The causes of dry skin; dehydration, stress and more to know

Have you ever had dry skin, itchy, or acne experience? Know the fact that you are not alone. It happens to most of us and is common these days. You might become stressed and want to do something about it. We all want healthy, beautiful, and soft skin, but how? The terrific news is that you can reach your goals through a few precautionary steps and changes in your lifestyle. Having perfect skin is easy and doable. You just need to know what causes skin dryness and avoid them. For instance, dehydration is one of the common reasons that gets solved by drinking enough water.

Tahoe Springs Water brings you useful guidelines on common causes of skin dryness and how to avoid them through easy changes in your daily life.

Dehydrated skin vs. dry skin

You care about your skin and know that it might get dry or dehydrated. But they are the same, aren’t they? Not exactly. Your skin is dry, which means that it cannot produce the required natural oils to protect itself. A few conditions such as eczema, constant washing, and dermatitis could cause dry skin. Dry skin could also run in your family.

Dehydrated skin is due to not drinking enough water. Your skin can look dull or feel itchy.

What are the common causes of dry skin?

Dry skin can be due to several reasons and causes. The most common ones are as follows:

Not drinking enough water

Dehydration is one of the first causes of dry skin. It could happen to you every month of the year, even in winter. You are more likely to get dry skin in winter. Your skin cells need water to stay fresh. Bear in mind not to mistake dehydrated skin for dry skin. Dry skin could be due to a lack of oil on your skin, while dehydrated skin is due to not drinking enough water.

The common signs of dehydrated skin are as follows:

• Itchiness
• Sunken eyes
• Under-eye circles
• More noticeable fine lines

The above symptoms appear on your skin. The symptoms of dehydration appear differently for people. The signs of dehydration are as follows:

Signs and symptoms of dehydration

Adults

• Dry mouth or lips
• Not normal visit to the bathroom
• Fatigue
• Dizziness
• Thirst
• Unusual perspiration
• Sunken eyes

Children, infants, and toddlers could also experience dehydration. You should be careful of the signs in them as they can not yell: “Hey you, I’m thirty.”

• Not visiting the bathroom for long hours
• Dry mouth or tongue.
• No tears when crying
• High fever
• Drowsiness or irregular sleepiness
• Sunken eyes

To ensure your skin is dehydrated, pinch a small area of your cheek. In case of your skin wrinkles, you are dehydrated.

Read our article about dehydration and sleep.

Hard water

Hard water can cause skin dryness, just like on your hair. It hinders washing soap from the surface of your body. It leaves your skin dry and often irritated. In case you have eczema, psoriasis, or other skin disorders, the situation can get worse for you. Some of the minerals of hard water can absorb the moisture of your skin. High levels of minerals and lack of moisture can imbalance the pH level of your body as well.

Heat

Hot weather can lead to water loss and dehydration. Your skin could become red, dry, and irritated. Hot summer can cause further perspiration, oil, and dead cells. When perspiration and oil mix with the dead cells, you’ll experience breakouts. You can avoid the sun or use sunscreen.

Medical conditions

A few medical conditions such as eczema and psoriasis can be more likely to make your skin dry. According to Harvard Health, dry skin could be the sign of other irrelevant conditions such as:

• Kidney failure
• Malnutrition
• Hypothyroidism
• Diabetes

How do you know the dry skin is due to a serious health problem? You need to take a few signs and symptoms more seriously:

• Scaly, rough patches
• Hyperpigmentation,
• Intense itchiness
• Crusting
• Inflamed areas

If your skin didn’t get better by home remedies or moisturizers, you need to visit healthcare immediately. You might have to take a test as well to ensure it’s nothing serious.

Aging

Skin dryness is inevitable by aging. According to the Mayo Clinic, people at 40 and older are more likely to get dry skin. About half of the population in this age range suffer from skin dryness. “You become older; your skin will produce less oil which leads to dry skin.”

To fix the situation, the American Academy of Dermatology suggests that the elderly can moisturize the skin every day or even several times during the day. If the moisturizers contain petrolatum, humectants, and ceramides would be a better option.

A change in your body or hormones could lead to dry skin too. For instance, Menopause for women could also be the cause of dry skin.

Cold Weather

Cold weather causes low humidity and dry skin. It can mess up with the moisture on your skin. You don’t take care of your skin in the winter; it can become irritated and hurt badly.

You need to take particular care of your skin in the cold season. If you live in cold climates, it becomes more important for you. You can take a few precautionary steps to avoid dry skin in the winter as follows:

Think again over the long, hot showers

You and I enjoy the hot long bath or showers in the winter, and I feel fresh after long hours of work. But it can take essential oils from your skin. You would better use warm or lukewarm water to take a shower. It’s more important for your face and hands.

Moisturizer

The moisturizer you are using now might not work out during the cold season. According to Intermountain Healthcare, “thicker moisturizer isn’t always your right option. Try to get one that contains lipids instead of petroleum or oil-based formulas”.

Sunscreen

Yes, I used to think that sunscreen is only for hot summer. I was wrong, and you need to know that they are more important in winter. Winter sun, along with the glare from the snow, can hurt your skin to a large extent. Try to take sunscreen 30m before you get out. If you have to stay outdoors for the long term, try to reapply the sunscreen.

Change tanning habits

Intermountain Healthcare says that there is a common misconception about tanning in the winter. People think it provides them more vitamin D, which they lack in the cold season. Yet, they are wrong. The damage can outweigh the benefits. Ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) could seriously damage your skin. It can often lead to skin cancer.

Evaluate the situation of your skin

Daniel H. Pink, in his book “When,” says to know the type of person you are by sleep pattern. You might know the type of food that’s good or bad for you. But do you have any idea about skin knowledge?

Normal skin

It’s not too dry, not too oily. It has no or few imperfections and is not severely sensitive.

Dry Skin

Dry skin can become inflamed, irritated, or itchy. It can also peel or crack. It becomes dry; it could become rough or scaly.

Oily Skin Type

Oily skin type may have a thick, dull, or shiny complexion.

Sensitive Skin

The sensitive skin type could show up as itching, redness, dryness, and burning.

Examine the situation of your skin regularly and frequently. The alarming signals are the following ones that don’t heal:

• Lesions
• Itches
• Bleeding

Self-exams can help you prevent serious damage to your skin.

Skin checkups

Yes, you often might need to visit a dermatologist to ensure your skin’s health. The experts can check the situation and diagnose potential problems. They could also provide you advice to take better care of your skin. Bear in mind that you should visit a dermatologist immediately if you have noticed concerning changes in your skin.

Vitamin D

While the level of vitamin D increases in summer due to sun exposure, It decreases by winter. Vitamin supplements can help you to ensure yours in the cold season. You could also take natural supplements like:

• Orange
• Salmon
• Canned tuna
• Egg yolks
• Mushrooms
• Cow’s milk

Lifestyle changes to help your skin stay healthy

The folloing habits and chanegs can help you have a healthier and moist skin:

Avoid dry skin by moisturizers

Dry skin causes water to escape from the skin. Moisturizers can provide coverage to prevent water from escaping. You can use moisturizers during the day and after having a shower or a bath. Remember that thick moisturizers work better for your skin to avoid dryness.

Cosmetics can also help, and you can also apply oil.

Warm water over hot water for your bath

Did you know that taking long showers or baths and hot water can eliminate oils on your skin? It is a component that can help your skin to stay healthy and moist. You will better limit the length of your shower and bath, particularly if you take them every day. Ten minutes is an acceptable duration for your shower and bath, and you would better switch to warm water.

There was a research that studied which one is better taking a shower in the morning or evening.

It was revealed that both have advantages and disadvantages. But taking a shower in the evening is like switching off a computer and turning it on tomorrow in the morning. It can also remove the dust and pollution got on your skin during the day.

You might have to change your soap.

You would better use a gentle and soft soap or cleaner that adds moisture to your skin. The ones that have fat and oil are preferable. If you can, consult with an expert over picking the best option for yourself.

Use moisturizers after your shower

You can use moisturizers after you get out of the shower and dry yourself so to keep the moistures on your skin.

You can use a lotion before exercise to keep them moist and avoid dry skin as well.

Be wise with your choice of clothes

You would better use fabric that is kind to your skin; cotton and silk. They allow your skin to breathe, but there are some that won’t let it, such as wool, and can hurt normal skin.

Signs and symptoms of dry skin

How do you know that your skin is dry? The below signs and symptoms can help you understand them in the early stages. If you know earlier, you can find the root cause and do something about it:

First things first, dry skin could be different for avery person. The symptoms vary by your condition; 

• Health,
• Age,
• Sex
• The cause of your dry skin
• Physical activity
• Diet
• Whether you have an allergy or not

Dry skin can happen in any part of your body. But the below part are more likely for dry skin;

• Legs.
• Genitals.
• Around your mouth.
• Elbows.
• Face.
• Feet.
• Hands.

Often, when you have dry skin, the following symptoms could appear: 

• Skin that feels tight after swimming, showering, or bathing.
• Skin that feels rough or ashy and gray.
• Redness
• Peeling, flaking, or scaling
• Itching
• Cracked skin

You would better visit a doctor in the below case; 

• Signs remain for a long time.
• Inflamed or painful skin
• You can not sleep or get distracted from work or studies
• Open sores or infections from scratching
• Scaly or peeling skin

Bottom line

In case you want your skin to be healthy and in its best form, you need to avoid skin dryness. Often dry skin is not serious, and you can treat it easily. The article explained what the causes of dry skin are and what you can do about it. With a few precautionary steps, you can avoid it easily.

Through the article, you also found out that skin dryness can be due to a few serious health conditions like kidney failure. If your dry skin didn’t get better by common treatment, visit healthcare right away.

One of the basic and most common causes of dry skin is dehydration. You don’t drink enough water, skin dryness is inevitable. Your age doesn’t matter. You just need to drink enough water every day.

In case you don’t like the taste of tap water like Las Vegas, a reliable water company can be your solution. Tahoe Springs Water has been providing water services in Las Vegas since 1994. Call us at+702-903-1433 to order from the different range of water options; alkaline, Spring mountain, or purified water.

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FAQs

Can dehydration be a cause of dry skin?

Yes, dehydration is among the causes of dry skin.

Could dry skin run in the family?

Yes, it can run in the family, among other reasons.

What are the causes of dry skin?

There are various ones, from dehydration to hard water; see the article.

Can drinking water help my skin?

Yes, dehydration is among the leading causes of dry skin.