What is dry skin?Updated a year ago
Dry skin is skin that doesn’t produce much sebum; it’s as simple as that. Sebum is the oily blend of lipids produced by the sebaceous glands in human skin.
This oily substance has an important role in keeping the skin functioning well. Sebum helps to keep water inside the skin, acts as a lubricant to prevent friction, and even exhibits antioxidant and antibacterial effects, to prevent skin degradation, inflammation, and infection. That said, high sebum production also correlates with more clogged pores and acne.
Since dry skin doesn’t produce enough sebum, it’s more prone to dehydration and sensitivity, and over time, it may show faster signs of aging.
Note: We’re making a distinction between dry skin and dehydrated skin, which mostly comes from the skincare world. The American Academy of Dermatology often uses the term “dry skin” to also refer to dehydrated skin. It’s really easy and common for oily skin to become dehydrated, though, so we think communication is easier when we keep the distinction.