Tips for dehydrated face skincare

Learn how to recognise and treat dehydrated facial skin. Discover the best treatments and practices for healthy, hydrated skin.

Understanding facial skin dehydration

Dry vs dehydrated skin: What are the differences for your face?

"Dry skin" and "dehydrated facial skin" are often used interchangeably in everyday language. Yet they describe two distinct skin conditions.
Dry skin, or cutaneous xerosis, is characterised by a lipid deficiency in the epidermis or by a lack of lipids, associated hydrophilic substances (natural moisturising factors or NMFs) and water.¹

In contrast, dehydrated facial skin is mainly due to a lack of water in the epidermis, resulting from a loss of body water that exceeds water intake. Skin dehydration indicates general body dehydration, reflecting an overall water imbalance.²

Recognising the signs and symptoms of facial dehydration¹

The subjective symptoms of dehydrated skin on the face are the sensation of tightness often experienced after showering, bathing, or swimming, which reflects a lack of skin hydration. In some cases, skin dryness can cause itching (or pruritus).

Causes of dehydration: Why is the skin on your face dehydrated?

External factors affecting facial hydration¹ ³

Many external factors can aggravate the signs of facial skin dehydration:

•  Excessive sweating: In hot weather and during prolonged physical exercise.
• Abundant diarrhoea and vomiting: Particularly during acute gastroenteritis and food poisoning.
• Medication: Especially laxatives and diuretics.
• Excessive alcohol consumption.
• Climate: Cold and hot climatic conditions reduce humidity and dry out the skin.
• Exposure to the sun: Sun and heat dry out the skin. Ultraviolet (UV) rays penetrate the epidermis and alter fundamental structural proteins such as collagen and elastin.

Impact of lifestyle habits on dehydrated facial skin¹ ³

Inappropriate lifestyle habits can aggravate facial skin dehydration:

• Insufficient water intake causes overall dehydration.
• Heating and air conditioning systems reduce the humidity of the ambient air, encouraging skin dehydration.
• Frequent showering or bathing, especially in hot water and for long periods, can alter the skin's lipid barrier and worsen dehydration.
• Many cleansing products, such as soaps and detergents, may remove lipids, promoting water loss from the skin and, therefore, skin dehydration.

Solutions to rehydrate facial skin

Face skincare routines ¹ ⁴

To effectively nourish dehydrated facial skin, follow these dermatological tips:

• Establish a daily skincare routine, morning and night. This routine should include gentle cleansing and a moisturising cream daily.
• Include products for dehydrated skin that combine hydrophilic and lipophilic ingredients.
• While nourishing the skin is essential, you should avoid comedogenic products.

Products and treatments recommended for deep hydration¹ ⁴

Local treatments for dehydrated facial skin aim to improve skin hydration, compensate for the lack of lipids and reinforce the skin's barrier function. A combination of hydrophilic (water-retaining) and lipophilic (lipid-retaining) ingredients is used to mimic and restore the components of the skin barrier:

• Hydrophilic components: These ingredients, such as glycerol and urea, attract and retain water in the stratum corneum. Their low molecular weight allows them to penetrate the skin effectively, acting as humectants to rehydrate the skin.
• Lipophilic ingredients: These ingredients form a protective layer on the skin's surface without penetrating it due to their high molecular weight (vaseline, silicones), helping to reduce trans-epidermal water loss. They also renew the lipid matrix between cells (ceramide, vegetable oils), which is essential to the skin's barrier function.

Petroleum jelly is recognised as the most effective lipophilic ingredient. It acts as an occlusive, forming an oily barrier that prevents water from evaporating, thus preserving the skin's moisture content.

In the event of redness or itching, soothing or antipruritic ingredients can be added to the formulations.

Beauty tips and daily care to maintain optimum hydration¹ ⁴

Preventive measures include using gentle cleansing agents and adopting skin care practices that respect the skin barrier:

• Bathing routine: Limit the frequency (maximum twice a day) and duration (around 5 minutes) of baths and showers. Choose lukewarm water and avoid hot water.
• Gentle cleansing: Opt for gentle, non-alkaline cleansers with a pH close to the skins. Syndets (also known as dermatological soaps or soap-free soaps) are less irritating and less drying.
• Moisturising creams: For optimum effectiveness, apply lipid-rich nourishing creams morning and night within five minutes of bathing or showering. 
• Avoid skincare products containing fragrances, alcohols, alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) or retinoids and opt for hypoallergenic products.
• Humidifiers: Use humidifiers at home to help retain skin moisture.
• Avoid the sun and tanning booths: The sun and indoor tanning equipment emit UV rays that cause skin damage and dry out the skin. To protect your skin from the sun, seek shade, wear clothing that protects the skin on your face, such as a wide-brimmed hat, and apply sunscreen with broad-spectrum protection.

References    

1. Augustin M and al. Diagnosis and treatment of xerosis cutis - a position paper. J Dtsch Dermatol Ges. 2019 Nov;17 Suppl 7:3-33. 

2. Eda N and al. Changes in the skin characteristics associated with dehydration and rehydration. Eur J Sport Sci. 2023 Apr;23(4):552-560.  

3. Taylor K, Jones EB. Adult Dehydration. [Updated 2022 Oct 3]. In: StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-.

4. AAD. Dry skin: tips for managing. American Academy of Dermatology Association. 202 Jun 18. [Internet]. Available on: https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/a-z/dry-skin-self-care

5. Palma L and al. Dietary water affects human skin hydration and biomechanics. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2015 Aug 3;8:413-21.

6. Parke MA and al. Diet and Skin Barrier: The Role of Dietary Interventions on Skin Barrier Function. Dermatol Pract Concept. 2021 Jan 29;11(1):e2021132.