We all know that we need to drink plenty of water to keep our bodies hydrated but can you recognise when your skin is dehydrated and do you know what to do about it?
When the weather is hot and dry, it’s hard not to feel like the human equivalent of a raisin. During the summer months, multiple factors are literally sucking the water out of your skin, and your complexion can be left vulnerable and less than healthy. Whether the environment, air conditioning or even a poor diet is to blame, there are at least five answers to your question: What is the cause of dehydrated skin? Here’s how to figure out whether you suffer from this skin condition and what’s causing it:
Dehydrated Vs. Dry Skin: Different Causes
The first thing you need to establish is the difference in causes between dehydrated and dry skin. Easily confused, people often mistake dehydrated skin for dry skin and vice versa, but there are major differences between the two. As The Pretty Pimple explains, dry skin lacks oil and doesn’t produce enough of the skin’s natural oil, sebum. Dry skin is a permanent skin type and it’s likely that you have experienced its symptoms long term. Dehydrated skin, on other hand, lacks water and describes a condition which can happen at any time to any skin types. Symptoms of dehydrated skin include itchiness, sensitivity, dullness and fine lines and wrinkles - all signs that your skin is deficient in water and causing dehydration.
5 Causes Of Dehydrated Skin
If you’ve checked off an alarming number of symptoms of dehydrated skin, it’s time to figure out what’s causing your water deficit. Here’s what could be producing your skin care problem:
1. Outdoor Environment
The sun can definitely draw water out of the skin and it’s not the only culprit when it comes to environmental factors. Dry air and wintry winds can also evaporate water from your skin, leaving it itchy, flaky and irritated.
How to fix: Keep out of the sun and cover up - you’ll be protecting yourself from damaging sun rays as well as shielding your skin from dehydrating elements. If you’ve been exposed to the sun, we suggest replenishing your skin’s moisture with Eminence Organics Rosehip & Lemongrass Soothing Hydrator For Face & Body. This lightweight moisturiser contains hydrating aloe and a Natural Repair Complex to protect your skin from the drying effects of environmental stress.
2. Hot Showers and Baths
Who would have thought that hot showers and baths are actually dehydrating your skin? Even while immersed, your body is losing water. This is because the overly-hot water is stripping the protective oil layer from your skin and hastening water loss.
How to fix: Dr. Sejal Shah, a dermatologist in New York, tells Shape that shower temperatures shouldn’t stray further than lukewarm. This may sound chilly (especially on cold winter mornings) but not only does a lukewarm shower prevent water loss, it can energise the start of your day!
3. Air Conditioning
Switching from hot to cold, is another contributor to dehydrated skin. Switching on the air conditioning keeps us cool in the heat but it also lowers the humidity. Dry air sucks the water out of our skin, leaving us with dull, dehydrated skin.
How to fix: Combat the drying effects of air conditioning by spritzing a facial mist throughout the day. We recommend Eminence Organics Neroli Age Corrective Hydrating Mist to restore hydration to your skin. This refreshing facial mist contains hydrating neroli oil and coconut water to infuse your skin with moisture and keep it perfectly dewy looking all day long.
4. Harsh Chemical Skincare
Another cause for dehydrated skin is extreme skincare products that strip your complexion of natural oils, allowing water to escape. The use of ingredients that are artificial or chemical can punish the skin, leaving it vulnerable to water loss.
How to fix: Organic skincare is the sensible alternative for protecting your skin from dehydration, and Eminence Organics features ingredients such as stone crop, marine algae, tara tree and hyaluronic acid which hydrate the skin, naturally.
Eminence Organics Stone Crop Gel Wash
Containing hydrating stone crop, this classic gel wash removes impurities gently without drying out the skin. A best-selling and award-winning favourite, Stone Crop Gel Wash leaves the skin perfectly cleansed without dehydration.
Eminence Organics Eight Greens Whip Moisturiser
Another favourite that contains stone crop - Eight Greens Whip Moisturiser hydrates and firms the skin. Combating common signs of dehydrated skin, this moisturiser erases the look of fine lines and wrinkles.
Eminence Organics Mango Night Cream
This rich and luxurious night cream contains our proprietary blend of Homeostatine® ​which helps prevent dehydration and reduces the appearance of wrinkles. An all-natural complex, Homeostatine includes potent ingredients like marine algae and tara tree.
Eminence Organics Strawberry Rhubarb Hyaluronic Serum
This beautiful serum contains hyaluronic acid, a powerful humectant naturally derived from the marshmallow plant. This deeply hydrating ingredient attracts water from the environment and helps trap water in the skin. End result: A complexion which looks smooth, replenished with the minimised appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
5. Diet
What you eat or drink could be affecting the water levels in your body, and experts have bad news: Go easy on no-no’s like alcohol, coffee and processed foods. Diuretics, like alcohol and caffeine, encourage the body to expel water, leaving you prone to dehydration. High-sodium foods are another problem since eating too much salt can draw on your body’s water supply. Because sugar affects the body in the same way as salt by draining water from cells, sweet snacks are yet another pitfall to avoid.
How to fix: Swap dehydrating foods and drinks for water-rich alternatives. Foods like cucumber, tomatoes, watermelon and strawberries are not only delicious - they are also more than 90% water, making them great picks for rehydration. If you’re hesitant to skip sugary snacks (we don’t blame you!) opt instead for a healthy option like dark chocolate. Dermatologist Dr. Sanjiv Saini tells Byrdie: “Cocoa hydrates your skin, making it firmer and adding a healthy glow.”
