{"id":14594,"date":"2021-08-01T23:37:54","date_gmt":"2021-08-01T23:37:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/?p=14594"},"modified":"2022-05-02T21:28:43","modified_gmt":"2022-05-02T21:28:43","slug":"dry-vs-dehydrated-skin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/dry-vs-dehydrated-skin\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Your Skin Dehydrated or Dry? Here’s How to Tell and Treat It"},"content":{"rendered":"

An esthetician helps us unpack <\/span><\/i>dehydrated skin vs. dry skin<\/span><\/i>. Plus: how to deal with <\/span><\/i>sebaceous filaments and dry skin<\/span><\/i> and how to hydrate skin like a pro in three simple steps.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n\n\n

Upon relocating from NYC to LA, my skin appeared to be having an identity crisis. I was experiencing excess oil interspersed with dry, flaky patches. Was my skin type transitioning from combination to oily to dry at will? And how the heck could I achieve healthy, hydrated skin<\/a> if its texture changed more often than Kardashian-Jenner hairstyles? I booked a facial with esthetician <\/span>Cielo Ruiz<\/span><\/a> to find out.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n

To my surprise, Cielo deduced that my skin wasn’t actually dry, but dehydrated. I had no idea these were two different skin conditions, so I had Ruiz dive into the difference between dry and dehydrated skin. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/i>Turns out, dehydration is a temporary skin condition while dry skin is an actual skin type. Because of this, they\u2019re treated differently.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n

Read on to learn more about <\/span>dehydrated skin vs. dry skin<\/span>\u2014and how to address each concern.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n

Dry vs. Dehydrated Skin<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"dehydrated<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

First things first: Dry skin and dehydrated skin aren’t interchangeable. So, how do you know if you\u2019re dealing with dry or dehydrated skin? Dry skin is a genetic skin type, while dehydrated skin is a temporary skin condition. <\/span>Dry skin lacks oil<\/span><\/a>, whereas dehydrated skin lacks water.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n

“People with dry skin have smaller pores, so they secrete less oil,” Ruiz says.\u00a0 “They also have a history of dryness, which can result in flaking and premature signs of aging.” On the other hand, dehydrated skin can affect anyone, no matter their skin type, pore size, or genetics.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n

Upon hearing this explanation, I knew that my skin was in fact dehydrated since my skin has always been more combination or oily.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n

Signs of Dehydrated Skin<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n

Ruiz says that the tell-tale sign of dehydrated skin is having an especially oily T-zone (your forehead, nose, and chin) with dryness around the rest<\/a> of the face.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n

Additionally, one of the biggest signs of dehydrated skin is dry skin with sebaceous filaments. “The oiliness usually brings on a waxy congestion in the<\/span> form of blackheads<\/span><\/a> and sebaceous filaments,” she explains. (Sebaceous filaments look like blackheads but are typically narrower, longer, and less clogged than their congested cousins.)<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n

“Since the skin is trying to make up for a lack of hydration, it produces more oil,” she continues. “But because the skin condition is dehydrated, the oil can become hard and create a ‘plug’ in the pore. It’s then not able to secrete to the skin’s surface.”<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n

How do you get rid of these sebaceous filaments? Gentle exfoliation. Try introducing a clarifying mask or exfoliating toner once a week on the areas that are affected. <\/span>Retinol<\/span><\/a> is also a great option, as it will help increase <\/span>skin cell turnover<\/span><\/a> and help minimize the appearance of sebaceous filaments. If you\u2019re dealing with dry skin and sebaceous filaments, introduce these products slowly so as not to irritate your skin even more.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n

Next, consider the texture of your skin. <\/span>Dehydrated skin texture<\/span> is rough, bumpy, and\/or wrinkled. “Hydrated skin is more supple and plump compared to dehydrated skin,” Ruiz notes.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n

Tip:<\/b> Still unsure if your skin is dehydrated or dry? For a quick test, gently pinch your skin. If it wrinkles and takes time to bounce back to form, it’s likely dehydrated.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"man<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Causes of Dehydrated Skin<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n

What causes dehydrated skin to begin with? There are a few factors, listed below:<\/p>\n\n\n

Lifestyle<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n

In terms of lifestyle factors, the following may contribute to dehydrated skin:<\/p>\n\n\n\n