Five Reasons Why Your Skin Needs You to Stay Hydrated

Why your skin needs you to stay hydrated

As it gets colder, you may find yourself less thirsty. After all, nothing has us reaching for our water bottles like the hot summer sun! But staying hydrated in the winter is just as important as in the summer, especially when it comes to taking care of one important organ: our skin. Dehydration leads to all kinds of issues including headaches, constipation, and feeling sluggish, but one of the first places we see dehydration is in our skin. Here’s the thing: your skin needs you to drink water. Staying hydrated impacts the entire body, but much like taking other supplements, you cannot decide what your body will do with the water you consume. This means it is extra important to drink adequate amounts of water---so your skin gets its fair share.

Dry skin v. dehydrated skin

Did you know that there is actually a difference between dry skin and dehydrated skin? One is a condition and the other is a skin type. Dry skin is a skin type. If you have ever purchased lotion or makeup, you may have seen different labels such as normal, dry, oily, or combinations. These types refer to how your skin normally is. Someone with dry skin actually has less oils, or sebum, in their skin, making it more difficult to retain moisture. When we are talking about dry skin in the winter, we usually actually mean dehydrated skin. Dehydrated skin is skin that lacks water. This is especially common in the wintertime when the drop in temperature and humidity leaves the water in our skin to evaporate more quickly. If this wasn't reason enough, here are five reasons why your skin needs you to stay hydrated, especially in the winter.

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   More noticeable wrinkles Have you ever looked in the mirror and suddenly noticed more wrinkles? Not to fret! Not all wrinkles are signs of aging; some are just due to dehydration. Your skin is your body’s largest organ and requires water to stay firm and plump. When you are dehydrated the skin is one of the first places to feel it, leading to more noticeable creases and crevices. These usually occur around the eyes and lips. You can reduce the appearance of these wrinkles simply by drinking more water. And while no one can escape wrinkles altogether, there are ways of slowing them down, including collagen supplements, which help build up the skin’s collagen stores and give skin structure.

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   Eczema flare-ups Eczema is a condition that causes dry, often painful, flaky skin. Dehydration is one of the biggest causes of eczema flare-ups. The exact cause is still unknown, but it typically flares up due to certain triggers such as stress, diet, irritants, and of course, dehydration. One way you can prevent eczema flare-ups is by staying properly hydrated. Drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated and then lock in the moisture using a thick, soothing lotion.

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   Chapped lips We know we are at the mercy of winter when our lips start to get chapped. The skin on our lips is super thin and does not produce its own oils, so it is extra susceptible to becoming dry and flaky. Luckily, it is pretty easy to avoid chapped lips.

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     Drink plenty of water

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     Use a hydrating lip balm

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     Use lip protection that seals in moisture

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   Dehydration causes oily skin You might think that if you have oily skin you should avoid moisture, but actually, the opposite is true. For some people, dehydration is a trigger for oily skin. When your skin is dehydrated, your body may overcompensate by producing extra oils. If you are prone to oily skin, think about how much water you drink. If you increase your daily water intake, you may find with time that you have less oily skin. This could also prevent other skin conditions.

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   Dehydration leads to a dull complexion Have you ever noticed how some people just seem to glow? They may have hydration to thank. Dehydrated skin looks dull, wrinkled, and dark to a buildup of skin cells, while healthy, hydrated skin is plump, smooth, and bright. While you won’t notice the difference in your skin immediately, you will probably notice that your skin looks and feels better after a few weeks of upping your daily water intake, especially in the wintertime.

When our skin feels dry

We have all experienced some degree of dry skin at one point or another, but it is the most common in the winter. Your skin feels dry, itchy and may appear dull. At its worst, dry skin may crack and bleed. One way to combat this is through moisturizers and lotions, but the best way is to stay hydrated. Stay hydrated and give your skin a little extra love with BUBS Naturals Fountain of Youth Collagen. This blend contains biotin for extra healthy skin, and of course collagen, which gives skin structure and prevents wrinkles and sagging.