Are you drinking sufficient water every day? Regular water intake is not only essential for maintaining various body functions, but is also directly associated with your skin’s health.
Healthy and glowing skin needs both: a proper diet and plenty of water. In fact, experts believe that sufficient water consumption everyday can protect your skin from acne.
Hence, today we are going to find out how water benefits your skin and helps you control acne.
Highlights:
How Important Is It To Drink Water For Treating Acne?
Hydration is extremely important for your skin. Dehydration makes skin dry and flaky, and damages the skin’s protective barrier. Once the barrier is down, it becomes easier for germs, bacteria and pathogens to enter the skin.
Dehydrated skin also leads to an imbalance in the skin’s natural oils. Sometimes the sebaceous gland tries to compensate for the lack of water in your skin and produces excess sebum oil. This in turn clogs skin pores, eventually leading to acne breakouts. Therefore, sufficient water intake is much needed for your skin.
How Does Drinking Water Help With Acne?
1. Hydrates Your Skin
Dry skin triggers acne breakouts, and dehydration becomes a direct invitation for acne. It is therefore important to drink plenty of water on a regular basis. Research shows that water plays a huge role in keeping your skin supple and soft. A study conducted to find out the impact of dietary water on human skin indicated that higher water intake in your regular diet improves your skin’s health. [1] Another analysis concluded that regular intake of dietary fluid increases hydration of the outer layer of your skin.[2]
2. Strengthens Immune System
A study about the effects of hydration on the immune system states that a hydrated body supports your immune system more efficiently. The immune system is a key factor in managing the microorganisms of your skin that directly influence your skin’s health.
A robust immune system helps to fight against the pollutants that cause acne and protect your skin. It also helps protect you from bacteria such as P acne or Propionibacterium acne,[3] mostly responsible for acne development.
3. Controls Blood Sugar Level
Insulin (hormone) controls blood sugar levels. Foods with a high amount of glucose can increase the insulin level, leading to high blood sugar. Increased blood sugar stimulates sebum oil production in your skin and causes acne.
While there are various foods which are of low-glycemic index and help reduce blood sugar levels, water plays a key role too. Epidemiological research shows that lower water intake increases the chances of hyperglycemia (blood sugar). Low water intake is also associated with hormonal imbalance which leads to type 2 diabetes.[4]
Sufficient water consumption helps in hormone regulation by keeping your insulin secretion under control and maintaining the blood sugar level.
4. Removes Toxins From Body
Your body is a beautifully crafted and well-planned mechanism. It has a dynamic detox system that includes the kidney, liver, lungs and digestive tract. These organs help your body flush out the waste and toxins and water plays a central role in it.[5]
Firstly, water maintains the health of these organs and helps them function properly. Secondly, it works as a medium for the toxins to go out from your body through urine and sweat. Last but not the least, water prevents your skin pores from getting clogged and prevents acne.
Benefits of Drinking Water For Skin
1. Even Toned Skin
Water helps to flush out the toxins from your body, making your blood clean. Naturally, your blood flow improves and skin gets healthier. Drinking sufficient water every day, eventually leads to evenly toned and smooth skin.
2. Anti-Ageing
Proper water intake keeps your skin hydrated and moisturized. Reports have shown that hydrated skin has strong elasticity in comparison to dehydrated skin. If your skin lacks water, it is most likely to lose elasticity soon. On the other hand, strong elasticity will keep your skin tight and youthful.
3. Reduces Itchiness
Dehydrated skin is dry and dull. Lack of moisture often makes it flaky, and skin starts itching. Drinking enough water will keep your skin hydrated. It would reduce the dryness as well as the itching.
4. Sustains Your pH Balance
The usual pH balance of a human body is between 7.35-7.45. Changes in the pH balance can trigger various complications including skin issues. Low or high pH levels can cause skin blemishes and make your skin rough. Drinking water helps maintain the pH levels in your body and prevents your skin from various skin problems.
5. Prevents Heat Rashes
Water maintains your body temperature as well. It keeps your body cool in the heated summer. Water tries to neutralize the body temperature through sweat. Drinking enough water would prevent your skin from getting heat rashes.
6. Fights Puffiness
Dehydration often leads to skin puffiness. When your skin lacks water, it tries to retain whatever it has, leading to puffiness. Staying hydrated will reduce the swelling of your skin and make it look healthier.
How Much Water Should I Drink To Clear Acne?
According to experts, the suggested water intake for men and women is different. For men, it is 3.7 liters per day while women need to drink up to 2.7 litres of water every day. But this does not mean that you only need to drink water to fulfil this quota. You can also consume juice, beverages, fruits and vegetables that are rich in water content.
Also note, if you live in an area where the heat is extreme or you indulge yourself in tiring physical activities such as swimming, sports, or gymming which cause a lot of sweat, you need to increase your water intake even more.
Word of Caution:
Overhydration or too much water intake is also equally damaging as dehydration. If the amount of water exceeds your kidney’s capacity, it will start pressurizing the organ, leading to a condition called hyponatremia.
Wrapping Up
Water is a miracle drink for your skin. It maintains your skin’s health in various ways. Hydrated skin keeps dryness, acne, and blemishes at bay. Strengthening your immune system, detoxifying your body and controlling your blood sugar level are other ways to prevent your skin from acne. Drink sufficient amounts of water regularly to obtain all the benefits water has to offer for your skin. But be mindful of your water intake, as over-consumption is also risky.
Recommended Products
Was this Article helpful?
- Least helpful
- Most helpful