In fact, oily skin is often a symptom of dehydration. Your skin could very well be over-producing oil to compensate for the lack of moisture. That's why we've engineered our brand-new Hyaluronic Gel Moisturizer, with a new approach to fighting oily skin.
Oily skin can abruptly appear at any time or age. Potential causes may be stress, insufficient hydration, an overly sweet diet or an intense skin cleaning routine. Other potential causes for sudden onsets of oily skin may also be hormonal disorders, such as acromegaly.
Dry and oily skin often occurs in people who are chronically dehydrated. But the primary cause behind dry, oily skin is simply genetics. Combination skin means that you may have fine lines and wrinkles at the same time as acne, blackheads, and other oil-related breakout issues.
In fact, oily skin is often a symptom of dehydration. Your skin could very well be over-producing oil to compensate for the lack of moisture.
How to test if your skin is dehydrated. You can do a simple pinch test at home to determine your skin's hydration levels. Take a small portion of your skin around the cheek area and squeeze lightly. If you notice any wrinkling and if the skin doesn't bounce back after you let go, then your skin may be dehydrated.
Unfortunately, neglecting to treat dehydrated skin can lead to acne breakouts, irritation, dry patches, dullness, and more. The first step to rehydrating your skin is knowing what leads to skin dehydration in the first place and how to spot it.
When dehydrated areas of the face begin producing extra sebum in attempts to lubricate and moisturize the skin, it increases the chances of developing clogged pores. This can make already large pores appear even larger as they expand with oil and other debris.
Your skin can become dry and cracked due to low humidity and lack of moisturizer, even if you drink enough water. However, dehydrated skin lacks moisture from the inside. It may appear not only dry and itchy but also dull, uneven, and wrinkled. You can even detect dehydration through your skin.
Signs and symptoms of dehydration include dark-colored urine, decreased urination, headaches, fatigue, dry skin, decreased skin turgor, and poor concentration. Make sure you're getting enough fluids every day by drinking plenty of water or other fluids.
Drinking ample water balances the oil and water content on the skin of your face. This helps to prevent excess oil and sebum secretion, which means fewer clogged pores and acne.
When treating your dehydrated skin, a dermatologist may first recommend lifestyle changes. Staying hydrated, limiting caffeine intake, and eating nutritious foods may help your skin retain water. They may also recommend using a humidifier to add moisture to the air in your home.
"A facial mist can be refreshing and hydrating to the skin. It's especially useful for those who have sensitive or extremely dry skin, travel frequently or live in dry climates," says Dr. Kally Papantoniou, a New York-based cosmetic dermatologist and founder of Simply Dermatology.
The key with oily skin is to make sure you're hydrating it without adding extra oil from other products. With no moisture at all your skin would become dehydrated and begin to over-compensate by producing more oil. Oily skin is caused by the over-production of sebum from your sebaceous (oil) glands.
Our skin retains about 20% of the body's water and its hydration is one of the most important properties of cosmetic products. There is a myth that oily skin does not need hydration. However, as with any skin type, oily skin needs its own, specialized regular hydration.
When you have oily skin, you may think that using a moisturizer is the last thing you should do. But, as the body's largest organ—and the one that is arguably most influenced environmental conditions—the skin often needs a moisturizer to mitigate the loss of hydration even with it is oily or pimply.
The answer: Moisturizer is the culprit. Dr. Neal Schultz, NYC-based dermatologist and creator of Beauty RX, explains that if you have oily skin, you can actually stop using moisturizer at night. "You should only use products that serve a purpose," says Schultz.
CeraVe's face washes for oily skin and moisturizers for oily skin are formulated with essential ceramides to help restore your skin's protective barrier, which helps your skin hold on to hydration and keep irritants out.