Not a few people who do not know the difference between dry and dehydrated skin, and even think of the two as the same thing. In fact, these two skin conditions are different and have different treatments.
Dehydrated skin is not a skin type, but a skin condition that occurs when the body lacks fluid intake, so the skin looks dry. However, on the other hand, dry skin is not always caused by dehydration.
Dry skin can sometimes occur due to irritation of the skin or skin types that tend to be dry, even though the body's fluid needs are still fulfilled. Dry skin conditions are generally characterized by skin that feels rough, scaly, and sometimes accompanied by itching. Because these two things have different causes, the treatment for dry and dehydrated skin conditions is not the same.
The difference between dry and dehydrated skin and its treatment
Following are the differences between dry and dehydrated skin conditions and their treatments:
Dry skin
The skin needs the skin's natural fluids and oils or sebum to keep it moisturized. Someone with dry skin type has a number of oil glands in the skin that tend to be few, so that the skin lacks lubricants or natural skin oils that function to maintain moisture.
Owners of dry skin types will usually experience symptoms in the form of itching, the skin looks less flexible or elastic, and looks dull, rough, and scaly.
There are several factors that can cause a person to experience dry skin, including:
- heredity
- The skin is often irritated or inflamed, for example from exposure to harsh chemicals, allergies, or atopic dermatitis
- Long-term exposure to ultraviolet rays from the sun
- The habit of taking a hot shower or taking a long shower
If you have dry skin, try these tips to treat and improve dry skin:
- Regularly use a skin moisturizer, either for the skin on the body or face.
- Try not to take too long while in the shower (no more than 10 minutes), especially if you use warm water.
- Avoid bath or facial soaps that can dry out the skin.
- Use a cream-textured facial cleanser and a gel-textured bath soap.
Dehydrated skin
Dehydration is a condition when the body experiences a lack of fluid intake, so that the body's organs cannot carry out their functions properly. Dehydration can be caused by the habit of not drinking enough water or certain conditions, such as diarrhea, vomiting, fever, sweating a lot, and urinating too often. If the condition is not treated, the body can experience various symptoms, such as organ dysfunction.
When the body is dehydrated, various tissues and organs of the body will be dehydrated, including the skin. When the skin is dehydrated, you will feel certain complaints, such as the skin feels dry, itchy, and looks dull. These symptoms can appear in the owner of any skin type, not only people who have dry skin.
In addition to dry skin, dehydration can also make you feel several other symptoms, such as:
- Dizzy
- Dry and chapped lips
- Body feels weak
- Rarely urinate
- Urine is dark yellow or darker in color and has a sharper odor
- Bad breath
- Difficult to concentrate
To overcome dehydration and dry skin that appears because the body lacks fluids, you can do the following tips:
- Meet the needs of body fluids by drinking enough water, at least 8 glasses per day.
- Treat conditions that cause dehydration, such as diarrhea or diabetes.
- Use a moisturizer to keep the skin moist and prevent dry skin.
- Reduce consumption of alcoholic beverages or caffeinated beverages, such as coffee and tea.
Dry skin conditions and dehydration that make skin dry may seem similar. However, these two conditions have different symptoms and different treatments.
Dry skin conditions due to dry skin types generally only cause skin problems. While dehydration not only causes dry skin, but also other health problems. That's the difference between dry and dehydrated skin that is quite significant.
With proper care, dry or dehydrated skin conditions can be overcome. However, if you continue to experience dry skin or dehydrated skin despite taking good care of your skin and meeting your body's fluid needs, you should consult a dermatologist.
