6 Ways to Hydrate Your Skin as Recommended by Dermatologist

Keeping your skin hydrated is essential to keeping it looking and feeling healthy. Regardless of your
skin type – dry skin, oily skin, or a combination of both, ensuring your skin has enough moisture helps
you fight wrinkles, flush out toxins, and achieve a glowing complexion. If your skin is dehydrated, it
can appear flaky, dull, and dry.

While drinking an adequate amount of water is essential to hydrating your skin and body, there are
several other tips and tricks you can add to your everyday routine to help your skin look its best.
Here are 6 simple ways to keep your skin hydrated and achieve that natural, radiant complexion
you’re after:

1. Use a Gentle, Non-Fragrant Wash

The chemicals used to make facial or body washes fragrant can cause a sensitizing reaction on your
skin regardless of your skin type. Steer clear and be cautious of products that contain sulfates,
alcohol, preservatives, dyes, and/or fragrances. Daily usage of such products can potentially damage
your skin and eventually lead to serious skin problems in the future. To avoid such problems, use gentle,
fragrance-free washes for your face and body.

2. Avoid Overwashing

Overwashing your face can be just as harmful as not doing it at all. When you’re washing your skin,
you want to remove excess oil, dirt, pollution, and makeup without destroying your skin barrier
function. Overwashing your face could destroy your skin barrier function, allowing bacteria to enter
and cause breakouts, redness, and irritation to your skin.

A just-right washing routine is important for everyone – twice per day, in the morning and before
bedtime. It is a good practice to go to bed every night with clean skin, by removing everything that
has accumulated during the day.

3. Avoid Long, Hot Showers

As relaxing as they can be, hot showers can inflame the skin, causing redness, itching, and even
peeling – similar to a sunburn. This can disrupt the skin’s natural balance of moisture, stripping your
skin of its natural oils, fats, and proteins that keep skin healthy.

To keep your skin healthy and hydrated, go for cooler or lukewarm showers and keep your bathing
routines short (no longer than 15 minutes).

4. Moisturize Within 3 Minutes Post-Shower

One of the best times to apply moisturizer is directly after showering. This is because your skin has
the most moisture when it’s wet and most moisturizers work best when the skin is hydrated.
Furthermore, water evaporates off your skin quickly after a shower – leaving your skin feeling dry.
Dry skin can become itchy and uncomfortable over time.

Hence, apply moisturizer immediately after a shower when your skin is still slightly damp for the best
results.

5. Use a Non-Fragrant Moisturizer

Similar to washes with fragrance, scented moisturizers can also irritate your skin and cause allergic
reactions.

Hence, it is best to avoid them and go fragrance-free!

6. Consult Your Dermatologist When In Doubt

Dehydrated skin isn’t usually a serious condition. However, if your skin’s overall health doesn’t
improve even after several attempts, and if you experience any of the below symptoms, consult a
Dermatologist immediately.

These symptoms include:

• White flakes
• Red patches
• Itchy, irritated skin
• Inflammation
• If dry patches continue to spread on your body/face

Conclusion

There is no overnight fix to achieve healthier, more hydrated skin. Taking good care of your skin is
important as it not only improves your appearance but it also helps your skin better perform its
function of protecting our bodies from harmful elements. Not to worry – with these 6 expert tips to
hydrate your skin, you’ll be well on your way to healthier, glowing skin!