4 Signs Of Dehydrated Skin

How many times have you lovingly applied your pre-bed skin care routine, adding moisturisers, creams or serums, only to still wake up with dry skin? 

Well, you may not be dealing with a dry skin texture at all, you may actually have dehydrated skin. And while the words are similar, there are a few key differences in signs of dehydrated skin and how we can look to rehydrate it.

So, to discover the signs of dehydrated skin and how we can look to hydrate skin from both the inside and outside, continue reading, below. 

What causes dehydrated skin?

Before we delve into the causes of dehydrated skin, it’s important we settle the dry vs dehydrated skin debate – a hot topic in the skin care community!

While the two words themselves are somewhat synonymous (when used in the context of skin), there’s an important difference. So, dry skin is a skin type – just as you can have oily or combination skin. However, dehydrated skin is a condition caused by…well, we’ll get into that now. 

First up, dehydrated skin can occur when you don’t drink enough water. The outer layer of your epidermis (first barrier of skin protection) becomes compromised when you don’t drink enough water, stopping your skin from properly protecting you against pollutants and harmful UV rays.

Also, while drinking plenty of water is great for hydrating skin, soaking in too much water in a bath or swimming pool may actually dehydrate your skin. Long, hot baths can strip your skin of hydrating natural oils, while the chlorine found in pools can dehydrate skin as well.

And you may already know a lack of sleep causes deep, dark, eye bags, but did you know it can dehydrate skin too? Our blood flow increases when we sleep to bring nutrients and oxygen to the skin, but a lack of sleep can hinder this process, causing skin to dehydrate.

So, now we know what causes dehydrated skin, let’s take a look at what this might do to our skin. 

4 signs of dehydrated skin on your face

Dehydrated skin can have an impact on all areas of the body. For example, you might notice rough hands, cracked skin on your feet, or dry and itchy legs with dehydrated skin. 

However, the most noticeable dehydrated skin symptoms typically appear on your face as that skin is more frequently exposed to the elements. The most common signs of dehydrated skin on your face include:

1. Increased sensitivity

Your skin’s moisture barrier plays a huge part in protection from external stressors – whether these be UV rays, pollutants, or the extreme weather of winter and summer. 

With dehydrated skin, the skin’s moisture levels drop, preventing the moisture barrier from doing its job properly. This means all those harmful stressors are able to penetrate dehydrated skin, causing sensitivity and frustrating symptoms, such as itching, discomfort, or redness.

2. Dull complexion

Redness is common with dehydrated skin (as we just discovered!), but you may also notice a dull sheen to your complexion too. 

Without sufficient hydration, your skin can’t perform its normal functions. And one of these functions is to shed the outer layer of your skin, so you always have the healthiest skin possible for protection. 

However, dehydrated skin can stop this process from happening, meaning dead skin cells gather on the outer layer of your skin. This can lead to all sorts of skin-related issues – clogged pores, spots, and a dull complexion.

3. Exaggerated wrinkles

Now, we talk a lot about the appearance of wrinkles here at Absolute Collagen and how you can minimise their effect. But, before we get to that, let’s look at why dehydrated skin can cause these wrinkles to become more visible in the first place. 

Collagen is a protein in the body that needs hydration to be able to work properly, keeping your skin looking firm and plump. However, with dehydrated skin, collagen breaks down more quickly, which leads to exaggerated wrinkles. 

The secret to helping reduce the appearance of wrinkles? Collagen supplements! In fact, 100% of the users in our clinical trials study reported an improvement in the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles after taking our daily collagen sachets for just 12 weeks.

4. Skin tightness

We all want that lovely, firm, youthful-looking skin. So, when we say tight skin is a sign of dehydrated skin, you’d be forgiven for thinking that sounds like a good thing! 

But tight skin is not the same as firm skin. In fact, tight skin is actually a result of your skin being stripped of its natural oils and moisture. This can lead to swollen, itchy skin that is prone to cracking – not what we’re looking for!

How to hydrate your skin

Now we know the signs of dehydrated skin to look out for, let’s take a look at how we can hydrate our skin to retain that lovely glow, even as our skin ages.  

Skin care routines are important and can help restore and hydrate your skin, however it is just as important to hydrate your skin from the inside too. But how do we go about that? Well, we’ve got a few tips. 

Let’s first look at how we can hydrate ageing skin naturally. This is super simple: by drinking enough water, following a healthy diet, and making sure you’re getting enough sleep, you can help hydrate and retain your skin's moisture levels. 

A tailored skin care routine can help keep your skin hydrated too. Your basic hydrating skin care products are – cleanser, moisturiser, and SPF. However, introducing hydrating serums with the likes of hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, and bakuchiol can soothe the skin and be just as beneficial for skin hydration. 

Want to delve more into what causes wrinkles or perhaps your skin is quite sensitive already and you want to know how to care for it? Well, to discover all these skin care top tips head over to our blog. 

Want to delve more into how collagen can help keep your skin hydrated or perhaps want to learn more about serums and how they can help create your perfect skin care routine? Well, to discover all of these skin care top tips head over to our blog.