At first blush, we think of hydrating and drying as opposites that are mutually exclusive. However, the truth is that both hydrating and dehydrating skin can do some damage. In fact, the bad news about dehydration is that it can cause permanent skin damage.

When dry skin is damaged, it is a sign that something is not working right with your skin, and the most likely culprit is dehydration. When your skin feels dried out, it often perceives its own moisture levels as being lacking. This in turn increases the amount of moisture that it loses every day.

The natural defenses of your skin will fight against this in the first instance by trying to keep fine lines from forming. Fine lines can actually cause the skin to bleed and leave you looking tired and aged, even if they haven’t appeared yet. However, dehydration has a way of turning these fine lines into deep wrinkles and sagging skin.

During the stages of dehydration your skin will also lose its natural glow. Dry skin is often less moisturized than is moisturized skin, and this leads to less protection from the elements. If you look at how people look when their skin is dehydrated, you will notice that the skin becomes so thick and puffy, and tends to sag and move with the body instead of holding itself up like it used to.

Even dry skin can be dehydrated. The difficulty comes in dealing with the level of dryness that is present during the very early stages of dehydration. The dehydrated skin is often far drier than the moisturized skin, but the area around the eyes is especially susceptible.

In order to prevent the appearance of uneven tone and skin, it is important to have a proper balance of hydrating and dehydrating. Taking care of your skin at the right time is the first step towards prevention.

You can do this by hydrating and drying your skin on a regular basis. When you use make-up, apply enough to your face to achieve the right moisture content. Using a toner after this routine is very important, because any excess oil that washes off will leave you with a more hydrated skin.

Always make sure to dry your skin in the right manner. Using a towel to blot away excess moisture is a good way to begin, or you can use a facial blusher to lightly mist the skin. Over time you will be able to rely on a combination of these simple steps to help you maintain the balance of hydration that your skin needs.