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The best online guide to the beauty & cosmetic industries.
Wrinkles Or Dehyration Lines?
What are dehydration lines?
Your skin loses up to half a pint of water a day so it’s hardly surprising that at times it can become dehydrated. Often one of the first places that dehydration can be seen is in the facial skin due to how thin and delicate the skin is in this area.
When you are dehydrated, you may start to see dehydration lines appear on the forehead, around the eyes, on the cheekbones and near the mouth. They are caused when your skin loses water at a faster rate than it is replaced.
Dehydration lines can affect anyone regardless of gender, age or skin type but if you see them don’t be alarmed as they are reversible.
How to tell the difference between wrinkles and dehydration lines
Most people start to panic when they begin to see any form of lines or wrinkles on the face. But before you do, it’s important to establish whether the lines are a result of the natural aging process or due to dehydration.
Firstly, dehydration lines are finer than age related wrinkles and are often seen in a variety of places all at once, where as wrinkles develop in different areas at different times. You may also experience a sudden loss of elasticity in the area where the lines have occurred which is also a sign of dehydration.
The skin surrounding the lines may also have changed too. The skin may have become sunken, flushed or red which is a result of a lack of moisture. The skin may also have become excessively dry or feel rough to tough. Often the skin is also tight and may cause a degree of discomfort which is not found in age related skin which often has a slacker appearance.
The skin may also become itchy and scaly or flaking may even occur which adds to the discomfort caused by skin dehydration.
Causes of dehydration lines
Dehydration lines can be caused by a number of different factors which may include:
- Not drinking enough water – this is probably the most common cause of dehydration lines which is purely a result of more water being lost than consumed.
- A hot climate – an increase in temperature can lead to dehydration as more water is required than normal to compensate for the extra water being lost.
- Prolonged sun exposure – this can cause the skin to dry out if water is not replenished.
- Air conditioning – many air conditioning units which are found in various public places can lead to skin dehydration as the air is very dry.
- Harsh soaps – some soaps and other products which are harsh or contain alcohol strip the skin of the natural oils that help it to retain water. Once this barrier is damaged, moisture is lost directly from the skin.
How to reduce dehydration lines
Dehydration lines are not permanent and can be reversed. There are a number of different ways of getting rid of them:
- Drink water – this may sound obvious but to re-hydrate the skin, you need to consume more water than you are losing. The guideline amount of water you should consume every day is seven to eight glasses which amounts to approximately one and a half litres.
- Use alcohol free products – you should ensure that any products that you use on your skin, and especially on your face, are mild and do not contain alcohol which strip the skin of the natural oils which binds moisture to it.
- Moisturise – moisturising is a way of getting moisture directly into the skin and should be done at least twice a day to compensate for any moisture lost. Always ensure that moisturiser is fully absorbed before applying makeup to the face.
- Night creams – these are often much richer than day time moisturisers and work whilst you sleep to add hydration to the skin. It’s best to find a cream than contains ingredients that bind moisture to the skin instead of just moisturising as these hydrate the skin for longer.
- Use sunscreen – use a sunscreen on your face every day to ensure it is protected from UVA and UVB rays which can not only dehydrate the skin but also cause premature ageing.
- Avoid fatty foods and sugar – both of these can cause skin dehydration so by avoiding them you are helping to keep your skin hydrated.
- Avoid smoking, alcohol and coffee – all of these cause dehydration so again by avoiding them you are helping to keep essential moisture in the skin.