Dehydrated skin is sometimes described as dry skin but they are different. When we are discussing acne it is important to understand the difference.
Signs of dry skin include: scaly skin, white flakes, redness, and irritation. Dry skin is sometimes associated with eczema or psoriasis.
Dehydrated skin is dry but it means that your body is losing more water than it’s taking in. Aside from not drinking enough water, dehydration in a healthy teen can be caused by diet as well as lots of sweating from exercise. Some symptoms of dehydration are itchiness, flaky skin, dry skin, oily skin, dullness, sunken eyes, shadows around eyes and nose, and fine lines.
While hydration is not an exciting topic it's important because it is often the step that gets skipped in skin care routines, especially routines that are supposed to help acne. Secondly, dehydrated skin contributes to the vast majority of skin problems and is a major trigger of acne and the major cause of congestion and blackheads so it’s incredibly important to master for balanced, healthy skin.
Let’s break down the basics
Dehydration contributes to Oily Skin!
To have healthy, glowing skin it needs a balance of water and the right amount of sebum (your skin’s natural oil). When your skin is dehydrated it can kick off extra sebum production to compensate for the water loss because your skin is made to protect itself and dehydrated skin is thirsty so it produces more oil.
Dehydration contributes to Congestion, Blackheads and Breakouts!
When skin is not hydrated properly it leads to congestion, blackheads and breakouts because the natural oils in your skin are thick and easily stuck in your pores causing bacteria growth.
So now what?
Well the obvious answer is up your hydration and water is a must. But water is not the only thing that will benefit your skin, healthy fruits and veggies also contain high water content plus have the added benefit of vitamins and minerals. Juices by comparison, while hydrating may also be loaded with salt, sugar and possibly acidic so be picky about these sources of hydration.
Stay consistent:
Your skin can lose water quickly so it is important to have a hydration routine during the day. If your school lets you carry around a water battle great! If not you need to plan to up your intake in the morning, at lunch and after school. If you participate in sports you must take in extra hydration because sweating contributes to water loss. And sweating is really great for your pores.
Protect your skin from the outside:
When you start your new hydration routine be sure to use a balanced moisturizer like our Lightweight Moisturizer. Our moisturizer is specifically designed to protect your skin from water loss and also helps thin out sebum so it does not clog your pores. Other plant-based ingredients also help reduce redness and calm irritation.
Stick with it:
If your skin is dry re-hydrating your skin can take some time but if you are consistent you should see improvement in about two weeks. Your color will look better and your skin will have some bounce.
Avoid:
Now that you are on your way here are a few things to note that can alter hydration.
-Excess salt (unless it’s sea salt)
- Caffeine
- Seasonal changes
- Dry indoor air
- Lack of sleep
So there you go some good reasons to up your fluid intake helping to create clean, clear healthy skin that glows. Keep up the great work!