Almost every dermatologist tells us we should drink water for skin health and to hydrate the skin. Respected dermatologists like Daniel Maes (Head of Research for Estee Lauder), Nicholas Perricone, Dr Murad and countless others less famous but no less qualified all say drinking water is important to keep skin hydrated. And hydrated skin is younger looking skin as we all know.
The fact is skin - just like any other part of the body - is made up of cells. All the cells in our body are interconnected. You simply can't separate your 'insides' from your 'outsides' and say they are somehow different and that the water taken into your body doesn't get to the skin cells. And skin cells like any other cell in the body are almost entirely made up of water.
Without water the organs in the body - and the skin is the biggest - won't function properly. Loss of hydration in the skin shows in all sorts of ways - dryness, tightness, flakiness. Dry skin has less resilience and is more prone to wrinkling. Water is essential to maintain skin moisture and is the vehicle for delivering essential nutrients to the skin cells. As water is lost in large quantities every day - it stands to reason you have to replace it somehow.
Taking water into the body by drinking sufficient during the day is important but most dermatologists will tell you that to maintain the skin's moisture levels you need to keep it there too.
"The Water Principle is not just about drinking four, eight or 12 glass a day, its about getting water into cells and keeping it there"
Dr Murad, Clinical dermatologist and creator of Murad Skin Care
Here's a quick summary of the main points of a recent interview with Dr Murad:
* drink water throughout the day at regular intervals
* eat fresh fruit and vegetables which add a lot of water to the diet as well as antioxidants and fiber
* drink milk and fruit juice as additional sources of water
* take essential fatty acid supplements like evening primrose oil or flaxseed
* take glucosamine supplements to hold moisture in cells
* use a good daily moisturizer
Another skin care adviser is Dr Todorov at Smart Skin Care
"It is true that drinking lots of water helps keep the skin moist. However, it is best to drink most of your water during the day, and not drink excessive amounts of fluids at night, particularly within 2 hours before going to bed. Otherwise, many people tend to get morning puffiness that promotes facial sag."
Dr Todorov has a Phd in Biology and an MS in Molecular Biology, Labels: anti-aging, water |
