Many redheads suffer from dry, sensitive skin — especially in the colder months. The natural thing to do is lather up with lotion/oils, right? Those remedies may help dry skin, but not a skin condition called dehydrated skin. Many people think dehydrated skin is the same as having dry skin, but it’s not. Both dry skin and dehydrated skin can cause your skin to be dry but for different reasons.
Here’s what we know about this dehydrated skin condition and what you can do to combat it.
What causes dehydrated skin?
If your skin is naturally dry it’s because it’s lacking the natural oils to keep it soft which can be combatted with proper skincare techniques like lotion, serums and oils. If your skin is dehydrated, it lacks water. Water is a vital ingredient making up roughly 60% of the human body. This lack of water is usually caused by an imbalance in the water intake versus water expelling. Basically, your body is losing more water than it is taking in.
What are the symptoms of dehydrated skin?
Besides dry skin, there are a number of ways dehydrated skin will present itself on the body. This includes itchiness, dull/ashy skin, dark under eyes, sunken eyes, and increased wrinkles and fine lines. You can also feel things like headaches, lightheadedness, and overall weakness.
How do you combat dehydrated skin?
Unlike dry skin, dehydrated skin cannot be corrected with skincare alone. Hydrating skincare can help the surface level but the problem is a lot deeper than that. Correcting dehydration means increasing liquid intake and replacing the missing water in the body. This can sometimes be accomplished at-home by drinking a lot of water and electrolytes, but other times it may require an IV and medical intervention.
You can also combat dehydrated skin through lifestyle choices:
- Reducing consumption of alcohol and caffeine
- Eating properly (lots of fruits and vegetables)
- Getting enough sleep
- Adjusting your diet (if needed)
- In addition to drinking the recommended amount of water each day, this can help to prevent dehydration in the future.
Do you have any of these symptoms? Are you willing to make any of these lifestyle choices? Tell us. Rock it like a Redhead!
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