Drinking plenty of water supports the healthy functioning of your body all year round.
That said, it’s especially important in the summer months.
How come? Well, high temperatures and sun exposure can cause dehydration.
This can then severely affect your skin, given that skin is the largest organ in the body.
How Does Drinking Water Help My Skin?
When you fail to drink enough water, your skin can become dry, puffy and unable to flush out toxins.
As a result, it looks older.
However, not to worry — you can easily remedy this by upping your water intake.
After all, there are many benefits.
1. Drinking Water Increases Skin Elasticity
First things first, drinking plenty of water is known to prevent premature ageing.
Why? Well, keeping your body hydrated means that your skin stays moisturised for longer.
This leads to increased elasticity in the skin, which can successfully delay sagging and the formation of fine lines and wrinkles.
2. It Creates an Even Tone
Hyperpigmentation is a condition where dark patches and spots appear on your skin and create an uneven tone.
It’s caused by the overproduction of melanin, which is the pigment responsible for skin and hair colour.
Drinking enough water can combat hyperpigmentation because:
- It helps the body to flush out toxins
- It increases blood flow to the skin
- It evens your tone
The result? Brighter, younger-looking skin.
3. It Reduces Puffiness
If your face ever looks puffy, it’s because it’s retaining water as a way of protecting you from dehydration.
This happens when you don’t drink enough water.
By upping your water intake, you can reduce swelling and puffiness for a tighter, smoother complexion.
4. It Makes Your Skin Glow
In addition to having a brightening effect, drinking enough water makes your skin glowy and gorgeous.
How? Well, it balances your pH levels, which is the amount of acidity and alkalinity you have in your body.
This prevents your skin’s pH balance from going out of whack, which can lead to wrinkles, inflammation and acne.
5. It Promotes a Healthy Gut, Resulting in Clear Skin
Lastly, there is notable evidence to suggest that water intake helps you maintain a healthy gut by:
- Aiding your body in digestion
- Regulating your bowel movements
- Flushing toxins from your body via urine and faeces
As a result of a healthy gut, your body can balance the oil and water content of your skin cells and the surface will look clearer.
How Much Water Should I Drink for Youthful Skin?
There’s a lot of conflicting advice out there in terms of how much water you should drink every day.
Having said that, the general consensus is to go for eight 8-ounce glasses a day (about half a gallon).
Known as the 8x8 method, this is a good rule of thumb for the average person to stay well-hydrated.
However, keep in mind that you may have to bump up this number based on your body composition or activity level.
The Takeaway
Getting enough water can be a challenge, particularly during the summer months when your mind is focused on soaking up the sun and having fun!
But it’s ultimately worth stepping up your efforts.
As well as boosting your metabolism, increasing your energy levels and improving your concentration, it will have a significant youthening effect on your skin.
This is the third post in the “Summer Skin Care” series. Look out for the next post, “Food Supplements You Can Take Daily”, coming soon!
