Dehydration lines are faint, surface-level lines that can appear on your skin when it is lacking moisture. Commonly found around the eyes and on the lips and forehead, dehydration lines are your skin's response to insufficient water intake.
Key Takeaway: In a nutshell, dehydration lines are fine, temporary lines caused by a lack of moisture, often appearing under the eyes and on the forehead. Wrinkles, on the other hand, are deeper and more permanent, resulting from factors like aging, sun exposure, and repeated facial expressions.
Dehydration lines are often temporary and appear as fine, shallow lines on the skin's surface. They are a direct result of insufficient moisture and can be reversed once you are hydrated. On the other hand, true wrinkles are deeper, more permanent folds that we can soften or erase with Botox®.
With dehydrated skin, you might notice that your skin has a tired-looking appearance, with darker shadows and under-eye circles. You may also observe signs of dehydration that come and go depending on activities, the season, lifestyle changes, or even a cosmetic or skincare product.
While complete reversal is challenging, you can improve the appearance of forehead wrinkles naturally through proper hydration, a healthy diet rich in antioxidants, regular exercise, adequate sleep, and facial exercises. However, results may be limited compared to medical treatments.
Skin dehydration can also lead to dark circles under the eyes and fine lines and wrinkles on the face. When the skin is dehydrated, it can lose its elasticity, making it more prone to wrinkles and sagging.
Moisturizers for dry skin from brands like CeraVe®, Aveeno®, Avène®, La Roche-Posay®, Eucerin® and Cetaphil® are among those that Dr. Estemalik recommends most.
Hydrate skin with lotion, ointments, or face creams.
Look for lotions containing lipids, ceramides, glycerin, or hyaluronic acid to help reinforce the skin's protective barrier. If you have an oily skin type, consider using an oil-free moisturizer to keep your skin hydrated without contributing to the oiliness.
Lighting: Harsh, direct lighting can accentuate shadows and lines, making them appear more prominent. Softer, diffused lighting can minimize their visibility. Facial Expressions: Smiling, frowning, or squinting can cause temporary dynamic wrinkles.
Because of this, dehydrated skin presents symptoms such as patches of dryness, tightness, increased sensitivity. These patches may appear rough in texture or look dull. Dehydrated skin can also accelerate the early signs of ageing by contributing to fine lines.
Improves Skin Thickness: Research published in the International Journal of Cosmetic Science found that drinking over 9 cups of water every day improved skin density and thickness after one month. Thicker skin is less prone to fine lines and wrinkles because it's more elastic.
Fine lines are the start of wrinkles and look like small creases on your skin. They're closer to the surface of your skin, whereas wrinkles are deeper into your skin. You'll notice fine lines on your face where you make repetitive movements, like around your eyes and your mouth when you smile or squint.
Other causes of hollow cheeks include dehydration, malnutrition, smoking, a lack of sleep, and harsh weather conditions. You may also find you have sunken cheeks after weight loss.
You can quickly check for dehydration at home. Pinch the skin over the back of the hand, on the abdomen, or over the front of the chest under the collarbone. This will show skin turgor. Mild dehydration will cause the skin to be slightly slow in its return to normal.
Avoid harsh skin care products. This isn't a time for rough exfoliating scrubs or cleansers that strip skin of moisture. Gentle products are best to help your skin look and feel hydrated and moisturized. Skip the use of exfoliating brushes or tools.
Humectants like glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and urea pull water from both the air and the deeper layers of skin into the stratum corneum to add moisture. Occlusives like beeswax, soybean oil, and lanolin form a barrier that prevents water from evaporating.
Dehydrated skin reveals itself through dry skin, itchy skin, and/or an uneven complexion. It is not the same as having naturally dry skin. Dry skin is caused by a lack of natural oils. Dehydrated skin is caused from a lack of water and is more of a concern that should be addressed by a dermatologist.
Urine Color – Urine color can be assessed and compared with the urine color chart (as seen to the right). This is the easiest measure of hydration for most people because it is easy to assess and does not need additional equipment to do so. The higher the number or darker the color the greater degree of dehydration.
Signs of Dry Skin Around Eyes
The signs are pretty easy to spot. If you have fine lines and wrinkles that are more noticeable or pronounced, or if your skin is rough or dull, it's likely dehydrated.
Dehydration lines are faint, surface-level lines that can appear on your skin when it is lacking moisture. Commonly found around the eyes and on the lips and forehead, dehydration lines are your skin's response to insufficient water intake.
Oils, such as coconut oil, olive oil, or avocado oil are great to put right on your skin to keep it moist and wrinkle-free. Mixing vitamin E or vitamin C in the oil can make it even better for your skin. Some people mix in a tiny bit of essential oil such as carrot seed, clary sage, jojoba, neroli, rose, and others.