WHAT IS DEHYDRATED SKIN? Your skin will lose water, yes, but lose too much water and your skin will become dehydrated, leading to a myriad of problems, including:
- Overly sensitive and reactive skin
- Irritation
- Breakouts
- Rough scaly skin
- Premature aging
- Dullness
- Dark circles under eyes
Dehydrated skin is skin lacking in moisture and occurs when the protective uppermost layer of the skin, known as the stratum corneum, is lacking in moisture through water loss.It is not so much a skin type as a skin condition. Not so fun fact: Even oily and combination skin can be dehydrated. This leads us to the next issue, which is usually directly linked to dehydrated skin: premature aging. Premature aging can be brought on by the same causes as dehydrated skin, such as sun exposure and constant lack of sleep, as well as smoking and environmental factors. Mistakes you could be making to cause dehydrated skin and premature aging.
- Overcleansing and use of harsh chemicals in your skincare: This will strip away the protective layer provided by your acid mantle, and allow for excessive water loss through your skin.
- Using a skincare routine not suited to your skin type: If your skin is already dry through a lack of sebum and natural oils, your acid mantle is likely already compromised, so you need to use a skincare routine designed to repair and hydrate.
- Not drinking enough water: Don’t reach for that diet coke or soda! Your cells, including your skin cells, need sufficient hydration in order to function properly and move through their turnover cycle. Set yourself mini alarms in your phone and always have a water bottle around you, until you have created a habit of drinking water all through out the day.
- Prolonged exposure to the sun: Always wear sunscreen. This is non-negotiable if you want to avoid premature aging, wrinkles, age spots. Sun damage penetrates your skin with UV rays, which damage the DNA in your skin cells, causing wrinkles. It’s that age old saying “there is nothing healthy about a tan.” Your older self will thank you, so slather up and cover up!
- Skipping your moisturizer: This one might seem obvious, but it is so important for keeping your acid mantle intact and doing its job to seal in your skins natural moisture. This even applies if you have oily or combination skin!
- Stress and lack of sleep: Sometimes it seems these two are out of our control, but this can be one of the biggest causes of premature aging. The hormones and inflammatory responses that are triggered in the body by lack of sleep and stress will age your body faster, through overall slower body rejuvenation, including your skin cells.
- Not using an anti-aging routine: we recommend introducing an anti aging skincare regimen to your daily routine before your 30s. The logic behind this is simple: if you start incorporating anti-aging products into your routine at an earlier age, such as in your early 20s, when your skin elasticity and hydration begins to decrease, less damage will be done to the skin as opposed to if you begin using these products in your late 30s. Taking preventative steps by using anti-aging products at a younger age can help in the long run.
- Dietary factors. Food and drinks with excess salt, caffeine, and of course alcohol draws hydration from the cells leaving the skin deflated. Processed food and sugars can damage collagen in the skin causing dehydration and loss of elasticity.
