Unlocking Skin Health: Dry vs. Dehydrated Isn’t Just Skin-Deep

Oct 13

If your skin feels tight, flaky, or lackluster, you're not alone; especially, if you live in the Arizona desert like me. The terms "dry" and "dehydrated" are often used interchangeably, but they're distinct. Many people think the issue is in the products, but true skin quality starts from within, at the cellular level. Here, we will dip our toes just a little into the wild and crazy world of discussing skin from within.

Dry Skin vs. Dehydrated Skin: The Basics

Dry skin is a skin type characterized by a chronic lack of natural oils aka. sebum. This can result in roughness, flakiness, redness and itchiness. Genetics, aging, medications, hormonal and environmental factors can contribute. Lifestyle choices like harsh soaps or frequent overwashing and overuse of acids can also further compromise the barrier.

Dehydrated skin, conversely, is a condition affecting any skin type, even oily acneic skin. It's about lacking water, causing tightness and dullness due to excessive transepidermal water loss (TEWL). Low humidity, air conditioning, lack of humectants, and insufficient water intake are common culprits. Lifestyle factors like hot baths, high caffeine/alcohol, stress, or poor sleep can also play a role.

Beyond the Surface: Skin Quality Starts Inside the Cell

While the right topical solutions are supportive, true skin health depends on what your cells can produce and utilize. The cell membrane, a phospholipid bilayer, governs nutrient uptake. When dysfunctional due to oxidative stress or inflammation, receptors become inefficient, reducing the efficacy of topicals and the natural production of barrier lipids and hyaluronic acid.

We're born with robust skin, but time, environmental factors, and lifestyle choices degrade it. Cell turnover slows, dead skin cells accumulate, and hormonal shifts or conditions like eczema disrupt oil and water retention. Deficiencies in nutrients and minerals can also starve cell membranes.

I love this quote that I learned from my DMK Education:

“Quality begins on the inside and works its way out”- Bob Moawad, author

Want to get even more nerdy into why cellular health is paving the way, I highly recommend referring to Skincare Anarchy’s podcast episode 797- The Science of How Mitochondria Regulate Skin Longevity.

Repairing the acid mantle is crucial for both dehydrated and dry skin.

Rule of thumb

For dry skin, use ceramide-rich, oil-based moisturizers. For dehydration, opt for humectant-heavy products (glycerin, hyaluronic acid).

Dry or dehydrated, if you work with me, in most cases my first and foremost recommendations are going to be these three DMK prescriptives to boost your skin on a external and internal level:

Seba-E is a hydrating oil for dry, inflamed, and TEWL skin. It’s the closest reproduction of the skins natural oils and sebum when combined with Herb and Mineral Mist. This duo together reconstructs and goes into those voids of the skin to form the acid mantle. I call this the incense for my skin due to its refreshing and floral notes.

On an internal level, DMK’s EFA+ Essential Fatty Acid and Vitamin E Supplement has vital nutrients that the skin depends on. This supplement provides omega 3,6,7, and 9 essential fatty acids derived from sea buckthorn and evening primrose oils. This fatty group of fatty acids are required for the structure of all membranes in the body. Think of this as water proofing the skin from the inside out, maintaining barrier function and the permeability of cells which ensures adequate free water levels and a healthier extracellular skin matrix.

My next recommendation is getting you in the treatment room for a series of enzyme therapy. In short, this treatment "retrains" the skin at a cellular level. It boosts circulation and oxygenation, triggers reverse osmosis to flush toxins and dead cells, and stimulates collagen production for firmer, clearer, more HYDRATED and youthful skin.

I hope this information was helpful, and if you are interested in working with me in the Phoenix, Arizona area or via virtually, I recommend booking today! www.bookwithwitt.com