DRY AND DEHYDRATED SKIN

We can define “dry skin” as a condition in which the skin appears thin, fragile, withered and not very flexible.

The stratum corneum tends to flake, and especially in winter, the skin shows frequent chaps - sometimes bleeding ones, particularly at the fingers and other areas subjected to friction.

Dry skin is highly sensitive to weather factors, and is irritated by detergents (soaps, syndets, etc.) which often cause a sensation of tightness and itching.

It is also possible to distinguish if skin dryness is due to dehydration or lack of lipids.

A dehydrated dry skin suffers from excessive water loss due to poor perspiration controls or to increased evaporation provoked by NMF (Natural Moisturizing Factors) deficiency.

On the other hand, alipidic-dry skin. i.e.,  lacking in polar hydrophilic fats, shows a reduction of the surface lipidic film,  due to an altered or reduced sebaceous secretion.

Of course, these two conditions do almost always coexist and largely contribute to skin early ageing.