Dry or dehydrated skin? Be careful, they are two different things.
The superficial skin layer is formed by a hydrolipidic film composed of hydrophilic substances, lipids and sebum.
The hydrolipidic film is made up of:
- 95% fatty substances that act as a barrier (-lipid)
- 5% from water-soluble molecules that hydrate the skin and retain water (hydro-)
This barrier defends us from the aggression of external agents and from the loss of water. To maintain this function the skin needs the right balance of these components.
When the hydrolipidic film does not work properly, resulting in a lack of lipids or water , then the skin dries out, becoming dull, scaly and more easily irritable, all typical characteristics of dry skin.
DRY SKIN:
Dry skin is skin that doesn't produce enough lipids. Lipids form a protective oil barrier on the surface of the skin, and without them, the skin cannot retain moisture well. Epidermal lipids (ceramides, fatty acids and cholesterol) are essential substances for forming the "cement" of the skin which helps to strengthen the skin barrier. A lipid deficiency prevents the skin from retaining water and natural moisture and performing its barrier function.
Skin can become dry due to a medical condition or due to common environmental factors, such as changes in temperature, low humidity in the air, or use of harsh soap.
While healthy skin is soft and pleasant to touch, dry skin can feel tight, itchy, and slightly rough to the touch. If the skin becomes extremely dry it can even crack.
DEHYDRATED SKIN:
Dehydrated skin can affect all skin types... because it quite simply results from a lack of water. The water contained in the cells of the epidermis evaporates and the skin dehydrates. Unlike dry skin, having dehydrated skin is a temporary condition.
Skin dehydration is generally caused by external factors. Pollution, smoking, air conditioning, stress, lack of regular sleep, the wind, the cold...But also the heat, the sun.
The skin appears dull, uncomfortable, lacks softness and elasticity and is marked by small dehydration wrinkles.
However, these effects are not always visible: the skin does not show obvious signs such as skin flaking. The good news is that problems related to dehydration can be resolved by adopting the right treatment routine.
TO CONCLUDE:
The dehydrated skin can be a temporary condition, due precisely to contingent situations such as extreme climatic and environmental conditions or the use of inappropriate cosmetics. The dry skin, on the contrary, is a very specific skin type which can degenerate to to lead to more serious conditions.
Dry skin needs to receive the right amount of lipids, to be nourished; the dehydrated one must be able to retain water molecules. In both cases the advice is to strengthen that surface film by providing it with the right amount of hydrophilic molecules and lipids.
WHAT TO DO?
In addition to the right daily intake of water, at least 1.5 liters per day, you must protect the skin and nourish it from the outside.
Creams, butters and vegetable oils create a barrier that strengthens the skin's defenses, isolating it from the negative action of external agents, such as cold, smog, sun, wind, helping to keep it soft and elastic. The best products are those that contain precious active ingredients such as vegetable oils and butters, rich in fatty acids, such as shea butter, cocoa butter and olive oil , vitamins such as the very precious Vitamin E and antioxidants, such as Pomegranate and grape peel extract , which protect against free radicals and counteract skin aging.
You can find all these precious ingredients insideour creams to ensure your skin has the right amount of skin hydration to maintain healthy skin.
