If you think dry skin and dehydrated skin are the same thing, you’re wrong. Because while they might present themselves as similar skin conditions with a tight sensation and dull appearance, they’re actually quite different and need to be treated differently too.
So how can you tell which is which? We got the dermatologist’s official diagnosis, along with tips on how to rectify your skin scenario in order for your complexion to feel soft, supple and hydrated.
What is dry skin?
Dry skin is a skin type, which doesn’t change and fluctuate depending on the seasons, your diet and the environment. “The cause for dry skin is a lack of sufficient biosynthesis of natural lipids [the skin’s fats and oils] and/or water-holding substances,” explains Dr Stefanie Williams, Consultant Dermatologist and Medical Director of EUDELO. It’s caused by a lack of sebum (or oils) in your skin as well as a weak skin barrier, which can mean your skin struggles to keep the protective oils, or lipids, it produces in.
What is dehydrated skin?
Dehydrated skin is a skin condition which can change and fluctuate depending on the seasons, your diet and the environment. It’s caused by a lack of water and can affect any skin type, so even if you’re oily, your skin can also be dehydrated. One of the main causes of dehydration is not drinking enough water, but it can also be caused by hot showers, UVA from sunlight, weather changes, central heating and your diet (too much caffeine and salt for instance).
What’s the difference between them?
“With dry skin you may notice a scaly appearance, white flakes, redness or irritation and increased incidence of psoriasis, eczema or dermatitis,” explains Dr Dianni Dai, skin specialist at the Pulse Light Clinic. “With dehydrated skin, on the other hand, you might notice, darker under eyes, itchiness, dullness or more sensitive fine lines and wrinkles,” she adds. You might also experience more congestion and breakouts.
Interestingly, in Traditional Chinese Medicine, dry skin is also linked to the lungs and/or bowel, says Marie Reynolds, Global Skin and Wellness expert so besides your skin feeling dry, it could be coupled with constipation or asthma so it might be worth seeing if you’re experiencing other symptoms too.
Dehydrated skin on the other hand is more extrinsically caused by the reduction of water content in the stratum corneum (e.g. dehydration of the skin caused by excessive cleansing) while dry skin may be used to describe a genetic predisposition for dry skin (for examples in individuals with a tendency for eczema), says Dr Stefanie.
What are the similarities between them?
Since a weakened barrier function is one of the main problems for people with dry skin, “the consequence is that the skin can’t hold on to its natural water [or oily lipid] content sufficiently and will lose too much water via (invisible) evaporation,” says Dr Stefanie. “This increased evaporation (aka TEWL, trans-epidermal water loss) then leads to dehydrated skin.