Your skin is your body’s largest organ and each inch of skin is made up of 19 million skin cells. Caring for your skin is something you can’t skimp on, you need to put in the work every day.
If you want to know how to get smooth skin you should first focus on your skin hydration. Dehydrated skin can appear flaky and dull, so if you want to plump up your skin and get a healthy glow you should figure out how to hydrate your skin.
So, keep reading to find out how skin hydration works and how to look flawless while also caring for your skin.
Why Does My Skin Lose Hydration?
Since dehydrated skin appears flaky, many people confuse dry skin with dehydrated skin. While they may appear similar, the causes of these conditions differ.
One of the main causes of skin dehydration is extreme temperatures. If you experience severe hot or cold temperatures the natural barrier of your skin can get damaged and become dehydrated quickly.
Over-exfoliation is another common cause of skin dehydration. The harsh and abrasive products we love to use may make your skin feel softer initially, but if you over-exfoliate you damage your skin’s natural moisture barrier. Harsh cleansers with caustic ingredients can also damage this barrier, making your skin feel dry and taught.
A lesser know cause of skin dehydration is the AC. AC units tend to draw moisture out of the air and this lack of humidity can cause your skin to dry out.
To be sure you have dehydrated skin and not dry skin you should compare the symptoms.
Dehydrated skin can be identified by:
- Dry, flaky skin
- Increased sensitivity
- Puffy eyes
- Dry mouth and eyes
- Itchiness in creased areas
- Fine lines and wrinkles look more pronounced
- Prominent dark circles
While similar, dry skin has fewer symptoms, they are:
- Flaky skin
- Itchiness
- Redness
- Skin irritation
If you’re still unsure you should consider reaching out to a doctor or company that specializes in caring for the skin. Dermysk Medical Aesthetics Academy is a great option as you can start as a patient but then also enroll in classes to learn more about how to care for your skin.
Drink Water
If you’ve concluded that you have dehydrated skin, the first step is to up your daily water intake. While it’s generally recommended that you drink eight glasses of water a day, the amount actually depends on your lifestyle. If you’re incredibly active, you’ll need to drink more water as you’ll be sweating more than normal.
You should also consider adding foods with a high water content to your diet. This way you can up your water intake without actually needing to drink more water. Citrus fruit is a great option as they have a lot of juice but also contains Vitamin C, which helps with skin texture.
You also don’t want to drink too much water. If your body tells you that you can’t drink anymore, don’t force it, even if you haven’t met your goals yet. If you push yourself and get sick, you’ll only end up losing more water than you retain.
Reduce Your Caffeine Intake
All liquids won’t hydrate your body, so if you thought you could up your water intake by drinking more coffee, then I have bad news for you. Caffeine can reduce the water content of your skin, making it a bad substitute for tap water.
Caffeine is a diuretic, meaning it increases your body’s production of urine. If you urinate more then your body loses more water than it takes in.
Hydrating Skincare Products
To combat dehydrated skin, you have to use hydrating skincare products. Water-based products should become your go-to as the product penetrates through your skin to hydrate you from the inside out.
If you’re unsure where to start and don’t want to spend a fortune testing products, look for ones that contain the following hydrating ingredients:
- Hyaluronic acid
- Glycerin
- Urea
- Ceramides
- Panthenol
Avoid Hot Showers
This might be the hardest step you’ll need to take to rehydrate your skin. While nothing beats a long, hot shower after a hard day’s work, this actually does more harm than you think.
Bathing for long periods of time strips away your skin’s protective barrier, and your body loses much of its necessary oils and moisture content.
In the same way, you need to protect your hair by using as little heat as possible or using a heat protectant, you need to protect your skin. Hot showers will leave your skin parched and desperate for moisture. You should consider using lukewarm water while bathing and keep it as short as possible.
Sunscreen Is a Must
If you struggle with dehydrated skin, then you have to use a sunscreen. While it’s recommended that everyone use sunscreen every day, most people still ignore this product.
Sun exposure dehydrates your skin if you don’t have a protective barrier in place, like sunscreen. Not only can sun exposure dehydrate your skin, but it also causes your skin to break down its collagen and elastin, which are responsible for your skin’s elasticity. This is why your skin often feels tight after you’ve been in the sun.
So don’t risk it, just put on some sunscreen in the mornings.
Know How to Hydrate Your Skin
Knowing how to hydrate your skin is a crucial part of any good skin routine. Unfortunately, most people aren’t taught from a young age how to care for their skin and how hydration plays a role in having beautiful skin. But it’s never too late to learn and change the tides, so start properly taking care of your skin today.
If you liked this article, go check out our beauty section for more content.
