Does Drinking Water Actually Hydrate Dry Skin?

Many people, including certain celebrities who will not be named here, often claim that the secret to pore free skin lies in drinking large amounts of water. Don't get me wrong, there are many reasons to drink H2O. Don't get me wrong, there are many reasons to drink H2O. It's refreshing, helps your brain function, maintains energy levels, regulates body temperature, aids digestion, and ultimately keeps your body healthy. (I couldn't survive more than a few days without taking a sip.) But is keeping your skin hydrated one of them?

According to dermatologists, drinking water is inadequate when it comes to skin hydration. Hydration is absolutely essential for our bodies to function properly, but oral rehydration therapy is not directly related to skin hydration.

"'It's a complete myth that you should drink a lot of water to maintain hydrated skin,' says Joshua Zeichner, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist in New York City. 'Water, first and foremost, enters the bloodstream and is filtered by the kidneys. There is no data to show that drinking more or less water is linked to skin quality. (In fact, there's even evidence that shows you shouldn't drink more than eight glasses of water a day.

However, it is true that your skin does get "thirsty". Like the rest of our body, the skin is made up of cells, and cells are primarily made up of water. Cells lose water throughout the day through physical activity, environmental pollution, and just general life. This can lead to a flaky, dry texture, making your skin prone to fine lines, aging, and other skin conditions.

"Moisture retention in your skin is a function of TEWL, or transepidermal water loss," explains skin expert Charlotte Palermino. "If your skin is dry, your barrier may be weak or compromised. This means that there is not enough oil or lipid in the skin to hold the water that you have. At that point, moisture will not be replenished in your skin. That's why you need a cream."

"The solution is topical, not internal," Dr. Zeichner agrees. "Applying a moisturizer is a much more effective way to deal with dry skin than drinking water." Stick to the essential steps of skin care, which dermatologists say are cleansing and moisturizing (like the brand Marin + Goetz, which has made an entire line dedicated to a two-step routine).

Practice healthy hydration.

When it comes to choosing a moisturizer , the three key ingredients to look for are stearic acid (fatty acid), skin softener ceramide, and cholesterol. Yes, cholesterol. "When applied topically, it doesn't affect the body's cholesterol levels," says Leslie Bauman, M.D., a professor of dermatology at the University of Miami in Florida. (In fact, if you're taking cholesterol-lowering drugs that can cause skin dryness, an ingredient-rich cream may help.

To help lock in moisture, it is recommended to apply moisturizing creams when the skin is slightly wet, especially after a shower. If your skin needs help with hydration, go beyond moisturizers and use a targeted serum .

Having said that, your body (and your skin) still needs water to function properly. "Extreme dehydration can severely affect our heart and kidney function, so maintaining proper hydration is important for our general health," says Dr. Zeichner.

Minimizing exposure to depleting elements such as low humidity, high winds, dry heat, high altitude, sun, alcohol, long baths, and avoiding soap stripping can also prevent loss of natural oils. "Diet also plays a role in strengthening the skin's ability to retain moisture," Dr. Bauman adds. Foods rich in essential fatty acids, such as walnuts, flaxseeds, salmon, and olive oil, can help hydrate skin cells.

A study by the German Institute for Experimental Dermatology also found that women who took flaxseed or ruridisa oil supplements (2.2 grams per day) for 12 weeks had a significant increase in skin moisture and a decrease in roughness. Dr. Baumann says that a healthy diet containing three to five servings of fatty acids per week is sufficient.

In short, dry skin is the result of both genetic and environmental factors that cannot be solved by oral rehydration alone. Perfecting skin hydration depends on drinking water plus many other factors that work together to ensure that the rest of the body functions well.

A dermatologist in the San Francisco Bay Area, who writes prescriptions for changes to your skin , says it best: 'Humans are not like plants. Our consumption of water does not energize our skin." A quart size lotion does far more for the skin than drinking a gallon.