What causes dry skin?

Anais Bambili

How to Identify Dehydrated Skin?

Dehydrated skin can affect all skin types at some point in life. This includes sensitive, combination, oily, and normal skin.

It is a temporary and reversible condition characterized by localized, occasional tightness, caused by a lack of water and poor water retention in the skin layer.

Skin dehydration is characterized by uncomfortable, rough facial skin, sometimes with flakes, and a lack of radiance. Fine lines and wrinkles also appear more pronounced due to a lack of hydration.

Dehydrated skin can appear both oily and dry at the same time because it overproduces sebum to compensate for the lack of hydration.

ceramide cream

What Causes Dehydration and How to Treat It?

Skin dehydration can be caused by various external and internal factors, such as:

Environmental Factors

Wind, cold, heat, pollution, and low-humidity environments (like air-conditioned or heated spaces) can strip moisture from the skin.

Lifestyle

Insufficient water intake, a diet low in fresh fruits and vegetables, excessive caffeine or alcohol consumption, and smoking can all contribute to skin dehydration.

Inappropriate Skincare

Using overly harsh or stripping cleansers, excessive exfoliation, or not applying enough moisturizer can disrupt the hydrolipidic film skin's and increase its water loss.

Physiological Factors

Certain health conditions, hormonal changes, or age can also influence the skin's hydration level.

Dehydrated skin can therefore be treated by increasing water intake to help replenish skin hydration from within, using hydrating suitable skincare products rich in hyaluronic acid, ceramides, fatty acids, and cholesterol, and controlling environmental factors (avoiding overly harsh cleansers, adopting a healthy lifestyle, and a diet rich in antioxidants).

How to Identify Dry Skin?

Skin dryness is a skin type, like oily skin. Therefore, it is not a reversible symptom.

This skin type is caused by a dysfunction of the sebaceous glands, which are responsible for producing sebum. As a result, the skin lacks natural oils (lipids) and cannot effectively protect itself against external aggressions.

dry skin

What Causes Dry Skin?

Dry skin is a skin type caused by various external factors.

Disruption of the Hydrolipidic Film

The skin barrier is made up of a hydrolipidic film that plays a crucial role in protecting the skin against external aggressions. This barrier is a complex mixture of lipids and water.

In dry skin, this barrier is compromised. The skin's ability to retain moisture decreases, leading to increased water loss and thus skin dryness. Fatty acids are also deficient, which affects the integrity of the skin barrier.

External Factors

External aggressions like wind, sun, cold, and pollution can damage the outer layer of the skin. Additionally, frequent use of harsh soaps and cleansers can disrupt the skin's natural pH and strip away its natural oils, leading to even drier skin.

Insufficient Hydration

Not drinking enough water throughout the day can lead to overall dehydration, which also affects skin hydration. Internal hydration is just as important as external hydration for maintaining healthy, radiant skin.

Sebum Production Imbalance

Insufficient sebum production by the sebaceous glands can also be a cause of dry skin.

Age

As we age, sebaceous glands produce less sebum, which can lead to a decrease in the skin's natural moisture and make the skin drier and more fragile.

Genetic Factors

Some people are naturally prone to dry skin due to their genetics, which can influence the composition of lipids in the skin and its ability to retain moisture.

How to Treat Dry Skin?

Treating dry skin aims to restore its hydration, strengthen the skin barrier, and relieve symptoms such as itching, tightness, and flaking.

ceramide cream

Here are some effective ways to treat dry skin.

Strengthen the Lipid Barrier

To strengthen the hydrolipidic film and combat dry skin, it's crucial to choose products with ingredients that nourish, repair, and hydrate the skin. The hydrolipidic film is a thin layer on the skin's surface, mainly composed of sweat, sebum, and water, acting as a protective barrier against external aggressions and maintaining skin hydration.

Here is a list of beneficial ingredients to strengthen this protective film and improve skin hydration:

Ceramides

Ceramides are essential lipids that help restore the skin barrier and retain moisture. They strengthen the hydrolipidic film by replenishing the skin's natural lipids, which deplete with age and environmental aggressors.

Essential Fatty Acids (Omega-3 and Omega-6)

Fatty acids, such as those found in fish, flaxseed, and borage oils, are crucial for maintaining the integrity of the skin barrier. They help reduce inflammation and nourish dry skin, making it more resistant to external aggressions.

Glycerin

Glycerin is a powerful humectant that draws water into the skin's upper layer, helping to maintain its hydration and support the hydrolipidic film. It is particularly effective for hydrating the skin.

Hyaluronic acid

This ingredient can retain up to 1000 times its weight in water, significantly contributing to skin hydration and plumpness. Hyaluronic acid helps hydrate the superficial layers of the skin and strengthen the hydrolipidic film.

Shea Butter

Rich in fatty acids and vitamins, shea butter is an excellent emollient that helps nourish the skin and restore the lipid barrier, while also offering protection against external aggressions.

Plant Oils

Plant oils (such as sweet almond oil, jojoba oil, argan oil, and coconut oil) are rich in vitamins and essential fatty acids. They help hydrate, nourish, and protect the skin by strengthening the hydrolipidic film.

Niacinamide (Vitamin B3)

Niacinamide strengthens the skin barrier, improves skin elasticity, and increases ceramide production. It also has anti-inflammatory properties that can help reduce redness and irritation associated with dry skin.

Aloe vera

Aloe vera has moisturizing, soothing, and healing properties. It helps calm irritation and deeply hydrate the skin, thereby supporting the skin's hydrolipidic film.

By including products with these ingredients in your skincare routine morning and night, you can effectively strengthen the hydrolipidic film, improve hydration, and fight skin dryness. It's important to choose products suitable for your skin type and perform patch tests to avoid allergic reactions, especially if you have sensitive skin.

Adjusting bathing habits

Opt for lukewarm showers or baths instead of hot ones, as hot water can strip the skin of its natural oils and worsen dryness. Limit your time in the shower or bath to 5-10 minutes and use gentle cleansers, soap-free, fragrance-free, designed for dry or sensitive skin.

Making environmental changes

Use a humidifier to increase air humidity in living spaces, especially in winter when heating can dry out the air. Protect your skin from cold, wind, and sun by wearing appropriate clothing and applying broad-spectrum sunscreen even during winter months.

Adopting a healthy diet

Eat foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, such as fatty fish (salmon, mackerel), chia seeds, walnuts, and flaxseed oil, which can help strengthen the skin barrier. Drink enough water throughout the day to help hydrate your skin from within.

Treating dry skin requires a comprehensive approach that includes topical treatments, lifestyle adjustments, and, if necessary, medical interventions to address and relieve symptoms.

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