3 Differences between Dry Skin and Dehydrated Skin: Causes, Characteristics and How to Overcome

Illustration of dry skin (photo: Freepik)

YOGYAKARTA - Many people are still confused about the difference between dry skin and dehydrated skin. The two of them look similar because they are both scaly or tight. However, if you look deeper, these two conditions are different in terms of causes, characteristics, and how to care for them. Understanding the difference is very important so that you don't make the wrong choice of skincare products.

At first glance, the skin can feel rough, dull, even peeling. But does that mean your skin is dry? Not necessarily. It could be that your skin is actually dehydrated, that is, a lack of water content, not a lack of oil.

In order to better understand it, let's see the explanation in the review below.

The Difference Between Dry Skin and Dehydrated Skin

According to the Healthline website, the following are some of the differences between dry skin and dehydrated skin that you need to know:

Cause

Dry skin (xerosis cutis) occurs due to a lack of natural oil production (sebum) in the skin glands. This condition makes the skin feel rough, easy to peel, and cracked.

Meanwhile, on dehydrated skin, the main cause is a lack of water content. This condition can be experienced by anyone, regardless of skin type.

Usually dehydrated skin will look dull and show signs of aging faster, such as fine lines on the surface and reduced elasticity or firmness of the skin.

The feature or sign

As explained above, dry skin is caused by a lack of natural oil production. As a result, the skin barrier becomes weaker and the skin is difficult to maintain its moisture.

The characteristics or signs of dry skin include:

Scaly and peeling skin Texture feels rough Redness or irritation Easily feels painful More prone to eczema or dermatitis/

Dry skin usually requires products that can replace the lost natural oils.

On dehydrated skin, some of the signs that often appear include:

Skin looks dull and tired. Fine lines appear more clearly. Skin elasticity is reduced. Dark circles under the eyes. Skin feels itchy or uncomfortable.

One simple way to check it is by doing a pinch test. Pinch a little skin on the back of your hand or cheek for a few seconds. If the skin slowly returns to its original position, it is likely that your skin is dehydrated.

Skin care methods

Because the causes are not the same, dry skin and dehydrated skin have different treatment methods.

Dry skin needs oil-rich ingredients and is emollient, such as:

Shea butter Coconut, almond, or jojoba oil Squalane Argan oil Lanolin Ceramide

These ingredients help repair the skin's protective layer and prevent moisture loss.

In dehydrated skin, the treatment focuses on increasing the water content in the skin. For that, use skin care products with the following ingredients:

Hyaluronic acid Glycerin Aloe vera Honey Lactic acid Snail mucin

After using hydrating products, don't forget to lock in moisture with a moisturizer so that water doesn't evaporate easily.

That's the information about the difference between dry skin and dehydrated skin. Get other interesting news updates by visiting the VOI.id page.