Proper Hydration: Drink Your Way To Healthier Skin
Consuming an appropriate amount of water is critical to the body as it helps maintain proper blood circulation while also aiding in the digestion process and the excretion of toxins from the body. In addition to these bodily functions, drinking water is associated with providing younger, radiant and healthy looking skin. But can you really drink your way to healthy looking and feeling skin?
The skin is the body’s largest organ. It is composed of millions of cells which in turn are primarily comprised of water. These skin cells will not perform their best unless a proper level of water is maintained. Specifically, lacking hydration turns the skin dry, tight, and flaky. Dry skin is more prone to forming lines and wrinkles.
Each day large quantities of water are naturally lost from the body. In order to maintain proper hydration this water must be replaced. So drinking a high quantity is good for overall skin health. However, it might not be enough.
It takes a long period of time for the consumed water to have an effect on the skin. Ingested water goes through the intestines before being absorbed into the bloodstream and filtered by the kidneys. The resulting hydration hits all other interior cells (including primary organs) before finally reaching the skin. In order to ensure proper hydration of the skin we recommend our patients taking a multi-faceted approach:
- Focus on increasing your long-term intake of water. Drink at least 8 eight ounce glasses over the course of a day (more if you undertake physical activities). Realize that you cannot immediately boost your hydration. However, with consistent water consumption over time, you will raise your overall hydration level.
- Use a hydrating moisturizer daily, especially right after a bath or shower as this allows for the best absorption since the skin is still porous. Moisturizers add instant hydration while also forming a protective barrier that helps the skin retain moisture.
- Use a product that contains hyaluronic acid prior to applying the moisturizer. Hyaluronic acid holds up to 1,000 times its own weight in water, thus it works to attract and hold water within the skin.
Many people find that by increasing their overall level of hydration their skin becomes clearer and develops a radiant glow. Proper hydration, however, requires a long-term approach and will not happen overnight. After a couple of weeks of increasing your water intake and regularly using a moisturizer and hyaluronic acid you will notice a positive effect on your skin.
You need to remember to use a heavier hydration product during the winter months or dryer climate like snow skiing, or if you travel a lot on airplanes. Your body will need something that is thicker. In the summer time or in high humidity climates you can start using a lighter moisturizer. Your moisturizers should be changed according to the seasons and relative climates that you are encountering.
Kelly Wala is a Registered Nurse with a Baccalaureate Degree of Science in Nursing from Eastern Kentucky University. As an Aesthetic Nurse Specialist for the past 10 years Kelly specialized in a full complement of non-surgical aesthetic services such as facial injectables, laser and light therapy, body contouring, and skin care. Kelly was the first in Texas to perform the Injectable Threadlift. Kelly is a Faculty trainer for Allergan Facial Aesthetics and Coolsculpting as well as a Faculty trainer for Galderma Facial Aesthetics and Sculptra. Aesthetics
[…] resistance to the effects of aging. Dry skin is more prone to forming wrinkle and lines, so staying properly hydrated will ensure that your skin looks and feels its […]