Before we get to the reasons for dehydrated skin, it is essential to understand how the top layer of skin works. Understanding this is important because every cause of dehydrated skin has something to do with this top layer. I start by explaining below what this top layer of skin does.
But if you already know about the top layer, you can skip straight to the causes of dehydrated skin.
Point 1
Cells in the top layer of the skin are arranged like bricks in a wall. Like bricks in a wall are held together by mortar, these cells are held together by many different substances. This top layer of skin acts as a barrier.
Point 2
This barrier:
Point 3
In addition to the substances between the cells, the cells themselves have specific substances inside them.
Both these sets of substances, the ones between the cells and those inside the cells, play a vital role in the barrier function of this top layer. They help this top layer be a barrier.
The barrier function becomes less effective if these substances’ quantity or quality is compromised.
A less effective barrier means dehydrated skin and skin prone to breakouts.
Point 4
The bad news is that the skin’s barrier function gets compromised almost daily.
The good news is that by using products with the right ingredients, we can replenish the substances in the barrier and thus help it function well.
8 causes for dehydrated skin – and how you can fix those causes
Showers
Hot showers affect the key ingredients/substances that help the skin’s barrier function. And if these hot showers happen to be extended, double the negative impact; a compromised skin barrier results in loss of hydration from the skin (aka dehydrated skin).
Switch to warm showers. Warm showers are much better for your skin.
If you can switch to cold showers, then take a bow. If this is asking for too much, warm water showers are okay.
Avoid washing your face while you are in the shower. Wash your face with cold water either before or after the shower. I do it before the shower; you do what works for you.
Over Exfoliation
Exfoliation removes unwanted cells, dirt, excess oil, and grime from the top layer of skin. Regular exfoliation is a must for a vibrant-looking skin. Exfoliating our skin brightens it up.
But sometimes, we might get addicted to the immediate brightening effect of exfoliation and tend to overexfoliate. Doing this multiple times a week, more times than your skin can take, strips away certain key ingredients from the skin’s barrier. This will weaken the barrier—a weakened barrier will result in loss of hydration from the skin, which is nothing but dehydrated skin.
Avoid using scrubs and seed powder as exfoliants. Switch to chemical exfoliants.
After exfoliating your skin, always give it tender love and care – apply products rich in hydrating and skin-barrier-strengthening ingredients.
Over Cleansing
Skin does not need to be cleansed with a cleanser multiple times daily. Once a day with a cleanser should be fine.
Check the ingredients in a cleanser and make sure they have mild and gentle cleansing ingredients in them.
Harsh ingredients and over-cleansing strip away some ingredients from the skin’s barrier.
Problem-causing Ingredients
Make sure the skincare products you are using do not have denatured alcohol, fragrance, or essential oils.
These are very harsh on the skin. They can irritate the skin and damage the skin’s barrier.
Weather
Artificial heating dehydrates skin rapidly. Always use a humidifier when using artificial heating.
If it is a windy day, layer some antioxidants on your skin. Vitamin C is a good antioxidant. When a strong wind hits your skin, something called free radicals is formed. Free radicals damage good cells and weaken the skin’s barrier function, producing dehydrated skin.
When you step out, remember your sunscreen. No sunscreen means a weakened skin barrier.
Moisturisers
A Moisturiser is a skincare product most of us use daily.
So make your moisturiser count!
Check the ingredients in your moisturiser. Make sure they have hydrating and emollient ingredients. Hydrating ingredients add hydration to the skin. Emollient ingredients help retain that hydration.
Go the extra step and use moisturisers, which also contain skin-barrier-strengthening ingredients like ceramides, urea, peptides, and niacinamide.
Moisturisers with these ingredients are pretty common these days. So don’t just buy any moisturiser. Buy one that has hydrating, emollient, and skin-barrier-strengthening ingredients.
Dry Skin
People with dry skin are more prone to getting dehydrated skin. So, if you have dry skin, make sure you use hydrating ingredients on your skin regularly. Make sure you are doing all the other things mentioned in this post.
Last layer
In the morning, ensure your last layer of skincare product is always a good sunscreen.
In the nighttime, make sure your last layer of skincare product is a good emollient or occlusive. These two give skin that extra layer of protection and reduce water loss from the skin. For dry skin, occlusives are better than emollients.