Our skin is the largest organ of the human body. It requires regular care and nourishment to look healthy and function properly. Skin needs moisture and hydration to look naturally healthy, shiny, and glowing. Hydration and pure drinking water intake are the essential components of a daily skincare routine. Along with body lotion or cream, drinking enough water is vital for keeping our skin healthy, hydrated, and nourished. It has been advised to have a home filtration system to get pure drinking water, especially at home, to hydrate your body and skin.
Importance of Hydration for Skin Health
Our human body is made up of 60% water, including our skin, which requires water for the proper functioning of skin cells. We have been advised that downing eight glasses (64 ounces total) of pure drinking water will help to gain plump and supple skin with a fine tone and optimized elasticity. If we do not drink enough water, it may result in dehydration.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, a leading teaching and research hospital) Dehydration is the state in which the human body loses more water than it takes in, which results in the following additional symptoms:
1. Headache, delirium, and confusion
2. Tiredness (fatigue).
3. Dizziness, weakness, and lightheadedness.
4. Dry mouth and/or a dry cough.
5. High heart rate but low blood pressure.
6. Loss of appetite but maybe craving sugar.
7. Flushed (red) skin.
8. Swollen feet.
Our dehydrated skin may turn dry, flaky, and tight, and possibly it may even start to crack or develop fine lines, visible wrinkles, and acne on the skin. It has been found that dehydration may alter the skin's oil and sebum levels and lead to inflammatory conditions like acne, eczema, or psoriasis, with an increased incidence and chances of a flare-up.
Understanding the link between water intake and skin complexion
Our daily water intake is responsible for skin hydration and moisture. When we drink water, it does not directly go to the skin and show up as dew. Instead, it hydrates the skin cells once they get absorbed into the bloodstream, which is filtered by the kidneys later on. The water we drink hydrates the overall body for improved blood flow to the skin, which gives our skin a natural glow and keeps it elastic and plump.
Well-hydrated skin is a sign of a healthy water-drinking habit. Dehydrated skin may lead to many skin issues: dull complexion, acne inflammation, and lack of protection from UV radiation. When the water intake is less than required, it shows on the skin's ability to reflect light and lack of radiance, resulting in a dull complexion. Dehydration also causes acne breakouts, as due to dehydration, the skin produces more oil to lubricate and protect it, which clogs skin pores and results in inflammation.
Our skin has a protein called collagen that ensures its firmness and elasticity. Drinking pure water promotes skin elasticity and firmness. When skin is not hydrated properly or is dehydrated, collagen production falls, and results in loss of elasticity, and the formation of wrinkles occurs as a sign of aging. In our daily lives, drinking ample water helps to get healthy, glowing skin that looks plump and radiant.
Common misconceptions about hydration and skin health
Skin hydration and skin health have many common misconceptions and myths. Some of these misconceptions are popular enough to make us believe that they are fact, not myth, while they are, in fact, misleading misconceptions only. Let us discuss some of these common misconceptions here, and we will try to debunk them and separate hype from hydration.
1. Oily skin doesn't require hydration.
Oily skin is commonly considered hydrated as it produces excess sebum. However, it does not reflect hydration or exempt it from hydration needs. On the contrary, we already discussed that lack of hydration is responsible for greater oil or sebum production, which results in acne breakouts. If you have oily skin, drink pure water to reduce acne inflammation and get healthier skin.
2. Hydration helps in preventing skin aging.
Drinking water prevents skin aging, which is another common misconception about hydration. Hydration with pure drinking water is essential for skin health; however, this is not a remedial solution to prevent skin aging. We need to understand that skin aging is a natural process that occurs with time and other lifestyle factors. However, hydration can help to minimize fine lines, age spots, and wrinkles, which are the early signs of aging. Additionally, it helps to retain skin elasticity, texture, plumpness, and appearance and reduces dryness for a youthful-looking complexion.
3. Hydration is a comprehensive skincare routine.
Hydrating skin by drinking pure water is vital for a skincare routine, but it is just one of the parts of a comprehensive skincare routine. A complete skincare routine requires face cleansing, moisturizing, and applying sunscreen to keep skin protected from harsh UV radiation and environmental pollution. Facial cleansing helps to remove dirt, pollution, oil, and other impurities that clog skin pores and result in acne breakouts. Skin moisturizing helps to lock in skin moisture. A well-hydrated skin helps to minimize wrinkles and fine lines. A comprehensive skincare routine goes beyond hydration.
4. External factors influencing skin hydration
The genetic predisposition plays a vital role in skin health and appearance; however, some external environmental factors are also potent contributors. UV sun exposure, aging, water quality, and low temperatures (as cold climatic conditions) cause transepidermal water loss of skin that negatively impacts skin hydration. It has been observed that vitamin C, collagen, probiotics, and highly-pure drinking water may help to increase ceramide production and improve skin hydration.
Water quality has been a concern in pure drinking and hydration goals. If the source water at your home has a high mineral content, it can cause dryness and flare-ups of inflammatory skin conditions. Pure and clean water plays a key role; if you do not have any home filtration systems, get one installed. HomeMaster has a complete range of RO water purification systems for home use, like a reverse osmosis system that gives pure water right from the tap of your kitchen. These countertop water filter units are easy to install and cost-effective for staying hydrated and improving skin health. Installing a whole-house carbon filter removes harsh chemicals from city water.
Conclusion
In a nutshell, a healthy habit of drinking enough water is an integral part of a healthy, hydrated skincare routine. However, it is to be noted that hydration is not the only way to get healthier skin; other factors are also responsible. Following a regular hydration routine, a healthy diet, and a comprehensive skincare routine have been recommended to ensure healthy and hydrated skin.