Are You Drowning Your Skin in False Hope?

We’ve all heard the 8x8 rule before:

Eight 8oz glasses of water a day to keep your body hydrated and healthy.

But what if our water intake is like shopping for bathing suits and one size doesn’t fit all?

Many have argued that drinking more water promotes healthy and radiant skin while others have disagreed stating there is no direct relationship between your daily water intake and your skin’s health.

Who is right?

We know that our skin is mostly constructed of water and protein, so it would make sense for water to aid our skin’s health. In fact, without water, our bodies would be dehydrated, causing our cells to function poorly which would lead to dry, flaky skin.

A study performed by the University of Madison Wisconsin found that, “If your skin is not getting the sufficient amount of water, the lack of hydration will present itself by turning your skin dry, tight and flaky. Dry skin has less resilience and is more prone to wrinkling.”

Dehydration causes wrinkles?!

Technically yes, but before you make a run to the sink to down a glass of water, there are other ways you can hydrate your skin without drinking excessive amounts of aqua.

“Apply a hydrating moisturizer within two minutes of leaving the bath or shower.” This is the golden window of opportunity when your skin is still vulnerable to moisture. By applying a moisturizer in this short window, your skin will have a better chance to absorb all of the nutrients, allowing it to be hydrated from the inside out.

In addition to moisturizing, you can also add hyaluronic acid to your skin as a primer. Don’t let the word “acid” scare you away from this as it holds, “1,000 times its own weight in water, thus attracting water to the skin and holding it there.”

At the end of the day, drinking water is always a good thing. Your body needs water to survive and function properly. Studies will continue to be done on how much water you should be drinking and whether or not it promotes skin healthy.

The important thing to remember is that you can keep your skin hydrated in many ways, drinking water being one of them.

I try to drink at least three 16.9oz bottles of water a day to stay hydrated and feeling good. I also make sure I’m lathering on my moisturizers after my shower, starting with my face and moving to my body. After all, its the little things that make the difference right? 

Special thanks to my friends at UMW!
http://www.uwhealth.org/madison-plastic-surgery/the-benefits-of-drinking-water-for-your-skin/26334