Skin Hydration

Stratum corneum hydration depends on the lipid barrier — ceramides, cholesterol and free fatty acids — plus natural moisturising factor within corneocytes. Transepidermal water loss rises when this barrier is disrupted by harsh surfactants, hot water, low humidity or conditions such as atopic dermatitis, where filaggrin mutations impair natural moisturising factor production. Drinking extra water does not raise skin hydration in people who are already adequately hydrated, a persistent myth. Persistent dryness with itch, cracking or bleeding warrants dermatological assessment.

1) Apply a ceramide-containing moisturiser to damp skin within three minutes of washing, which traps water rather than merely coating the surface. 2) Use lukewarm rather than hot water and limit shower duration. 3) Switch to a gentle, pH-balanced, non-foaming cleanser and avoid sulphate-heavy products. 4) Maintain indoor humidity at 40-60%, especially with central heating. 5) Look for humectants such as glycerin and hyaluronic acid combined with occlusives — humectants alone can worsen dryness in low humidity. 6) Consider oral hyaluronic acid or collagen peptides, which have modest supportive trial data. 7) Ensure adequate essential fatty acid intake for barrier lipid synthesis. 8) Do not rely on drinking more water; beyond adequate hydration it does not improve skin moisture.

• •Moisturising damp skin promptly
• •Lukewarm short showers
• •Gentle pH-balanced cleansers
• •Indoor humidity 40-60%
• •Adequate essential fatty acids
• •Avoiding harsh surfactants