Does drinking water help your skin?

Does drinking water help your skin? Staying hydrated not only keeps your body in tip-top shape, but it’s also important if you want bright, healthy-looking skin. It can keep blemishes at bay, encourages your skin to glow and it reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. 

From improving your sleep to lubricating your joints and fighting off infections, your water intake plays a major part in helping your body operate smoothly. How hydrated you are affects your energy levels and cognitive performance throughout the day. It’s also important to drink water if you exercise regularly, as we lose fluids through perspiration during workouts. So, if you’re struggling to drink enough, why not ‌browse our guide on the best water bottles for gym workouts?

To find out why drinking water is key for healthy skin, we spoke to experts in skincare to understand what it does for our body, how much water you should drink a day for healthy skin, and the simple lifestyle tweaks that can help you develop a brighter complexion. 

What's the link between water and skin health?

“The adult human body is 60% water and your blood is 90% water,” says Dr Usman Qureshi, an aesthetic doctor and founder of the Luxe Clinic. “This means that drinking water benefits the body in many ways. From flushing out toxins to preventing acne, water can be the most inexpensive solution for skin issues, and getting an adequate amount can give you glowing and nourished skin. Water can also improve skin tone, prevent premature aging, ward off acne and reduce puffiness, too.”

The appearance of your skin comes down to the health of your skin cells and staying hydrated is key to improving their elasticity and reducing the loss of collagen. 

“Water maintains volume within all cells, including within and around skin cells,” says skin specialist Nalan Aksahin. “Without enough water, these skin cells and the spaces between them become dehydrated and less elastic, leading to thinner, dryer, and less supple skin. This scenario significantly heightens the risk of damage caused by extrinsic factors, such as sun exposure and harsh products. The skin also becomes less elastic with low water content and is more inclined to micro-tears and crinkling like dry paper (accelerating the formation of lines and wrinkles) as opposed to a damp sponge for example.”

How much water should you drink for healthy skin?

The answer to this depends on your metabolism, weight, height, and your daily routine but, generally, adults should drink between six and eight glasses of water every day, and even more is needed if you are exercising regularly. 

“Daily guidelines globally for healthy water intake through drinking water alone vary from 3.5 liters to 2.0 liters,” says Aksahin. “The European Food Safety Authority recommends between 2.0-2.5 liters a day.”

Diet and lifestyle tips for healthy skin

Drinking water isn’t the only way to promote healthy skin. There are many factors that cause the skin to look – and become – less healthy, but there is also plenty that we can do to combat exterior aggressors and fortify our skin’s barrier.  

Apply sunscreen

Wearing sunscreen is one of the most beneficial things you can do for your skin to protect against UV and UVB rays. “Apply two tablespoons of sunscreen on face and body daily, and if you use a spray, then spray it until there is an even sheen on all open areas of your face and body,” says Dr Anton Alexandroff, a Doctify-reviewed dermatologist.

Eat fruits and vegetables

Fruits and vegetables can do wonders for our complexion. In particular, omega-3’s found in oily fish, and carotene and beta-carotene, antioxidants found in green, yellow, orange, or red fruits and vegetables, are all great nutrients for promoting a healthy glow. 

Exercise regularly 

While you might be tempted to avoid working out or exercising because of the risk of sweat clogging your pores, exercising can be beneficial for your skin.

“Exercise increases blood flow to the skin, which brings nutrients and takes away waste products,” says Alexandroff.

Avoid smoking

“Smoking generates so-called free radicals which damage our DNA,” says Alexandroff. “It also leads to the destruction of collagen and a loss of elasticity of the skin and causes wrinkles/premature skin aging. It also increases the risk of acne.”

Cleanse regularly 

One of the biggest damages to our skin health is air pollution and, unfortunately, this has become worse over time. However, cleansing regularly and wearing SPF can help protect your skin against these aggressors. 

“In a similar way to smoking, air pollution generates free radicals that damage DNA and collagen,” says Alexandroff. “To help fight against it, use a gentle cleanser, such as Cetaphil or Cerave, apply sunscreen daily, and moisturize twice a day.”

Get your beauty sleep

Getting enough good quality sleep can make a difference to our skin. According to the Journal Of Skin Research and Technology, sleep restriction can cause dehydration, decreased skin elasticity – which can lead to wrinkles developing in the future – and a change in skin texture. 

In order to avoid sleep issues, it’s important to limit technology and blue light before bed, keep consistent sleep-wake times and try to make sure your sleeping area is dark and cool for optimum rest and recovery.