find out what the causes are and how to treat the problem

Water has a fundamental function in the organism: it is responsible for hydrating and eliminating toxins from the body, through sweat and urine; in the skin, it is in charge of transporting nutrients to the cells, which keeps it healthy, beautiful and illuminated. However, lack of hydration, combined with bad habits, can also cause the frequent sensation of stretching and roughness, affecting one of the main functions of the skin: that of a protective barrier.

“One of the functions of the skin is a barrier, the protective layer of our body. Technically speaking, this protective layer is called the stratum corneum, the outermost layer of the epidermis, which serves as a shield, preventing contamination of the external environment with the internal environment. But many life habits, including the use of inappropriate products, poor diet and stress, interfere with the skin barrier, weakening cells and their cohesion, which makes us more susceptible”, explains dermatologist Dr. Cintia Guedes, member of the Brazilian Society of Dermatology (SBD).

Factors that dehydrate the skin

According to dermatologist Dr. Paola Pomerantzeff, member of the Brazilian Society of Dermatology, the main factors that can cause dehydration are external like:

• Cold temperatures;
• Dry climates;
• ultraviolet sunlight;
• Very hot and very long baths;
• Use of soap and sponges during bathing (because they remove the protective lipid layer of the skin).

“But another very common cause is low water intake. The risk of dry or dehydrated skin increases with age. In addition, genetics can influence the quality of skin hydration”, clarifies Dr. Paola Pomerantzeff.

Foods that harm skin health

Another point of influence is food. That’s because some foods can contribute to skin resection. “Fruit juices, for example, even though they are 100% natural, have a very high concentration of sugars. These sugars draw water from the body to be transformed into energy. In this way, skin hydration is impaired”, explains the dermatologist.

According to the expert, alcohol and fat are also two other factors responsible for impairing skin hydration. “To the alcoholic beverages they also lead to dehydration of the organism as a whole, since the water in the circulation is used to metabolize the ingested alcohol. High-fat meats can also dry out your skin. That’s because excess fat generates free radicals. These free radicals cause a decrease in collagen production and, consequently, skin dehydration”, says the expert.

Ways to keep skin hydrated

When symptoms of stretching and roughness are left untreated, dehydrated skin can become flaky, even cracked and itchy. “Dry skin is often itchy,” points out Dr. Paola Pomerantzeff. But after all, what to do? “As a general rule, moisturizing (at least twice a day) will be your best move. Moisturizers are important for improving and maintaining barrier function and can help prevent and repair damage.

Watch out for cleaners and oils

According to the doctor, dosing the use of cleansers is essential to prevent the skin stay dry. “The use of soaps often strips the skin of its natural lipids (skin’s protective barrier) and moisture. The ideal is to use little soap on the body. There are some that are not aggressive and do not destroy the protective barrier, ideal for people with dry skin. A proper moisturizer should be applied frequently, preferably daily. The best time to apply moisturizer is when your skin is clean and damp, after you shower,” says Dr. Paola Pomerantzeff.

It is also necessary to be extra careful with oils, as they are not the saviors of the homeland. “Oils lubricate the skin (from the outside) but do not penetrate and hydrate the skin (‘from the inside out’). Therefore, for those who like oils, the ideal is to first apply a moisturizer and apply the oil over the moisturizer”, suggests the doctor.

Substances to moisturize the skin

According to Dr. Cintia Guedes, most moisturizer formulas contain three categories of ingredients: humectants, which attract water to the skin; emollients, which smooth the surface; and occlusives, which sit on top and seal in moisture. “All of these can help create a healthier environment in which the skin can better repair itself. If you want to take it a step further, look for moisturizers that list ingredients that actually help repair the barrier itself. The most common are ceramides and fatty acids”, highlights the professional.

Dermatologist Dr. Paola emphasizes that the first quality that a moisturizer for dehydrated skin must have is to restore moisture to the upper layers of the skin and its natural lipid barrier. “Urea and lactate are factors of hydration that attract and retain moisture in the stratum corneum (the most superficial layer of the skin). Generally, the urea concentration should be at least 5-10%. Ceramide-3 is one of the components of the skin’s lipid barrier. It can be used in moisturizers to repair this barrier and maintain moisture in the skin. Glucoglycerol stimulates the skin’s aquaporins and also helps to maintain skin moisture”, exemplifies the doctor.

Medicine to keep the skin hydrated

Skin hydration can also be carried out from the inside out through nutraceuticals, such as FC Oral, the so-called caviar capsules, which contain an important component, omega 3 vectored by phospholipid, which has identity with the cell membrane. “In this way, the active promotes hydration from the inside out, restoring damage to this membrane, and improves fluidity, that is, it allows nutrients to be absorbed more fully, which also brings results for hydration”, says pharmaceutical Patrícia França, scientific manager of Biotec Dermocosméticos.

In addition, the professional explains the benefits of composition for remove toxins from the skin. “Since it contains a carotenoid, astaxanthin and vitamin E in its composition, it will also bring benefits in increasing the skin’s antioxidant status, reducing inflammation and aiding hydration by inhibiting transepidermal water loss, leaving the surface of the skin protected (skin barrier) and hydrated. As it also reduces free radicals in the cell, it leaves the surface of the skin younger”, says the pharmacist.

Cosmetic procedures for skin to stay healthy

It is also possible to have a little help from procedures done in the office. One of them is HydraFacial hydrodermabrasion, which is completely painless and less invasive to improve the health and freshness of the skin, in addition to purifying, sanitizing and hydrating.

“HydraFacial promotes instant improvement in skin quality thanks to the patented Vortex-Fusion® technology present in the tips, which have an exclusive spiral design capable of generating a vortex effect that, combined with the equipment’s vacuum suction technology, manages to expel and easily remove impurities from the skin while providing moisturizing solutions,” concludes dermatologist Dr. Monica Aribi.

By Guilherme Zanette