Hydration is more than a trend; it is integral to skin health. Furthermore, proper hydration plays an essential role in supporting neurological, digestive, and renal health as well as weight management.
Hydration is essential to supporting cell renewal and avoiding dead skin cell build-up that leads to dullness and clogged pores. Consuming water-rich foods and using moisturizers are simple ways of keeping skin hydrated and healthy.
1. Water
Water is one of the most common and essential chemical compounds on Earth and other planetary bodies within and beyond our solar system, being present everywhere from ocean floor sediments to alien moons and comets. Water’s ability to dissolve substances makes it an indispensable solvent in many biological processes and cell processes.
Water does more than flush away toxins and deliver essential nutrients to cells; it also hydrates skin, making it soft and supple and diminishing wrinkles.
Dehydration can cause your skin to lose elasticity, making fine lines appear more prominent. Drinking lots of water and using moisturizers with ingredients like hyaluronic acid will help your body remain hydrated and wrinkle-free.
2. Water-Rich Foods
Researchers discovered that when skin is well hydrated, it can resist fine lines and wrinkles better. Furthermore, adequate hydration enables its outer layer to retain nutrients more effectively as well as flush away toxins more quickly from its system.
Water-rich fruits and vegetables like cucumbers, strawberries, oranges, watermelons and leafy greens provide essential hydration needs with low calories while providing essential vitamins and minerals that your body requires for health.
Add variety and zest to your diet by adding juice or fruit slices to a glass of water, or creating refreshing dishes like cabbage slaw with tomato and cucumber, gazpacho, celery sticks, iceberg lettuce or zucchini as snacks that provide needed hydration.
3. Moisturizers
Staying hydrated internally and externally is key to combatting signs of aging like sagging and loss of elasticity, and increasing effectiveness of skincare products; well-hydrated skin absorbs serums and creams more readily allowing them to penetrate deep into cells for maximum effectiveness.
An increase in moisture-rich foods such as cucumbers, watermelons and leafy green vegetables is also beneficial; such as cucumbers, watermelons and leafy green vegetables which contain essential water-retaining vitamins. After bathing or showering it is particularly essential to moisturize skin after exposure to hot water as hot water strips it of its natural oils that protect it against drying out.
Moisturizers come in various forms: lotions, gels, creams and ointments. Ointments tend to be thicker and oilier than gels and lotions and thus more effective at fighting dry skin; their thick texture provides more occlusive ingredients like petrolatum that create an effective barrier that keeps water in.
4. Sunscreen
Sunscreen is one of the best ways to prevent wrinkles. Not only will it shield against burns and skin cancer, but a recent study indicates it may even reverse signs of photoaging such as wrinkles and hyperpigmentation.
The study found that daily sunscreen use significantly reduced wrinkles and dark spots even among middle-aged individuals, likely as a result of UVA rays causing skin damage as well as UVB rays that cause sunburns. This phenomenon could also explain why middle-aged people experienced less sunburn overall.
Researchers also concluded that it didn’t matter which kind of sunscreen one used – whether physical (mineral) or chemical (such as Avobenzone and Octisalate) – as both are equally effective. They recommend using broad spectrum products with frequent reapplication as directed on their labels.
5. Exercise
Hydration is vital to overall good health, including muscle function and endurance. Furthermore, proper hydration bolsters your body’s natural detoxification systems that eliminate waste via urine excretion, breathing out or sweating out.
Water is essential throughout the day, especially during exercise or when temperatures rise. Avoid high-calorie beverages like soda and coffee in favor of lower calorie options like water, iced tea, flavored water or 100% fruit juice.
Thirst isn’t always an accurate measure of hydration as it often comes after you’re already dehydrated. Aim for eight glasses daily but keep in mind this amount may change depending on climate and activity levels, or more may be needed if exercising vigorously or taking medications that act as diuretics.
