Summers with hot sunny weather, your skin can confuse like a weather app stuck between “sunny” and “low battery”. Your skin might experience oily face one day, next day skin feels tight, followed by dull and uncomfortable. Many people struggle to understand the difference between dehydrated skin and dry skin in summer. They assume skin dryness to skin dehydration as the skin becomes dry. Understanding the difference between dry skin and dehydrated skin in summer is important as both sound to be same, but they are different and each need different care routines.
What Is Dehydrated Skin?
Skin looks dehydrated when it lacks water not oil. Hot summer weather, excessive sweating, air conditioner, sun exposure and harsh cleansers can strip out the natural moisture from the skin barrier. Dehydrated skin is usually temporary and can be seen on oily or acne-prone skin too.
Common symptoms of dehydrated skin
· Skin tightness after washing face.
· Dull and tired skin
· Visible appearance of fine lines
· Sensitive skin with itchiness at times
· Skin oiliness and flaky at the same time
Generally, people with oily skin tend to face skin dehydration in summer without realizing it.
What Is Dry Skin?
When the skin produces less oil, it is dry skin. Unlike skin dehydration, skin dryness is a long-term that’s linked to genetics, aging or climate conditions.
Signs of dry skin:
· Flaky skin texture or skin roughness
· Constant skin dryness throughout the year
· Skin redness and irritation
· Cracked skin in severe cases
· Lack of natural glow
Dry skin needs nourishment with the ingredients that help restore the oils along with strengthening the skin barrier.
Dehydrated Skin vs Dry Skin: Key Difference
Here’s a simple way to understand the difference between dehydrated skin and dry skin
Dehydrated skin = lack of water
Dry skin = lack of oil
People with oily skin can become dehydrated too. Lack of hydration and harsh face wash and over-exfoliation in summer makes the skin look worse.
Best Fixes for Dehydrated Skin in Summer
When the skin feels tight, tired or irritated during the hot weather, it focuses on skin hydration.
Gentle Cleanser
Use a gentle cleanser, as using strong soaps and cleansers can make the skin squeaky clean whereas mild cleansers retain the skin moisture barrier.
Add Hydrating Ingredients
To add hydration to the skin, look for skincare products with ingredients:
· Hyaluronic acid
· Glycerin
· Aloe vera
· Panthenol
Drink Enough Water
Hydration is the key ingredient inside and out in summer due to hot weathers. With high temperatures, heat increases water loss through sweat and causes dehydration a common concern.
Avoid Over-Exfoliation
Using scrubs, acids or active ingredients frequently can damage the skin barrier and worsen the skin dehydration.
Never Skip Moisturizer
People have misconception that oily skin does not require moisturizer, but oily skin too needs lightweight moisturizer in summer. Gel based moisturizers work best during humid weather conditions.
Best Fixes for Dry Skin
To deal with dry skin focuses on nourishing and repairing the skin barrier with ingredients like
· Ceramides
· Shea butter
· Squalane
· Natural oils
For dry skin, pick cream-based moisturizers as they work better with dry skin than lightweight gels.
