary foods that would be profitable for your skin in the long run.

External factors

Make sure no one makes the blunder of not removing your makeup before resting your body.
Since skin drying up seems to be a major issue here, distance yourself from products containing harsh, drying ingredients and just to be sure, do not use anything excessively.
Never, ever forget to wear sunscreen, and it is sad if you don't take this seriously. Protection from UV rays is a huge step to protect the hydrated molecules on your skin layer.
Get friendly with fragrance - free humectants and do check that package contains the super ingredients like sodium hyaluronate, hyaluronic acid, and the greatest of all - polyglutamic acid.

If we talk about comparison, it is interesting to note that sodium hyaluronate is a sub-product of hyaluronic acid, which contains about 1000x more moisture content than any other. But hold the horses! Experts claim that poly glutamic acid has the power to retain 5000x times the moisture capacity!

What's sad is they are costly, and that's the main reason why you are finding a lesser number of their products.

Expert advice:

You have precisely 60 seconds to put on your moisturizer after applying the serum because the last thing you want is for the bacteria from the atmosphere to rip off your newly moisturized cells from your layers.

Good to know.

When you purchase a product containing hyaluronic acid, find the ones that include a low molecular weight because they have one less molecule than the regular creations and the reason to be joyful about this is simple: the smaller it gets, the deeper it can penetrate our skin layers.

Internal factors

Avoid too much junk food and sugary, processed foods. Increase the intake of foods- fruits and vegetables that are rich in water level.
Consume nutritional items abundant in omega-3 fatty acids like fish supplements unless you are a huge fan of salmon or seafood because they can get the job done swiftly.
Sleep like a hog! It can do wonders for your skin health and have a regular habit of changing your pillowcases often.
Avoid drinking liters of water every day, and find ways to store as much as possible too. Avoid overexposure in the sun. Experts affirm that you should take timely "hydrated" breaks for at least every 20-25 minutes when you work out or indulge in physical activity.

Final thoughts

Everyone from our teen days, boys and girls alike, has undergone the crucial phase of dealing with acne-prone skin, dull skin, dehydrated skin, parched surface, etc. Not everyone can be satisfied with the same kind of skincare products used by experts or beauticians. It is essential that each individual discovers what suits them the best and follows it religiously.

Remember, one can always find a spa kind of treatment with just the products available in your household. Just remember to eat healthy because you are what you eat, follow a strict skincare routine religiously, have a well-planned dietary ritual, choose lighter products over heavy-weight products, etc.