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Did you know that 64% of our skin is made up of water? Skin needs water to keep moisture. However, until now there are still few studies that examine water as a skin care, so it is difficult to get data about the effects of plain water on the skin. In fact, water has various benefits for our health.
One dermatology clinic found only one study examining the long-term effects of water intake on skin health. Research published in 2007 in International Journal of Cosmetic Science, found that drinking 2.25 liters (9.5 cups) of water daily for four weeks can change skin density and thickness, but the results are still contradictory. Then, a study by the University of Missouri-Columbia showed that drinking 500 ml of water can improve blood circulation to the skin.
What are the benefits of water for the skin?
Rachel Nazarian M.D., dermatologist from Schweiger Dermatology Group in New York also explained that without adequate water intake, our skin will look dull, wrinkled, and pores will become more prominent. Julius Few, M.D., director of The Few Institute and lecturer in plastic surgery clinics at the University of Chicago explains that the various skin structures that support collagen need water to work effectively. When the skin is hydrated, dense, and elastic, it tends to reduce the entry of external particles that can cause irritation and blemishes.
Nazrian also said that he found that his patients who were dehydrated had more severe acne. We know that small changes to your diet can affect the type of oil and sebum on your skin and can be associated with increased acne breakouts. Dehydration can work in the same way to trigger oil gland changes in the skin.
Water can also fend off acne by reducing the concentration of oil on the skin. It is important to have a stable balance of water and oil on the surface of the skin. If the skin has too much oil compared to water, it can clog pores with blemishes and pimples.
Even though drinking lots of water has a positive effect on your skin, it doesn't mean that your skin will stay the same condition for years to come. Nazrian said that although clinically hydrated skin can minimize signs of aging, at the histopathological level (when examined under a microscope) wrinkles are still visible, so there are no permanent changes in the skin. What is clear, if you reduce water intake, the signs of aging will be more visible.
For more details, below are the benefits of water on the skin:
- Water is important for maintaining optimal skin moisture and providing essential nutrients for skin cells. Water replenishes the needs of skin tissue and improves skin elasticity. This helps delay the appearance of signs of aging such as wrinkles and fine lines.
- Water is the right substitute for any treatment anti-aging. Water can keep skin hydrated and shiny so it can improve skin tone. For smooth and elastic skin, drinking adequate amounts of water is more important than applying topical creams.
- Drinking enough water can fight skin disorders like psoriasis, wrinkles, and eczema. Water can also increase the metabolic rate and facilitate the digestive system to get rid of toxins in the body. This will leave you with healthy and glowing skin.
This has been proven by a 42 year old woman named Sarah Smith at dailymail.co.uk. At first he only drank water at lunch and dinner. However, after he felt many complications in his body such as dizziness and poor digestion, he started drinking 3 liters of water per day. Apart from treating dizziness and improving digestion, water actually made Sarah's skin change.
After four weeks of consuming 3 liters of water per day, the wrinkles on his face fade, the dark circles around the eyes disappear because water can help the skin renew its cells.
The level of dehydration in our body can also be seen from the skin turgor (skin elasticity). When a person who is dehydrated pulls the skin and sheds it back, the skin will take longer to return to its original state compared to people who have enough fluids in their body.
