How Much Water To Drink For Clear Skin

Do you drink enough water per day? Or, have you been drinking way more than required?

The adult human body is 60% water and your blood is 90% water. Drinking water benefits the whole body in a million ways. From flushing out toxins to preventing acne, water can be the most inexpensive solution for skin issues. It can give you glowing and nourished skin. Hence, it is safe to say that water is a miracle drink!

Let's take a look at the 10 amazing benefits that water has to offer for your skin and how much water intake do you require for perfect hydration.

What Expert Says

"Lack of water is an alarming condition for your skin. Dehydration leads to increased Transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and damages the skin barrier. Barrier damage causes premature ageing and other skin issues like frequent acne breakout, extreme dryness, etc."

Dr Harish Koutam, Chief Dermatologist, SkinKraft

What Does Drinking Enough Water Do For Your Skin?

When you drink enough water, the cells in every part of your body get hydrated through the blood. The skin, being the largest organ in the body, also gets hydrated, even as the impurities and toxins get flushed out at the cellular level. According to the chief dermatologist of SkinKraft, Dr. Harish Koutam, "Lack of water is an alarming condition for your skin. Dehydration leads to increased Transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and damages the skin barrier. Barrier damage causes premature ageing and other skin issues like frequent acne breakout, extreme dryness, etc."

Here are all the benefits of drinking water for your skin:

1. Improves Skin Tone

Drinking enough water helps the body to flush out toxins while giving you healthier skin. Studies have revealed that drinking just two cups of water [1] can increase blood flow to the skin which gives it an even tone.

2. Prevents Premature Aging

Staying hydrated helps increase elasticity in the skin as it stays moisturised for longer. Heightened elasticity in the skin implies delayed sagging of the skin and no premature appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

3. Faster Healing

If you have been out in the sun and got sunburnt, drinking water can speed up the healing process. Applying some aloe vera to sunburnt areas also proves to be immensely soothing.

4. Reduces Puffiness

When the skin looks puffy, it is actually retaining water to protect you from dehydration. This occurs when you don't drink enough water. Staying hydrated will reduce swelling and puffiness in your face.

5. Prevents Acne

Drinking ample water balances the oil and water content on the skin of your face. This helps to prevent excess oil and sebum secretion, which means fewer clogged pores and acne.

Adult acne is getting more common these days due to busy lifestyles and lack of hydration. A study [2] revealed that 4-6 people out of 100 in the age groups of 20-40 have adult acne.

6. No More Itchy Skin On The Face

Dry skin [3] always tends to itch. It can even develop dry flakes and crack due to lack of moisture. Drinking enough water ensures your skin doesn't get dry enough to itch.

7. Tighter Skin

Due to sudden weight loss, your skin can start to sag. To prevent your skin from sagging and to tighten it in areas where the sagging is prominent, like the upper arms, thighs, waist and jawline, drinking water helps as it revives the skin's elasticity.

8. Maintains Your pH Balance

Sensitive, acne-ridden skin or problem skin due to various issues, can be revived to a healthy version with water. Your skin can glow and be free of blemishes if you drink enough water that will help to balance your body's pH levels [4].

9. Prevents Heat-Related Skin Eruptions

Water prevents your body from heating up and normalises your body temperature. When your body heats up due to the weather or physical activity, drinking lots of water ensures that you don't develop heat boils and rashes on your skin.

10. Promotes Healthy Gut, Meaning Clear Skin

Intake of water helps maintain a healthy gut and aids in proper digestion [5]. It regulates your bowel movements, and flushes toxins from your body through urine and faeces. Only when this process is smooth and your gut is healthy, your skin will remain clear and free of issues.

We lose water from our bodies even when we breathe.
Foods with high water content like soups, coconut water, buttermilk, cucumbers and oranges are good sources of water for the body.
If you have sugar free soda water with lemon between every alcoholic peg you consume, it can prevent a hangover and make you drink less.

Bottle containing lemonade on wood

Best Way To Add Water To The Skin

You can add water to your skin by applying a water-based moisturiser which seals in the moisture and prevents the skin from drying up. You can also follow the tips listed below to keep your skin hydrated:

1. Mint

Mint is a good digestive aid. Just boiling a few leaves in water, straining them and drinking the water after it cools down, can help your food get digested better. The less detox work your skin has to do, the better it will look.

2. Basil

Basil has anti-inflammatory properties that can prevent inflammation, making your skin look younger. The flavonoids present in basil also protect the skin from damage. Drink water infused with basil leaves for best results.

3. Lemon

Squeeze lemon juice on your bowl of fruit, or your salad and as a finishing touch to your curries. Lemon juice has vitamin C, which is known to boost collagen and clean the liver. Clean liver results in cleaner and brighter looking skin.

4. Ginger

Ginger, as we all know, has multiple benefits. Adding ginger to your tea, boiling it and drinking the concoction, or adding to your food, can help with digestion and inflammation.

5. Cinnamon

If you are diabetic or have a tendency to binge on the sweet stuff, drinking water infused with cinnamon sticks left overnight, can help stabilise fluctuating blood sugar levels, improve blood circulation and prevent pimples and zits.

6. Juice Cubes

Sugar is known to cause premature aging. If you like to drink pre-packaged juices, but want to cut down on the sugar, freeze a few cubes of your favorite fruit juice (home made) in an ice tray. Pour into your bottle of water so you get the fruity flavours without the excess sugar.

7. Raw Honey And Apple Cider Vinegar

Adding a few drops of raw honey or a tablespoon of organic Apple Cider Vinegar to your glass of water can help clear acne from your skin and prevent further breakouts.

How Much Water To Drink For Glowing Skin?

Drinking water on glass

The recommended amounts of water that you should be drinking according to experts is 3.7 litres for men and 2.7 litres of water for women [6]. This includes any beverages, fruits and vegetables you drink with high water content.

Research suggests that drinking these amounts of water keeps your skin supple. Studies [7] have also proved that when men and women increased their water intake, it improved their skin's hydration levels, reduced the recurrence of dry and flaky skin and enhanced elasticity [8].

But, if you live in a place where the climate is very hot, or if you are involved with active sports or heavy physical activity and you sweat a lot, it goes without saying that you need to drink more than the above-mentioned quantity. On a long flight, it is recommended that you drink enough water as that can prevent cramps and fatigue.

Word Of Caution:

Drinking excessive amounts of water can also be harmful. Termed as overhydration, it leads to your body containing more fluid than your kidneys can flush out. It can lead to hyponatremia .

Hyperhydration has symptoms similar to dehydration -- vomiting, dizziness, light-headedness, headaches and fatigue. If not treated properly, hyponatremia can even be fatal.

What Kind Of Water Is Good For The Skin?

Lukewarm water is best for the skin as it is the gentlest on your skin. Whether for a shower or for post-shower skincare products, using lukewarm water is ideal.

Water with a pH balance ranging from 6.5-8.5 is the healthiest to drink. Common bottled water has a pH level of 6.5-7.5. However, some alkaline ones are slightly higher and distilled RO water is between 5-7.

Wrapping Up

From preventing premature aging to giving you plumper, younger looking skin, water is the magic ingredient that can resolve a host of skin issues. Make drinking the required amount of water a part of your daily routine. Your skin will thank you for it.

Begin By Knowing Your Skin