Dehydration

DRY/DEHYDRATED SKIN     

    Dehydrated skin is often regarded as dry skin. However, these are two different conditions. Dehydrated skin means your skin is lacking water. It can be dry and itchy, under-eye circles, sunken eyes and/or more noticeable fine lines.   Severely dehydrated skin symptoms may include dizziness, dry mouth, light-headedness and/or weakness. While dehydrated skin can be a nuisance, its relatively easy to treat with the right lifestyle changes. Oral hydration is a must because its adding water into the complexion from the inside. You can also incorporate water-rich foods into your diet, such as watermelon, strawberries, cucumber and celery.

        

         In dry skin, on the other hand, water isn’t the problem. Dry skin is a skin type, like oily or combination skin, where the complexion lacks oils, or lipids, so it takes on a more flaky, dry appearance. You may also see the skin having a scaly appearance, redness or irritation and an increased incidence of psoriasis, eczema or dermatitis. The changing seasons can play havoc on the skin. Colder temperatures, harsh winds, central heating and dry air reduce the Natural Moisturising Factors (NMF’s) in the skin leading to dryness, roughness and flakiness. In addition to exacerbating dry skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis, moving from centrally heated environments into the biting cold can cause broken capillaries and make rosacea worse.   

      

    Another factor to consider is your age. Oestrogen and progesterone levels decline in women as you get older causing the skin to become drier. A recent study found levels of fatty acids, in particular ceramides, decreased significantly with age and are dramatically depleted in winter compared with spring and summer. It helps significantly to address this problem internally with supplements as well as topically.   

  SAFEGUARD WITH FATTY ACIDS                                                               When the winter turns colder it’s often tempting to reach for carbohydrate rich, sugary comfort foods. Instead, increase the healthy fats in your diet such as nuts, seeds, oily fish and avocadoes, and include an omega oil supplement such as Skin Omegas+ available in our Shop to safeguard essential fatty acid levels.    Research suggests the fatty acids in fish oil can improve skin barrier function, inhibit UV induced inflammation and reduce dry skin. Skin Omegas+ synergises omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids with vitamin A to create a specialised, sustainable skin-glowing formula. Skin Omegas+ carefully calibrates EPA and DHA from fish oil, GLA from evening primrose oil and vitamin A for notable benefits to hydration, skin smoothness and wrinkle depth.  

                          

TURN DOWN THE MOISTURE                                                                                A common misconception is to swtich to a richer ‘winter moisturiser’ but in fact this can exacerbate dry skin conditions. This might seem counter-intuitive, because when suffering from dryness the first instinct is to reach for a heavier cream. In fact this can have disastrous effects on skin hydration levels in the long term, as rich creams ‘fool’ the skin to stop the natural moisturising process. The answer is to use the correct moisturiser and correct with boosters.               The balance of NMF’s in the skin is upset when you use product that are too heavy and rich. Everybody loves the feeling of a smooth, scented creamy product on their skin, but the negative effect of these creams becomes apparent when you stop using them, your skin will become dry. These products only treat the outer layers of the skin and the lower layers are virtually depleted of Natural Moisturising factors (NMF’s). 

       

      Vitamin A based creams such as Environ Skin EssentiaA or Youth EssentiaA Moisturisers which contain active levels of vitamin A can enhance production of ceramides and keratins to keep the skin moisturised at the correct level. The nutrients increase the production of moisturising factors which help to enrich the space in between skin cells with water and therefore boost hydration levels. “The balance of Natural Moisturising Factors (NMF’s) in the skin is upset when people use rich creamy products”, says Environ founder Dr Des Fernandes.    

STOP THE SCRUB                                                                                                 It may be tempting to remove a dull, dry layer of skin, but be cautious with that granular scrub or micro-dermabrasion kit. With exfoliation we remove the skin’s fine protective layer and water can easily escape. This results in the system becoming stressed by trying to restore the Natural Moisturising Factors, or maybe even to increase them to beyond normal levels to try and make up for the water that is been lost through the damaged and vulnerable stratum corneum (outer layer of the skin). A safer alternative is to use exfoliators with Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs) which are much kinder to the skins protective layer. Gently dissolving the ‘glue’ between the cells, without the need for harsh scrubbing or compromising the integrity of the epidermis. A perfect antidote to help improve the skins texture and appearance is Environ’s Focus Care Moisture+ Alpha Hydroxy Night Cream which smooths and refines the skin surface or Derma-Lac lotion which contains sodium lactate to boost hydration levels – a few drops can be added to your vitamin A cream or A, C & E Body oil.

  CLEANSE WITH CARE                                                                               Another simple and effective way to improve dry skin is to adjust your cleansing routine. Your skin is extremely delicate, so it is very easily damaged by soaps and cleansers which contain harsh chemicals. Oil based cleansers such as the Mild Cleansing lotion and Hydra-Intense Cleansing Lotion. These are far kinder to the skin as they do not strip the skin of its natural lipids. The Treatments available in the salon include:                                                                  ESSENTIAL MOISTURE BOOST Environ’s pioneering dual electro-sonic technology sets the benchmark for professional skincare treatments. Low frequency sonophoresis together with pulsed iontophoresis in combination with Environ’s professional skin care products, help deliver more of what the skin needs where it needs it most – making a lasting difference to your skin. The Essential Moisture Boost facial helps reduce the appearance of fine lines caused by dehydration and increase the plumpness of the deeper layers of skin. Hyaluronic acid is the hero ingredient, promoting a moisturised, glowing looking skin.                                                                                                            FOCUS-ON EYE treatment Combining Environ’s powerful peptide complexes with Hyaluronic Acid, ensures a completely refreshed, hydrated and youthful appearance. Environ Cool Peel Treatments Environ’s unique Cool Peel Technology is a non-invasive, intelligent skin renewal system developed by Dr Des Fernandes, to safely and effectively help refine, revive and brighten skin.            YOUTH RENEW COOL PEEL This cool peel treatment assists with reducing the appearance of premature ageing, fine lines, sun-damage and an uneven skin complexion. Discover the power of an intelligent skin peel that will leave the skin looking refreshed and vibrantly youthful.                                                   MOISTURE BOOST COOL PEEL Designed to gently buff the skin’s surface and focus on revitalising dry, tired-looking skin, revealing a healthy-looking glow. This gentle yet effective peel is suitable to do all year round with no visible peeling.          LED LIGHT THERAPY  This treatment is a safe, clinically proven and very effective in treating a wide range of skin concerns. You can enjoy this treatment on its own or it can be combined with other facials to suit your skins needs. The Red light is very effective for treating dull dry skin. The light travels into the dermal layer of the skin to revitalise and rejuvenate the skins cells making them ‘work’ better. Courses of treatments offer lasting results stimulating the skins natural cell renewal to promote healthy, younger looking skin.