No. Dry skin is not a sign of dehydration. Skin can be dry without becoming dehydrated.
Let me explain…
Dry skin lacks oil. The oil on the skin is also called sebum.
Dry skin is a skin type. We are born with one of four skin types: dry, oily, normal, or combination.
Dehydrated skin, on the other hand, is a condition in which the skin lacks water. Any skin type, not just dry, can become dehydrated.
The top layer of skin acts as a barrier. As a barrier, the top layer of skin has two critical functions:
~ Prevent water from the skin from evaporating into the environment
~ Protect the skin from attacks from environmental nasties.
Sebum plays a vital role in helping the skin in its barrier function.
Dry skin is low in sebum, so it cannot effectively prevent water loss from the skin. And so dry skin is prone to becoming dehydrated. Using skincare products with the right ingredients can reduce dry skin’s chances of dehydration.
But returning to the original question of whether dry skin is a sign of dehydrated skin,
No, because dry skin can be dry without ever becoming dehydrated. Dry skin is not dry because it is dehydrated.
Dry skin is a type we are born with. Dehydrated skin is a condition that can affect all skin types.
The chances of dry skin becoming dehydrated are very high, out of all four skin types. So, use the right ingredients to reduce (or prevent) the chances of dry skin becoming dehydrated.
