Can somebody explain the difference between 'dry' and 'dehydrated' skin?

[PacificDogwod]

Just that.

I am confused. And old. And my skin feels dry, but maybe it's dehydrated?

[vintagenurse]

according to my sister who is a beauty therapist, dry skin is a lack of oil in the skin, dehydrated skin is a lack of water in the skin.

[BabyGanoush]

Dry: lack of moisture
Dehydrated: lack of moisture

New word to sell more creams

There is not much you can do about skin: if it feels dry/dehydrated/parched putting some (any) moisturiser on will bring relief.

Everything else is just marketing and hype

[228agreenend]

I was once told, if you pinch dehydrated skin, it doesn't automatically return to,it's original,state. Ie. It stays slightly pinched.

Not sure if this is true.

[Judydreamsofhorses]

Agree with Vintagenurse. If you have a look, Sali Hughes did a column on it ages ago which is really helpful in explaining the difference.

[PacificDogwod]

So, oil outwardly and water inwardly should do the trick, yes?

The cosmetic industry would collapse if all would buy creams like I do

[Nabootique]

It's what vintagenurse said. I have normal/oily combination skin but I also have dehydration. Dry or oily is skin type and your moisturiser should be chosen accordingly, whereas dehydration is a skin issue, so a moisturiser will help but a serum will penetrate the top layer and deal with it more effectively. Caroline Hirons has a good cheat sheet on how to tell the difference.

[Wolpertinger]

What BabyGanoush said.

Dry - lack of oil. Easily identified by everybody.

Dehydrated - fuck knows but it sells a lot of product.

[OldJoseph]

Dehydrated skin may mean you need to up your water intake rather than buy a new cream.

Years and years ago my face went through a very strange dry patch, my usual creams for dry skin did nothing for it. Looking back I probably just wasn't drinking enough watery drinks.

[specialsubject]

Drink water. Buy whatever cream suits, none actually do anything.

If strange symptoms, see doctor.

[PacificDogwod]

Ok, so 'dehydrated skin' refers to actual dehydration?? No danger here then

Just dry skin then.
Oh, well.
The BodyShop oil stuff is rather nice and my skin seems to like it too.
I'm otherwise v much a '£5 a pot of cream, whatever is in the sale' kinda girl