You might be making unintentional mistakes that lead to dehydrated skin and signs of aging. What are they, and what can you do to stop making them? Read here to find out, along with anti-aging treatment to combat aging skin.
Our skin shows signs of aging for a number of reasons – hormone imbalances, the natural aging process, sun damage, and so on. The last thing we want to do is exacerbate the appearance of aging skin by actions that, often unbeknownst to us, make us look older than we are. Fortunately, with an increase in awareness and taking steps to avoid certain mistakes you might be making that age and dehydrate the skin, you can improve and enhance your skin’s appearance.
So what are some of the dreaded mistakes you might be making that lead to dehydrated skin, and what are some treatment options to help you combat the appearance of aging skin?
We turn to expert Aesthetician Krys Givens for answers.
Why dehydrated skin ages you
You might not realize it, but dehydrated skin can make you appear older than you are and accelerate the aging process. Who wants either of those?!?
When our skin lacks water, it can appear dull, dry, and flaky. Dehydration can even cause fine lines and wrinkles to appear. All of these can lead to us to appear older than we are. Additional signs of dehydration include:
- Dark circles under the eyes
- Itching
- Inflammation
- Breakouts
- Redness
- Dry lips
- Increased sensitivity
In the following sections, Givens shares the top mistakes we make that can age and dehydrate our skin, with solutions, as well as anti aging treatments that can help rejuvenate and repair the skin.
Mistakes that age and dehydrate your skin
Here are the top five most common mistakes Givens sees people make that age and dehydrate the skin.
1. Over or under exfoliating or using the incorrect product or devices for exfoliation
“Over exfoliation compromises the skin barrier, or fatty acid mantle, leading to dry, irritated, sensitive skin, and even sometimes, dermatitis,” shares Givens, “Under exfoliation, particularly in aging or dry skin, causes an accumulation of dead skin cells which lead to dullness and slowed skin cell renewal.”
The solution:
Givens suggests avoiding products containing rough beads or bristles, which can be harsh on the skin. These products also strip away the fatty acid mantle and the skin’s delicate microbiome.
To exfoliate properly, use a gentle exfoliator a couple of times a week, like SkinMedica’s AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser, and try the DiamondGlow treatment, mentioned below. As we’ll repeat within this post, it’s also best to work with an aesthetician or skin care professional to provide skin treatment and planning guidance.
2. Under hydrating the skin
“Not using a moisturizer, or more commonly, using the incorrect product for your specific skin type and needs, can lead to dehydrated skin and aging.”
Givens points out that our skin’s needs can change with the change of seasons each quarter, as well as through different seasons in life. Changes in climate and not utilizing the right products to accommodate these variations can lead to dry, irritated, flushed, aging skin.
The solution:
Adjust the skin care products you use to align with the changing seasons throughout the year, as well as the season of life you’re in (20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, post-menopausal, and so on). A skin care specialist can support you in navigating the best products for your demographic and skin type.
3. Not properly preparing for climate changes while traveling and overexposure to elemental conditions
According to Givens, exposure to the sun, wind, cold, and even hot water while cleansing or in the shower can lead to dehydrated skin.
Additionally, traveling to places with a much different outdoor atmosphere than where you live can also negatively impact the skin.
“Traveling, in general, can lead to drier skin,” shares Givens, “Often, people don’t hydrate well when traveling to avoid trips to the bathroom, for one. Also, individuals will use their general skin care regimen without taking into consideration adjustments for the climate they will be in while traveling.”
The solution:
Protect your skin from the elements with items like proper clothing and sunscreen. When traveling, adjust your skin care regimen to support the destination climate, and be sure to remain hydrated throughout your travels.
4. Using products with irritating skin care ingredients
Though you might not think ingredients matter in terms of what you use on your face vs. the rest of your body, this isn’t the case.
Per Givens, bar soaps not made for the face can irritate the skin. This is because certain surfactants are more harsh on the skin than others, and these surfactants are often found in soaps vs. facial cleansers. Alcohols, fragrances, and parabens are also common ingredients that can irritate the skin.
Another consideration in terms of skin care ingredients is acids – overusing acids or using the incorrect acids and acid strength for your skin condition can be irritating and dehydrating to the skin.
The solution:
Read labels and avoid the above-mentioned ingredients in your skin care products. Also, ensure you’re only using products that support your skin condition and type. When in doubt, consult a professional MedSpa or dermatological clinic provider.
5. Under consuming hydrating beverages and foods
When we don’t consume enough water from our liquid and food intake, dehydration tends to follow, impacting our body as a whole, including our skin.
The solution:
“It’s important to drink plenty of water and eat hydrating foods, like certain fruits & vegetables and their juices. Eating foods with healthy fatty acids, such as fish, flaxseed, and eggs, is also important. Conversely, avoid overconsuming foods and beverages that can be dehydrating to skin and body, like caffeine, alcohol, and salty foods,” suggests Givens.
Anti aging treatments
Taking steps to avoid making the common mistakes above can make a huge difference in reversing and preventing hydration, which in turn impacts how your skin looks. In many instances, you’ll quickly see an improvement by doing what it takes to hydrate the skin.
Still, we can’t entirely stop the aging process. Some of us also have skin damage due to things like overexposure to the sun and environmental toxins throughout the years. Fortunately, thanks to advancements in cosmetic technology, we can help to hydrate the skin, repair the skin, and slow down the signs of aging with minimally invasive and noninvasive treatments.
The following treatments are some of Givens’s recommendations to help rejuvenate the skin.
Diamond Glow
DiamondGlow uses pro-medical grade serums that are infused into the skin. The serums are chosen based on the client’s concerns and skin condition.
The Diamond Glow helps with cell proliferation through gentle, but effective, exfoliation with a diamond tip. This exfoliation also helps skincare products better absorb into the living skin tissues once the dead skin, congestion, and debris are removed from the skin. As another added benefit, DiamondGlow also supports lymphatic drainage, helping to support the body’s detoxification pathways.
Sofwave
Sofwave stimulates collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid through the application of parallel ultrasound beams. It helps to reduce fine lines and wrinkles and tightens and lifts the eyebrows, neck, and submental.
Vivace RF Microneedling
RF microneedling stimulates collagen through a dual action mechanism of controlled micro injuries through micro-needle punctures, with radio frequency radiating from the very tip of the needles. This process causes coagulation of deeper skin tissues, thereby resulting in tissue regeneration.
Laser Resurfacing – CoolPeel and Halo
Lasers help regenerate tissue. CoolPeel does so by vaporizing skin and the Halo does some by deeply heating microchannels of tissues. Both of these processes incite an injury response by the skin to heal and renew the injured tissues, causing rejuvenation. Depending on the modality used, the procedure can help address sun damage, tone, fine lines, wrinkles, enlarged pores, acne scars, and skin laxity.
BBL (Broadband Light)
A Broadband Light Photofacial treatment helps even the tone of the skin, addressing superficial sun damage, broken capillaries, and redness. It also turns off aging genes, thereby turning on anti-aging genes.
A BBL treatment can be combined with either a CoolPeel or Halo resurfacing laser treatment for a well-rounded skin rejuvenation service!
Consistent use of professional-grade, scientific-based skincare
The use of scientific-based, medical-grade skincare, like SkinMedica, is vital.
“At-home care is just as important as following through with your personalized skin services plan,” Givens points out, “Consistently using medical grade skincare supports the rejuvenation process, helps to address specific skin concerns and conditions, and supports day-to-day skin health by continuing therapy at home.”
Here are just a few products to consider for different elements of your skincare routine to support and prevent dehydrated skin:
Cleansing and exfoliation options:
Face serum options:
- SkinMedica TNS Advance+ Serum
- Lumivive System
Skin moisturization and hydration options:
- SkinMedica HA5 Rejuvenating Hydrator
- SkinMedica Dermal Repair Cream
- Replenish Hydrating Cream
- TNS Ceramide Treatment Cream
Pro Tip: Apply your moisturizer after your face serum and before your sunscreen.
Sunscreen and SPF options (should be applied daily no matter what!):
- SkinMedica Essential Defense Mineral Tinted Sunscreen
- Essential Defense Mineral Sunscreen
- Essential Clear Defense Sunscreen
- Total Defense+ Repair Tinted Sunscreen
Lip treatment options:
- SkinMedica HA5 Smooth & Plump Lip System Duo
Eye treatment options:
Retinol options for cell turnover (should only be used at night):
Additional anti-aging options:
Schedule a skincare consultation
When in doubt about what products and skin care treatments are best for your skin, consider scheduling a skincare consultation with your local MedSpa or Dermatology Clinic. Your local provider can also provide a skin assessment to help identify the primary skin concerns that might need to be addressed, including dehydration, and provide you with an individualized treatment plan to address those concerns!
You can book a skin consultation 24/7 with DermaTouch RN!
Krys Givens, MA
AESTHETICIAN
Krys is a Medical Aesthetician with a long-standing passion for the beauty and wellness industry. She is a lifelong learner and is driven by the opportunity to help patients achieve their best and most confident self through proven aesthetic applications. She works with each patient, individually, to help them achieve their personal aesthetic needs and goals through attentive communication and patient education.
DermaTouch RN offers minimally invasive and non-invasive treatments for men and women in Houston, San Antonio, Spring and Cypress, as well as the surrounding areas of Texas. We are the largest aesthetic practice in the Houston area, and all of our medical spa treatments are performed by a team of nurse practitioners, registered nurses, and aestheticians who receive continuing education to remain abreast of emerging treatments that benefit our patients. We invite you to learn more about our office before your consultation.
