Understanding Skin Dehydration And Our Water Intake

AUTHOR - DR. DAVID JACK

We all know the importance of drinking enough water to keep healthy, but how much do you really know about what it does for our skin and can you spot the signs of dehydrated skin? 

Why Water Intake Is Crucial 

Drinking water brings a myriad of overall health benefits (including improved digestion, circulation and energy levels to name a few) but it is particularly advantageous when it comes to our skin. “It helps to maintain hydration of the dermis as well as ensuring a good blood supply to the skin and improving nutrient delivery and removing waste,” says Dr David who advises drinking around 2-3 litres per day. 

Signs Of Dehydration

If you’re not drinking enough water, your skin is unable to function at its best and it’s likely this will become apparent physically too. “Dehydrated skin will typically look dull and dry and if it’s chronic, you may experience some scaling and flaking,” says Dr David. “Wrinkles can also appear deeper and your skin will look less plump as well as it feeling rougher and being more sensitive,” he adds. 

The Difference Between Dehydrated And Dry Skin

There’s often confusion when it comes to the terms ‘dehydrated skin’ and ‘dry skin’ with many thinking they’re the same or similar but in fact there’s a big difference. Dehydrated skin refers to a skin condition and is evident when your skin is lacking water, meaning even those with oily skin can experience it. Dry skin on the other hand, is a skin type and is one which typically lacks natural oils and therefore regularly experiences dry patches and cracking. Dehydrated skin can therefore come and go based on your lifestyle choices and skincare routine, whereas dry skin is a consistent concern. 

Combatting Dehydrated Skin 

In addition to drinking more water (if you’re not getting enough), it’s possible to improve dehydrated skin with efficacious skincare and oral supplements. “This will partly involve barrier repair through the use of ingredients such as ceramides which are fatty acids that help maintain the waterproof barrier of the skin which reduces water loss,” adds Dr David. “Humectants (which are moisturising molecules such as hyaluronic acid and glycerin) are also key as they help to draw water to the skin to rehydrate.” Hyaluronic acid is one of the best ingredients when it comes to dehydration and our Blue Face Peel is packed full of it to help rehydrate and restore the skin’s natural barrier. 

Preventing Dehydrated Skin 

Dr David warns to avoid products that overly strip or exfoliate such as harsh or strong toners and peels. “These strip back the barrier of the skin and can actually cause further dehydration and water loss as well as disrupting the normal barrier function,” he says. Lastly, the sun can really impact dehydrated skin and it causes excess water evaporation so on sun-soaked days be sure to give your skin some extra moisture and of course wear SPF.