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Dehydrated Skin vs Dry Skin: Symptoms, Causes and How to Hydrate Your Skin (Even in Summer)

Posted by Bel Essence on Jun 18th 2024

Most of us save heavy-duty skincare for winter, assuming cold weather is the real threat. But dehydrated skin can strike any time of year, including in the heat of summer. Sun, sweat, salt water, chlorine and air conditioning all quietly drain moisture from your skin.

Here's how to tell dehydrated skin from dry skin, the symptoms to watch for, and how to hydrate skin from the inside out.

Dry Skin vs Dehydrated Skin: What's the Difference?

They sound the same, but they're different problems:

  • Dry skin is a skin type. It produces too little oil (sebum). It tends to feel rough, flaky and tight most of the time, all year.
  • Dehydrated skin is a temporary condition. It lacks water. Any skin type can be dehydrated, *even oily skin*. It's often caused by weather, lifestyle and a weakened skin barrier.

A review in the *Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology*, Skin hydration: a review on its molecular mechanisms, explains that skin hydration depends on your skin's natural moisturizing factors and an intact barrier that keeps water from evaporating. If your skin is shiny yet tight, read Damaged Skin Barrier: Why Your Skin Is Oily and Dehydrated.

Dehydrated Skin Symptoms

  • Dullness: skin looks tired and lacks glow
  • Tightness, especially after cleansing
  • Fine "crepey" lines that appear when you gently pinch the skin
  • More visible wrinkles that seem deeper than usual
  • Itchiness
  • Dark circles and shadows around the eyes and nose, making eyes look sunken
  • More oil or breakouts, as skin overcompensates

The pinch test

Gently pinch the skin on your cheek. If it wrinkles and is slow to bounce back, your skin is likely dehydrated.

Why You Can Have Dry Skin in Summer

Heat and sweat

Heat draws water from your body, and sweating increases fluid loss. When you're short on water, your body sends it to vital organs first, and skin is one of the first places to show it.

Sun exposure

UV damage harms the skin barrier and increases water loss. Sunburn makes it much worse.

Salt water, chlorine and sand

Pool chemicals and ocean salt strip the skin's natural oils, and sand is mildly abrasive.

Air conditioning (yes, it dries out skin)

Air conditioning removes moisture from the air, and low humidity pulls moisture from your skin. A review in the *Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology*, Ambient humidity and the skin, found that low humidity affects skin barrier function and can worsen skin conditions. Another review found that low humidity and low temperature weaken skin barrier function. Dry indoor air can also irritate eyes, throat and airways.

Over-washing and over-exfoliating

More sweat means more showers and cleansing, which can strip away protective oils.

How to Hydrate Skin From the Inside Out

1. Drink enough water

Hydration starts inside. Water needs vary, but a commonly cited guideline from the U.S. National Academies, summarized by the Mayo Clinic, is about 3.7 liters (15.5 cups) of fluids a day for men and 2.7 liters (11.5 cups) for women, from all beverages and foods. Heat, exercise and altitude increase your needs. A narrative review of hydration and health outcomes highlights the wide-ranging importance of staying hydrated.

By the time you feel thirsty, you're already starting to dehydrate. On hot days, carry water with you. If you feel dizzy, nauseated or overheated, get out of the sun and rehydrate.

2. Eat water-rich foods

Watermelon, cucumber, citrus, berries, tomatoes and leafy greens all add to your fluid intake.

3. Use a humidifier

A humidifier puts moisture back into dry, air-conditioned rooms, especially overnight while you sleep.

4. Cleanse gently, and don't overdo it

  • Use a gentle, non-stripping cleanser. If your skin feels tight afterward, you've stripped away its natural oils.
  • Try oil cleansing: plant oils like almond oil remove dirt and sunscreen without drying skin.
  • If you wake up with dry skin, skip the full morning wash. A splash of water and a light moisturizer may be all you need if you cleansed well the night before.

5. Don't over-exfoliate

Over-exfoliating strips your skin barrier and can trigger dryness *and* extra oil. Once or twice a week is plenty.

6. Rebuild your moisture barrier

Use a moisturizer with humectants (glycerin, aloe) that attract water and plant oils and butters that seal it in. Learn more in The Best Ingredients for a Strong Skin Barrier.

7. Take cooler showers

Hot water strips oils. Lukewarm or cool showers are kinder to skin, especially after a day in the sun.

8. Protect from the sun

Wear broad-spectrum sunscreen, reapply after swimming or sweating, and treat sunburn promptly with cool compresses and soothing moisture.

Summer Skin Care Tips at a Glance

  • Drink water before you're thirsty
  • Use a lighter, but still nourishing, moisturizer
  • Rinse off chlorine and salt water promptly
  • Run a humidifier when using AC
  • Exfoliate no more than twice a week
  • Wear sunscreen and reapply often

Bel Essence Products for Dehydrated Skin

Shop all dry skin solutions.

FAQs: Dehydrated Skin

What is the difference between dry and dehydrated skin?

Dry skin lacks oil and is a skin type. Dehydrated skin lacks water and is a temporary condition that can affect any skin type.

Can oily skin be dehydrated?

Yes. Oily skin can lack water, and dehydration can even make it produce more oil.

Does air conditioning dry out your skin?

Yes. Air conditioning lowers humidity, which increases water loss from the skin. A humidifier and a good moisturizer help counteract it.

How do you fix dehydrated skin fast?

Drink water, apply a hydrating moisturizer with humectants and plant oils, use a humidifier and avoid hot showers and harsh cleansers.

References