Combatting Dehydrated Skin During the Winter

Not to fear, dehydrated skin can be treated with a bit of know-how and some well-chosen products.

13 December 2019

At Renew Skin Clinic we’re here to assure you that dehydrated skin can be treated with a bit of know-how and some well-chosen products.

Signs of Dehydrated Skin
When you’re looking in the mirror, you can tell if your skin is dehydrated if it appears dull, you have dark circles under your eyes and your fine lines appear more noticeable than usual. Dehydrated skin will feel itchy at times as well as tight. When you apply products, it may feel dry and flaky to the touch.

What causes dehydrated skin?
Dehydrated skin can arise for a number of reasons. As the name suggests, dehydrated skin is lacking water and can be a result of not drinking enough water, but this is not always the case. Other causes of dehydrated skin include harsh, cold weather and wind, dry heating systems, exercise, a lack of sleep, and a poor diet, including too much caffeine and alcohol.

Any combination of these factors can dehydrate your skin, so even if you haven’t been a party animal and have just been hitting the gym and getting out for regular walks, in this weather, that could be enough to cause dehydrated skin.

Dehydrated Skin versus Dry Skin
Before we talk about how you can help treat your dehydrated skin, let’s take a moment to explain the difference between dehydrated skin and dry skin.

As you probably know, we all have different skin types. Our skin can be oily, normal, combination or dry. Many people have combination skin, which means that they have normal skin in some areas, oily in others and even dry in other parts. However, having a dry skin type is not the same as having dehydrated skin.

Any skin type can have dehydrated skin from time to time, while your skin type is normally fixed for a large portion of your life. We all experience skin changes during adolescence and later around the menopause, but generally, our skin can be said to have a ‘normal’ state. If that normal state for you is dry skin, then you naturally have a short supply of sebum in your skin which needs to be balanced out with oil-rich products.

However, dehydrated skin, as we mentioned, is due to a lack of hydration in the skin and so should be treated with water-based products.   

Treating Dehydrated Skin Effectively
You may be thinking, ok, it sounds like my skin is dehydrated so I’ll up my water intake. While that’s always a good idea, as most of us don’t drink enough water, especially in winter, it, alone, probably won’t be enough to treat your dehydrated skin. The reason is that when you ingest water it has to work its way through your system and as the skin is the outer layer of your body, it is the last organ to have access to water. If your body is dehydrated there will probably be little of that extra water intake to help make your skin more supple.

If you think that there may be environmental conditions or lifestyle factors causing your dehydrated skin, such as working out or very dry air in your home, set about tackling these to improve the condition of your dehydrated skin.

We’re not suggesting you stop going to the gym, but when you work out, clean off your make-up beforehand so that your skin can breathe as you exercise. When you’re finished give your skin another gentle cleanse to remove any residue and follow by applying a hydrating moisturiser to damp skin.

Likewise, if the air in your home is very dry, you can purchase a humidifier which will put some of that lost moisture back into the air and help stop the moisture evaporating from your skin.

Once you’ve got the environmental and lifestyle factors under control, treating dehydrated skin comes down to a good skincare routine. You need to use the right products for your skin type, as described earlier. If you try to treat oily but dehydrated skin with products to treat dry skin, it will probably only exacerbate your problem. So, take the time to talk to an expert and find out what exactly is going on with your skin. An expert will be able to pinpoint your exact skin type and will let you know if your skin is dehydrated. They can then recommend the best products for you right now. Remember, the products you use during the summer may not be the best products for your skin in winter.

At Renew Skin Clinic, we use some of the most effective cosmeceuticals on the market.

These products are safe and effective at treating skin conditions to allow everyone to get the best out of their own skin. We also offer our Signature Renew 4 in 1 facial, which includes mesotherapy (where vitamins, mineral and amino acids are injected directly into the skin), micro needling and a hydrating hyaluronic mask, followed by LED Light therapy. Together, the four elements in this facial combine to rehydrate your skin helping it look fresher and more youthful.

If your skin is feeling dry and dull during this weather, nip it in the bud. Dehydrated skin is easily treated, when you know how to go about it. If you would like to schedule a consultation with one of our experienced nurses who will meet with you and assess your skin, you can do so by contacting your local Renew Skin Clinic or simply book an appointment online