What causes dry skin, how to treat it, products to try and is it dehydrated instead? Because that requires a different strategy

People with dry skin don’t produce enough oil, which leads to flaky, itchy skin. Dryness is not something you can fix, but you can learn how to counter it

Dehydration, unlike dryness, can be reversed. Dehydrated skin, caused by a lack of water, can be caused by factors like the weather, what you eat – even stress

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Although dry skin and dehydrated skin can feel very similar, there is a huge difference between the two. Photo: Shutterstock

Published: 4:15am, 2 Nov 2021Updated: 5:41am, 2 Nov 2021

You might think your skin is dry if it feels tight and dull, but it could actually be dehydrated. Although they feel very similar, there is a huge difference between the two that you might not know about. While you can experience both at the same time, dryness is about the skin type you’re born with, while dehydration refers to a skin condition – something that can be reversed with the right treatment.

What is dry skin?

“When your skin is dry, it is lacking oil or lipids,” explains Indie Lee, founder and CEO of skincare brand Indie Lee. Basically, your skin produces less oil than it needs. This is not a temporary issue, but more of a lifelong feature that can appear less or more intense depending on how you treat it.

This phenomenon results in flaky, itchy skin that looks cracked, uneven and rough. Those with dry skin usually struggle with it all over their bodies, but especially on the face, scalp, hands, legs and elbows. They also often experience some form of flaking, eczema or skin sensitivity.

Those with dry skin usually struggle with it all over their bodies, but especially on the face, scalp, hands, legs and elbows. Photo: Shutterstock

How do you recognise dry skin?

Dry skin doesn’t just look tight and rough, it also feels like it. “Dry skin may appear as scaly, with white flakes, redness or irritation,” Lee says. The skin around your eyebrows, the sides of your forehead and around your mouth and nose are usually the driest areas, so it’s important to keep an eye on those.

On top of that, dry skin lacks suppleness and elasticity and can be at greater risk of producing visible fine lines and wrinkles.

The Indie Lee Squalane Facial Oil hydrates and moisturises your skin.

How do you treat dry skin?

Dry skin is not something you can fix, but you can learn how to counter it. The first step is to provide your skin with the oils it needs by adding a facial oil or moisturiser to your routine.