In the midst of the Canadian winter we find ourselves slathering our skin in extra lotion, lip balm and moisturizer. Do we use these remedies to combat dryness or dehydration? What is difference?
Dry and dehydrated skin share a lot of the same features however their root causes and treatments are very different.
Symptoms of Dry & Dehydrated Skin:
Flaky
Sensitive
Itchy
Tight
Dull
Dry Skin
Dry skin is a natural skin type and is primarily characterized by a lack of oil. It is not limited to just facial skin and can be experienced all over the body including areas like the lips, hands and scalp. Dry skin can be exacerbated by environmental factors and eventually lead to dehydrated skin. It is constantly in need of moisture- regardless of the season but especially in the winter. Dryness can be combated with proper skincare and topical products containing natural moisturizing factors.
Dehydrated Skin
Dehydrated skin is a temporary condition that can be experienced by all skin types, including those who suffer from oily skin. Dehydrated skin lacks water in the stratum- which is the top layer of our skin. It can lead to a loss of plumpness in the skin and can cause more oil production. Dehydration can be caused by a multitude of factors:
Hot Showers- hard water containing limestone or overly hot water can actually be more detrimental for the skin causing it to be dehydrated
The Sun- the sun dehydrates and damages our skin cells all year round- even in the winter! Sunscreen is a must!
Improper Skincare- skincare products have a huge impact on our skin and if used incorrectly can potentially do more harm than good. See here for common skincare mistakes.
Heating and Air-Conditioning- surprisingly HVAC can have an affect on your skin and your skincare products. When your surrounding environment lacks moisture it may affect your skin's hydration.
Dehydration can be combated with water rich skincare products and environmental/lifestyle changes.
It is very easy to confuse dry skin with dehydrated skin and with the incorrect treatment it may exacerbate the issue or make it worse. When dehydrated skin becomes unstabilized and starts to produce more oil, we may turn to oil preventing skincare that will ultimately damage our skin barrier function and make the skin drier and more prone to aging. Overuse of moisturizer can also be detrimental to the skin as it impairs the barrier function and ability for the skin to renew itself. Applying too much moisturizer over-saturates the skin and impedes cellular function leading to a dependant cycle of needing more and more moisturizer.
Skin Worthy carries a variety of skincare products and offers many treatments to help address your dry or dehydrated skin.
Skincare:
ZO SkinHealth has a unique outlook on the use of moisturizers and believes prolonged use of moisturizers is detrimental to our skin. They have specially formulated products that provide hydration and moisture to both dry and dehydrated skin without damaging our skin's barrier function.
V2 Beauty Booster:
The Beauty Booster effectively injects Redensity[1] with 9 needles and vacuum suction- this allows for quick delivery at an accurate depth and dosage. Receive the benefits of microneedling and the patented formula of Redensity[1].
This treatment is designed to hydrate and replenish the skin with vitamins, amino acids and antioxidants. Redensity [1] is formulated with natural moisturizing factors to deliver unparalleled hydration and antioxidant action to dehydrated, dry and weak skin.
Alternatively, Skin Worthy offers Microneedling with Hyaluronic Acid or a Chemical Peel that can target dryness and dehydration of the skin.
At Skin Worthy, we value educating our patients on their skin concerns, if you are suffering from symptoms of dryness or dehydration we encourage you to come in for a complimentary consultation.
We will discuss your goals, assess your skin and decide the best plan of action for your specific needs.
call Skin Worthy 647-350-7546 to book your consultation today!