Dehydrated Skin: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment, And More

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Medical News TodaySubscribeWhat to know about dehydrated skin

Medically reviewed by Sara Perkins, MD — Written by Amanda Barrell — Updated on November 15, 2023

Need for water
Dry vs. dehydrated skin
Symptoms
Causes
Treatment
Prevention
Contacting a doctor
Summary

Dehydrated skin is a symptom of dehydration throughout the body. It can result in patches of rough, scaly, or itchy skin.

In this article, we look at the common symptoms and causes of dehydrated skin. We also outline treatments and suggest when to seek guidance from a healthcare professional.

Why the body needs water

A man wearing glasses checking his cheek in the mirror for signs of dehydrated skin. — Pablo Calvo/Getty Images

The human body is 55–65% water. Every cell, tissue, and organ within the human body needs water to function properly.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the body needs water to:

sweat to prevent overheating
avoid constipation
lubricate and cushion joints
protect the spinal cord
protect sensitive tissues
remove waste from the body via urination and bowel movements

The body is using up water constantly. People need to replace the water they lose by drinking water and other fluids.

If people use more water than they take in, they can become dehydrated. Dehydration can affect all parts of the body, including the skin.

Dry vs. dehydrated skin

Dry skin and dehydrated skin are similar. However, although they can look the same, they are due to different factors.

When dry skin occurs, it means that the skin is not producing enough natural oils it needs to maintain itself. This can happen for a few reasons.

A person may have a skin condition, such as dermatitis or eczema. Frequent washing can also cause dry skin by stripping the oils present in the skin. Additionally, some people naturally have drier skin than others.

By contrast, dehydrated skin is a result of insufficient consumption of water.

Examining the other symptoms a person is experiencing can help healthcare professionals tell the difference between dry and dehydrated skin.

Symptoms

Mild dehydration is common. One of the symptoms of dehydration is dry skin patches.

The patches might be rough, scaly, or itchy. People may also have more noticeable fine lines in the skin or a dull complexion. They may also find that their skin is less elastic, or stretchy, than usual.

Dehydration in adults

In adults, other symptoms of dehydration include:

thirst
dry lips
dry mouth
urinating less than usual
sweating less than usual
tiredness
dizziness
sunken eyes
dark urine with a strong smell

Dehydration in infants, toddlers, and children

Symptoms of dehydration in infants, toddlers, and children can include:

dry mouth
dry tongue
not producing tears when crying
high fever
unusual sleepiness or drowsiness
irritability
sunken eyes
dark, strong-smelling urine

Causes

A person becomes dehydrated when they use or lose more water than they take in.

Common causes

There are numerous causes of dehydration, including:

not drinking enough water
sweating too much
losing fluids through diarrhea or vomiting
having a fever
having a sunburn

It is worth noting that some people are at higher risk of dehydration than others.

People often lose their sense of thirst as they age. This means that some older adults do not drink enough water or other fluids.

Infants, toddlers, and children can also be more at risk. This is because they are more likely to experience diarrhea and vomiting than adults.

Certain health conditions

Some health conditions can contribute to dehydration. For example, diabetes, cystic fibrosis, and kidney dysfunction can make people sweat or urinate more often.

Some medications

There are several medicines that can affect the balance of fluids in the body. Some of the medications that can contribute to dehydration are:

diuretics
laxatives
antacids
antihistamines
blood pressure drugs

Treatment

Treatment will depend on the severity of dehydration.

To treat mild dehydration, a person should drink lots of water. Drinking sports drinks that contain electrolytes may also help.

Children who are dehydrated might benefit from oral rehydration solutions. These are available to buy over the counter in most drug stores.

Severe cases of dehydration can be very dangerous. A doctor will treat severe dehydration in the hospital. Usually, healthcare professionals will give a person fluids via an intravenous drip.

Prevention

According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, to avoid dehydration, a person needs to:

drink plenty of water every day
drink plenty of water when exercising
avoid sugary and caffeinated drinks
drink more water in hot weather
drink more water when sick

When to contact a doctor

Mild cases of dehydration are common. People can treat themselves by drinking plenty of water.

However, sometimes dehydration can be very serious. It can lead to a drop in blood pressure and prevent major organs from working properly. Severe dehydration can affect the:

brain
heart
kidneys
immune system

Anyone who experiences mild symptoms of dehydration along with any of the following signs should seek emergency medical attention:

fainting
confusion
lack of urination
quick breathing
quick heartbeat

Summary

The body needs a constant supply of water to maintain itself and carry out essential physiological functions. If a person uses and loses more water than they take in, they will become dehydrated.

A common symptom of dehydration is dry skin. People might notice patches of rough, scaly, itchy skin. These might co-occur with some of the other symptoms of dehydration, such as thirst, tiredness, or dark urine.

Drinking plenty of water daily is the most effective treatment for mild cases of dehydration. Severe cases can be dangerous and need urgent medical attention.

Dermatology
Atopic Dermatitis / Eczema
Cat 1
skincare

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Consequences of dehydration. (2013).https://www.europeanhydrationinstitute.org/consequences_of_dehydration/
Dehydration. (2016).https://medlineplus.gov/dehydration.html
Dry skin: Signs and symptoms. (n.d.).https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/a-z/dry-skin-symptoms
Jawad, S. (2017). Medicines that affect fluid balance in the body.https://www.patientsafetyoxford.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Medicines-that-affect-fluid-balance-in-the-body-draft-SJ-v2.0.pdf
Skin care and aging. (2017).https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/skin-care-and-aging
Taylor, K., et al. (2020). Adult dehydration.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK555956/
Water and healthier drinks. (2021).https://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/healthy_eating/water-and-healthier-drinks.html

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Medically reviewed by Sara Perkins, MD — Written by Amanda Barrell — Updated on November 15, 2023

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