Overuse, and even overzealous regular use, of facial cleansers and skin products like scrubs, deep cleansers, and peels that contain harsh chemicals or alcohol can seriously dry out your skin. And remember, the skin beneath your eyes is thinner and more sensitive, so it's much more vulnerable to irritation.
When your body is dehydrated, layers of tissue become less plump. The skin around your eyes is already thinner than other parts of the body, so any reduction in plumpness is visible relatively quickly. As a result, dehydration can cause your eye area to appear darker, discolored, sunken, or hollow.
Dehydrated skin means that your skin is lacking water. It can be dry and itchy and perhaps dull looking, too. Your overall tone and complexion may appear uneven, and fine lines are more noticeable. While dehydrated skin can be a nuisance, it's relatively easy to treat with the right lifestyle changes.
Identifying Dehydrated Skin Versus Dry Skin
Dehydrated skin will also feel tight and appear duller than usual, he adds. You may also notice more exaggerated wrinkles or ones in places you don't remember having them, along with deeper dark circles.
While making any long-term changes to your skin takes time, you can start to repair your moisture barrier and notice a serious boost in hydration to the skin in just a few days. In fact, you can change hydration levels in the skin in just 24 hours .
Dark Under-Eye Circles
These dark circles have a few common causes, one of them being not enough hydration. Dehydration can cause the skin under your eyes to look dull and your eyes to look sunken. The lack of water means you aren't getting the proper circulation in your blood vessels, causing discoloration.
Although alcohol is a liquid, it dehydrates the body. When you are dehydrated, the skin under your eyes becomes flabby and weak, causing bags to form.
If you are experiencing irritation, excess watering, blurred vision, or have the feeling of a foreign body in the eye, it may be the result of dry eyes from dehydration. Rehydrating by drinking plenty of water is one of the best treatments for dry eyes.
According to the Mayo Clinic, as you get older, your skin decreases its production of natural oils, which dries out your skin. The skin around your eyes is naturally thinner than the rest of your skin and, in turn, it's more prone to visible signs of aging like dryness, dark circles, and fine lines and wrinkles.
The answer is yes. As long as it doesn't irritate your eyes and provides a sufficient amount of moisture, you're good. Keep in mind, however, that since the skin is thin around your eyes, it can be sensitive to regular face cream.
There are numerous underlying skin conditions which can cause dry skin around the eyes, including contact dermatitis, atopic dermatitis, blepharitis and rosacea. These vary in severity and treatment, depending on the condition. Atopic dermatitis on the eyelids is also referred to as eyelid dermatitis or eyelid eczema.
Dark circles under the eyes may be a sign of iron deficiency anemia . In those cases, an iron supplement may be helpful to normalize blood levels.
As you get older, the muscles and tissues that support your eyelids weaken. This means that your skin may begin to sag, including the fat that's usually around your eyes.
What Causes Bags Under the Eyes? Lack of eyelid fat, constricted blood vessels, and thin skin are some of the causes of bags under the eyes. These reasons are impacted by lack of sleep, stress, poor diet, smoking, fluid retention, allergies, and genetics. Bags under the eyes can be hereditary.
Avoid harsh skin care products. This isn't a time for rough exfoliating scrubs or cleansers that strip skin of moisture. Gentle products are best to help your skin look and feel hydrated and moisturized. Skip the use of exfoliating brushes or tools.
Hyaluronic acid is a powerhouse ingredient that plumps skin, minimizes fine lines and reduces signs of dehydration – but it has to be applied correctly to see its full potential. For best results, Vargas says hyaluronic acid serums should be applied to damp skin, as the hero hydrator pulls moisture from the air.
Derms Say “Moisturizer Layering” Is the Fastest Way to Hydrate Skin That's Dry All the Time. Using a moisturizer is the most important step in any dry skin routine. It delivers hydration, seals important natural oils into the skin, and strengthens the barrier so that it can better defend itself from the (harsh! cold!)
For starters, taking out the time to spritz on a facial mist during the day will nudge your hydration levels in the right direction, but there are limits on what it can realistically achieve. Dr Shetty says, “Face mists can hydrate, calm, soothe, repair the barrier function and act as a protector for the skin.
Dehydrated skin is always a temporary condition that can be reversed with appropriate products. It is an alteration in the superficial layer of the epidermis that lacks water. This lack of hydration disturbs the skin's barrier function and leads to discomfort.
While, unfortunately, Vaseline won't do much to help erase deep-set wrinkles or brighten dark circles, Sakar said the product can provide some of the same hydrating effects as your go-to eye cream — especially when it's paired with a moisturizing cream. "Vaseline is something that's called an occlusive," she said.