Misconception of Dry and Dehydrated Skin

Don’t worry, we will be going through the common skin misconceptions of water and oil imbalances, various resulting skin types and how to fix them. 😊

Misconception #1

A very common misconception is that people think that oil on skin is a bad thing.

While too much of oil would provide problems such as over production of sebum levels, oil is an important factor that keeps your skin well protected and hydrated.

Why is it important?

Oil acts as a natural barrier to retain moisture of skin and protect skin from external irritants.

Misconception #2

These two skin types have been commonly misunderstood by most people

DEHYDRATED SKINS = Lack water

DRY SKINS = Lack oil

This means that dehydrated skin can also be oily due to the lack of water and excess of oil. Also, it is possible to have both a lack of oil and water in your skin.

What is my skin type and how do I fix my related skin problems?

Knowing your skin type is extremely important as it will affect the skin care routine u need to follow to target these skin problems. These skin types stem from the respective imbalances of oil and water.

Dry Skin (Lacks Oil)

Characteristic

• Dull and rough skin
• Flaky skin
• Redness easily on skin

Dry skin refers to skin that lacks natural oils. This skin type can be either inherited, or are caused by different factors such as old age, excessive sun exposure and over cleansing. This usually results in people with this skin type having cracks and fine lines on their skin.

Things to add in your skin care

• Use oil-based moisturizers that add beneficial and needed oils to your skin in order to replenish the lack of oil content of your skin
• Avoid showering in hot water, as it will strip your skin of its natural oils
• Avoid Skin care products that contain alcohol, fragrance, retinoids, or alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA)

Dehydrated Skin (Lacks Water)

Characteristic

• T-zone visibly oily
• Dryness around face
• Dull skin
• Frequent acne and pimples
• Visible pores

Dehydrated skin refers to skin that does not have adequate water levels. This can be a result of a lack of water retention from the lack of oil, improper diet or skin care routine and external factors such as environment and air quality.

People do not realize that dehydrated skin tend to be oily as sebum production in the skin will increase when dehydrated. This will lead to oily skin which results in breakouts and acne.

Things to add in your skin care

Focus on moisturizing skin instead of removing oil. The goal is to replenish water to your skin in order to re-establish a healthy balance between oil and water in the skin. By hydrating your skin, sebum production will lessen and your skin will naturally become less oily.

Do not over cleanse. Over cleansing your skin might strip the protective layer of oil from the skin. Twice daily for non-oily skin is more than sufficient to clean the skin.

General skin care tips that will help any skin type.

1. Drink plenty of water
2. Exfoliate skin (once a week is enough)

Exfoliating removes dead skin. By removing dead skin, it increases the effectiveness of your skin care products such as moisturizers. This results in an increase water absorption of the skin.