Dehydrated skin can be identified by poor elasticity, fine lines and visible open pores. This is especially apparent on the neck and around the eyes. When we hear the word 'dehydration', our immediate response is to drink lots of water. While dehydration does mean that our bodies need more water, drinking too much water is actually detrimental to our skin and can cause our skin to become dehydrated!

How our Skin Works

Our skin produces sebum, an oily, waxy substance used to keep our skin hydrated and soft. When we are dehydrated, our brain sends a signal to the sebaceous glands to produce more sebum to re-hydrate our skin.

When we drink enough water, our body stops sending signals to the sebaceous glands so that they no longer produce sebum as our brain is told that our body has enough hydration all over. However, if we keep drinking water, signals will not be sent to the sebaceous glands to produce sebum at all. Water is not enough to keep our skin hydrated as we need sebum to ensure our skin does not dehydrate and stay healthy.

Drinking too much water, therefore, can trick our brain into thinking that our skin is hydrated when in fact it is doing the opposite! It is vital that we achieve the right balance in how much water we drink so that our bodies and our skin can work at the optimum levels. The recommended daily intake of water is 2 litres. Sticking to this will ensure we do not drink too much water so that our skin becomes dehydrated.

If you are in a position where you have drank too much, or not enough, water for an extended period of time and you find that your skin is showing signs of dehydration, a great boost for your face is to try SkinAu's Hydrating Gel Mask. This mask replenishes the skin's lost oils and allows your face to repair and regain its natural hydration balance.