Is my skin dry or dehydrated?
Dry skin generally refers to skin that is lacking in oil, while dehydrated skin is characterised by a lack of water in the top layer of the skin. Dehydration is thus a lack of water (not oil), which means that even oily skin can experience dehydration. Sebaceous oil activity can still be normal or even overactive in dehydrated skin, which can lead to people assuming that their skin is simply dry when it is in fact dehydrated.
What can dehydrated skin experience?
Irritation, inflammation, itchiness and sensitivity
A feeling of tightness or tautness
A look or feel of roughness
Slight to severe flaking and scaling
Fine lines, severe redness and cracks that can sometimes bleed
