Skin may be dry or dehydrated. These are two very different conditions.
Dry skin is rough, reddish and has scales. There may be a sensation similar to itching or even pinching and pain. There are several levels of dryness: from the lightest, often due to external and environmental causes such as wind, cold, exposure to the sun, or the use of certain drugs; to the most severe level. The internal factors causing dryness are usually genetic, hormonal or related to certain pathologies.
Dehydrated skin is a type of skin lacking water reserves due to an alteration of the skin’s barrier function which may be of external origin or due to endogenous alteration.
Roughness and cracking can be solved with products that help restore the amount of water needed. Proper daily treatment using products specifically formulated for dryness and skin dehydration can help the skin stay healthy.