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How drinking water impacts skin health during winter

Have you ever gone most of the day without drinking water? How did you feel? Sluggish. Tired. Now think about that feeling when you drink a glass of water after being outside for a while? You immediately feel refreshed and perk right up.

Your skin feels the same way. When you don’t keep up with your water intake your skin starts to pay the price. One of the easiest (and cheapest) beauty products for your skin is water. While it won’t completely turn back time, let’s check out what water will do for your skin.

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A woman pouring water into a glass.

What can drinking water do to your face?

Reduces the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines

When your skin is dried out and lacking moisture, those lines, scars, and wrinkles are more visible. Especially as you get older, those imperfections stand out more because your skin doesn’t retain water as much as it used to. Plump up those cells, increase your elasticity, and say goodbye to deep lines with proper water intake.

Calms down and reduces acne breakouts

Acne never quite goes away, does it? But it can be more manageable if you drink more water. Your skin won’t become clogged with as much dirt and toxins if the cells are fully hydrated. It won’t make all acne disappear, but drinking water will leave less room for your pores to be clogged, which will lead to fewer breakouts.

Tightens skin

It doesn’t matter if you are tired or have lost weight, if you notice sagging skin you can tighten things up by drinking water. In addition to a healthy diet, drinking water flushes out toxins that weigh your skin down. Along with reducing the appearance of age lines, water can bring back some of that youthful elasticity.

How much water should you consume a day for clear skin?

For men — aim for 15 cups

For women — aim for 11 cups

That is the average. It may sound like a  lot but it includes all water consumed — not just the cold stuff you drink straight up. The water in the coffee you drink, the fruit you have for a snack, and that bowl of soup at lunch all count toward your total fluid consumption.

Of course, modifications had to be made for any dieting, exercise routine, special restrictions, or medications you might be taking. Your lifestyle affects how much more water your body needs every day to maintain your health.

Other factors that mean you could have to drink more water are where you live and how often you are outside. For females, if you are pregnant or nursing the amount of water you need to drink is different as well.

For plain water — aim for six to eight cups

Try to drink six to eight eight-ounce glasses of water throughout the day. It is healthier to sip on water constantly during your entire day than try to slam all eight before bed because you forgot. Your skin will yo-yo in appearance if you don’t drink water continuously all day.

A man and woman drinking water bottles while while working out.

Does drinking water make my skin glow?

Absolutely. Once your skin is fully hydrated and your skin’s cells are plumped, you will notice you have a more even, softer complexion. Your skin is made up of cells and water. If your skin is lacking water, the cells can’t rejuvenate. This leads to dull, dry, saggy skin.

Not only does your skin start to build up with dirt, oil, and other pollutants when your skin cells aren’t fully hydrated, but your body’s pH balance will be thrown off. A normal pH level for your body is around 7.40. That means from your blood sugar to your body’s acidity, your body is functioning normally.

Water has a pH balance of 7, which is right in the middle and where your body should be. That’s why drinking water is so important for your body. It keeps your kidneys, lungs, and metabolism all in check. When your skin is balanced, it’s healthy, and it shows.

Other skin benefits of drinking water

Besides helping keep acne at bay and tightening up your skin, there are some other benefits you might not have thought about.

Prevents heat rash

Water stabilizes your body’s pH level. It also regulates your body’s temperature. When your skin gets too hot a heat rash and possibly heat boils can develop. Drinking water will keep your body from overheating.

Keeps things moving in your gut

Water flushes the toxins from your body through your gut. When you don’t drink enough water you can become constipated. This leads to a backup of toxins, which also affects your skin. Drink water so your body gets rid of these through regular bowel movements.

Relieves dry skin

If you have itchy skin and lotion isn’t helping, try drinking more water. Those flakes and cracks are because your skin is lacking in moisture. Hydrate your skin so it doesn’t get dried out.

a man drinking a glass of water in a kitchen.

Can you drink too much water?

Being overhydrated is really a thing. When your body has more fluids than it can handle, that’s bad news for your kidneys. Excess water consumption can cause low sodium levels in your body by overwhelming the kidneys’ ability to excrete water. This condition is known as hyponatremia and can lead to nausea and vomiting, confusion, seizures, or loss of consciousness

Water is truly a magical elixir. From clearing your acne to preventing premature aging, water is beneficial for your skin on so many levels. If it’s hard to get into the habit of drinking the recommended water, start slowly and build your way up.

Keep your skin feeling soft and looking more youthful by drinking as close to the recommended amount of water a day. It will hydrate your cells and your body. Instead of grabbing that third cup of coffee, grab a glass of water instead and help your skin look its best.

BlissMark provides information regarding health, wellness, and beauty. The information within this article is not intended to be medical advice. Before starting any diet or exercise routine, consult your physician. If you don’t have a primary care physician, the United States Health & Human Services department has a free online tool that can help you locate a clinic in your area. We are not medical professionals, have not verified or vetted any programs, and in no way intend our content to be anything more than informative and inspiring.

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