How do I know if my skin is Dry or Dehydrated? What's the difference between dry and dehydrated skin?

Ok - here goes…. Both conditions mean your skin is lacking moisture but in a different way. 

Dry skin means that your skin is lacking oil, while dehydrated skin lacks water. However if your skin is dry i.e. lacking oils, then it can also become dehydrated - i.e. lacking in water.

What is dry skin? 

As we quickly mentioned in the beginning, dry skin lacks oil. Dry skin isn’t a temporary condition but is a skin type of its own. There are four common skin types: normal, dry, oily and combination. If you suffer from dry skin, it’s more of a permanent condition. Now, this might start sending alarm bells in your head but it’s not necessarily something to worry about. It’s just good to know that your skin needs a little help to keep its oil levels up.

Dry skin is a skin type, while dehydration is more of a temporary state. Dry skin lacks sebum, which is the oil produced by your sebaceous glands. There is no quick fix for dry skin but there are ways to improve its appearance by replacing the oils that the skin can’t produce itself.  So in summary, if you think you have dry skin, please start adding oils to it…you wont regret it!

I developed the very first Finca Skin Organics product for exactly this skin condition..The Calming Serum 1, where the oils help lock in water. The best piece of advice I was given in my 20s was to start adding oils to my skin - and I was told if I didn't I would be a very old looking woman by my 30s….It's a bit like adding beeswax to furniture - it stops it drying out. The Calming Serum 1 adds oils and it also contains hyaluronic acid to grab water into the skin. That's why the serum is always applied to your face when its wet…Ideally you will use warm water on your face, as it helps to open the pores more and get the water deeper into your skin.

Characteristics of dry skin

Some of the common signs of dry skin include scaly skin, flakiness, redness, irritation or a rough, cracked or leathery appearance. Dry skin can be painful at times and give a stinging or burning sensation. You can tell that your skin is dry if you have tiny pores and never/rarely get pimples or spots. If you pair that with roughness or flakiness you can be fairly confident that you have dry skin. Dry skin is caused by abnormalities in the function of the stratum corneum.

There are quite a few skin conditions that can be associated with dry skin including eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis and type 1 rosacea to name a few. If you think you suffer with rosacea dry skin, keep reading! 

How to treat dry skin

There isn’t necessarily a treatment or quick fix for dry skin, but there are things you can do to improve its appearance and keep it at bay. If you suffer from a dry skin related condition, like the ones we mentioned above, make sure to chat to your doctor or dermatologist too for advice. 

First things first, be careful with exfoliating if you have dry skin. Any form of exfoliation can damage your skin barrier even further. Overusing retinols or acid serums also is a no-no, as they can damage the skin’s moisture barrier. Don’t let this keep you from exfoliating at all, as you need to remove the dead skin so that your products can absorb properly. Stick to very occasional use of very gentle exfoliation products with very low concentrations. Everything in extreme moderation with dry skin. Even a facecloth will act as an exfoliator and most of the time that is all that you need.

Secondly, you’re going to want to go for an oil based cleanser. Ditch the harsh soap and face washes, and avoid sulfates. Sulfates are harsh cleaning agents which further strip oil and water from the skin. Look for the term ‘’hydrating cleanser’ and also natural plant based oil ingredients such as coconut oil and grapeseed oil. These are good at getting through the rough, flaky texture and replenishing it to a nice soft state.

People with rosacea, will need to have a good moisturizer, serum and SPF in your skincare regimen. Moisturizing right away after you wash is an important step for locking in the moisture and not allowing your skin to dry out any further. If you leave it for longer than a couple of minutes, you won’t get the same benefits and will need to use more product. Moisturizing at night is particularly important as your skin is in repair mode. The Finca Moisturising Balm is designed to soothe and hydrate your skin while providing natural UV protection. Our unique formula helps to lock in moisture and reduce trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL), while reinforcing your skin's natural protective layer.

A hydrating serum that contains oils and helps restore the skin barrier should be an every day addition to your routine, Calming serum 1 anyone ??  And don’t ever skip the SPF, as this is one of the most important things you can do to keep skin healthy and glowing, regardless of type. The Finca Skin Organics tinted sunscreen with SPF 30 reduces the appearance of redness while offering protection against harmful UVA/UVB.

Finally, there are certain foods which can help improve dryness and skin texture. These include coconuts, avocados, fatty fish and sweet potatoes.

What is dehydrated skin? 

Dehydrated skin is more of a temporary state than a condition. Dehydrated skin can also cause dryness, but this comes down to a lack of water rather than oil. When your skin is dehydrated, this is a symptom of dehydration throughout the body, which happens when we’re using more water than we’re taking in. When there’s not enough water, our bodies are smart and prioritize our internal organs to make sure they function properly. The skin is not seen to need it as much as the other organs. 

The most common cause of dehydrated skin comes down to not drinking enough water. Aside from this, skin can become dehydrated from excessive sweating, diarrhea, fever, sunburn, diabetes or medications like antihistamines or laxatives.

A quick way to see if your skin is dehydrated is by doing a pinch test. Take a small bit of your skin around the cheek or forearm and give it a light squeeze. If it wrinkles or doesn’t bounce back straight away when you let it go, this can be an indicator that you’re dehydrated. A doctor or dermatologists can do further tests to help determine the state of your skin.

Characteristics of dehydrated skin

Skin dehydration can cause a host of symptoms such as itchiness, dull skin, dark circles under the eyes, sunken appearance of eyes, cracked or dry lips and increased appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

How to treat dehydrated skin

Unlike dry skin, you can “treat” dehydration with lifestyle changes. Remember, if your skin is dehydrated, you are more susceptible to a rosacea flare. The first thing you should be doing is increasing your H2O intake. Two to three liters, or eight glasses a day is a good goal. Water rich foods can also help too, think of cucumber, lettuce, avocado, watermelon, celery and broccoli for example.

• Drink less alcohol
• Limit caffeine consumption
• Cut out nicotine
• Exercise regularly and make sure you drink enough water during and afterwards
• Get the recommended amount of sleep
• Consider opting for more plants in your diet

Once you make some positive lifestyle changes and make sure you're all-round more hydrated, you should notice a difference. If your skin fails to improve, and feels uncomfortable, we always recommend seeing a dermatologist.

All Finca Skin Organics products are made using a minimal, plant-based ingredients list and formulated by me, a rosacea sufferer.

The Finca Skin Organics range has undergone a Harley Street clinical study. After using our products, 87% felt the appearance of their skin significantly improved. 

View the entire range of Finca products here or find out what subtype your skin is.

When in doubt, always refer to your doctor or dermatologist as the condition differs for everyone. It’s always best to talk to your dermatologist first and work out your treatment plan together.

If you have any queries regarding your rosacea or how to use our products get in contact with us, we'd love to hear from you.

Take care! 
With love from Ireland,
Finola

Clinical evaluation by Harley St. dermatologists on 23 subjects after 8 weeks of use.