Dehydration & Dryness — Your Complete Guide
Understanding Dehydration & Dryness
Key clinical terms: transepidermal water loss, compromised barrier, xerosis.
How people describe it: dryness, tightness, flakiness, dull skin, rough patches.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Dehydration (TEWL)?
Product strategy: humectants (HA, glycerin), hydrating toners. Signals: tightness after cleansing, dull appearance, fine dehydration lines. CAUTION: humectant-only in low-humidity environments can paradoxically increase TEWL.
What is Dryness (Xerosis)?
Product strategy: occlusives, emollients, facial oils. Signals: persistent flakiness, rough patches, no improvement with water-based products. Different mechanism from dehydration — different product recommendations.
