Even though staying hydrated is essential for your overall health, it’s not clear how much of an impact it will have on your skin.
Some people say that drinking more water doesn’t help their skin, but others find that staying hydrated gives their skin a healthy glow. If you have acne, you might also find that drinking enough water each day keeps your skin clear.
Still, staying hydrated will help rid the body of toxins in the body and skin. This will go a long way to keeping you looking and feeling great. To find out for yourself, try drinking more fluids for a few weeks to see if it helps your skin.
Causes of Skin Dehydration
Your skin has three layers: an outer epidermis, a middle dermis and the innermost subcutaneous tissue. When the outermost layer loses too much water, your skin feels rough and becomes less elastic.
Some factors can dehydrate your skin directly, even if your body has enough fluids. These include:
- Aging, which leads to a decrease in the skin’s lipids that hold in moisture.
- Excess exposure to sun, cold winds, dry air, or hot or cold air from heaters or air conditioners. These can lead to the loss of too much water from the skin.
- Exposure to hot or chlorinated water, harsh soaps or products containing alcohol.
- A diet too low in essential fatty acids, which are needed lock in the skin’s moisture.
Causes of Body Dehydration
One of the causes of dehydration is not taking in enough water, either as water or in water-rich foods. You can also become dehydrated by losing water faster than you replenish it, as happens with:
- Exercise, heat exposure or fever
- Diarrhea or vomiting
- Excess urination due to infection, diabetes or other medical conditions
- Severe skin injuries such as burns or cuts
- Overuse of alcohol or certain medications such as nasal decongestants
Ways to Keep Your Skin Hydrated
Drinking plenty of fluids will help keep your body hydrated. You can also get lots of water just by eating fresh fruits and vegetables. You should also avoid things that cause you to lose excess water like too much alcohol or caffeine. If you think one of your medications may be causing you to urinate too often, talk to your doctor.
To keep your skin hydrated, though, you can take a more direct approach by:
- Avoiding exposure to dry air or too much sun.
- Use gentles soaps, cleansers and household cleaners.
- Moisturize right after you shower, bathe or wash your hands.
- Use a humidifier if your home or work is dry.
- Cover up exposed skin when going out in cold weather.
To help keep your skin looking its best, book your next skin care appointment today.