Has your skin been feeling flaky, itchy or irritated lately? Looking dull, lacklustre and noticing more prominent fine lines? If this sounds like you then it’s likely your skin is screaming out for a large dose of H2O!
People often assume they have dry skin when they notice these symptoms and automatically reach for the thickest moisturiser they can find to slather on their face. Dry skin , unlike dehydrated skin , is an inherited skin type that you are born with. Individuals with dry skin lack moisture in their skin due to an inadequate production of the skins natural oils (sebum).
Those with dry skin are more prone to eczema and dermatitis and benefit from adding oil infused products into their skincare routine. Dehydrated skin on the other hand is a skin condition rather than a skin type that anyone, even those with an oily skin type, can succumb to. Dehydrated skin is skin that is lacking in water rather than oil.
Here we are going to focus on treating dehydrated skin, but first you may be wondering why your skin is dehydrated all of a sudden. There are multiple factors, external and internal, that can affect the hydration levels of your skin. Here are some of the most common factors;
- Heating
- Air conditioning
- Extreme hot or cold weather
- Hot showers and bath’s
- High alcohol and caffeine intake
- Not drinking enough water
- Poor diet
- Over exfoliation
Luckily, dehydrated skin is a temporary condition which can be relieved by a combination of topical treatments and lifestyle changes. Here are some of the best tips, tricks and treatments to rehydrate your skin:
Avoid harsh cleansers
Avoid harsh cleansers containing ingredients like sodium lauryl sulphate and strong fragrances which strip oils and moisture from the skin. Instead, consider an oil based or water cleanser and use lukewarm water when cleansing you skin as very warm water strips your skin of its natural oils and can make your skin feel itchy, tight and dry.
Exfoliate the right way
Dehydrated skin often looks dull and lacklustre, missing that winning ‘glow’. Healthy skin takes around 28 days to renew itself naturally and skin that is dehydrated takes even longer. Because of this, dead skin cells build up on the surface of the skin making skin look dull and lacking radiance.
Dead skin cells also clog pores causing them to become congested. This is why exfoliation is vital to combat dehydrated skin BUT it must be done the correct way avoiding harsh, gritty exfoliating scrubs with beads or walnut specs for example. To speed up the skins cell turnover and help dehydrated skin regain its healthy glow, we suggest switching to a chemical exfoliator such as one containing glycolic, lactic or salicylic acid, and using this no more than 2-3 times per week (applied at night) .
Hyaluronic Acid
Including a hyaluronic acid serum in your routine is a must for dehydrated skin. Hyaluronic acid is extremely effective at replenishing dehydrated skin due to it’s ability to hold up to 6 litres of water!. It is a magnet for water and helps your cells to retain as much H20 as possible which helps to plump out fine lines and wrinkles. Apply a hyaluronic acid serum prior to your moisturiser to help ‘lock in’ the hydration.
Re-hydrate from within
The industry is realising now more than ever the strong connection between the nourishment of the body from within on it’s external appearance. We know that the skin needs nourishment and support from within as well as protection from the outside to function and look it’s best.
Since this discovery there have been a number of nutraceutical products introduced to the market to ‘treat the skin from within’. For dehydrated skin we recommend skinade due to its remarkable skin hydrating ability. Skinade is an oral daily supplement taken in the form of a liquid. It comes ready to drink in bottle form or a liquid travel sachet that you can mix with water. Skinade works so well to hydrate skin because it contains 7000mg of hydrolysed collagen peptides which increase the body’s production of hyaluronic acid. Skinade also reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and contributes to healthy looking hair and nails.
Profhilo
If your skin is really crying out for hydration and you are wanting to give it the ultimate boost then consider trying Profhilo. Profhilo is a unique injectable treatment consisting of 64mg of pure hyaluronic acid, the highest concentration on the market, to nourish the skin from within. It takes around 5 minutes to administer and can hydrate the skin for up to 9 months!
LED light therapy
LED light therapy is an effective way to treat the symptoms of dehydrated skin such as inflammation , irritation and sensitive skin. It’s a relaxing and quick therapy requiring only 10-20 mins of treatment to notice visible differences. LED phototherapy is known for its skin regenerative and anti-inflammatory benefits and is safe and suitable for all skin types. It works well in combination with other hydration treatments like Profhilo.