You've probably heard the saying, "Drink plenty of water and your skin will look beautiful," right? Maybe you've heard it said by a friend or relative. Or you've read about it online or in magazines. Many people believe that drinking plenty of water will make your skin look younger, smoother, and more youthful. But is this really true? Or is this just another myth? Let's talk about this in more depth today.
Skin is not just a covering!
First of all, we need to understand that our skin is not just a covering that covers our body. In fact, the skin is the largest organ in our body. The role it plays is much greater than we think.
Think about it, who protects our body from the dust, toxic chemicals, and germs in the environment? It's our skin. It also helps regulate body temperature, prevent unnecessary evaporation of water from the body (dehydration), and protect us from extreme cold and heat.
With all this, our appearance also has a big impact on how we look when we face society. So, who among us doesn't want youthful, healthy, and radiant skin? But the problem is, there are countless myths we fall prey to when it comes to getting rid of fine lines, deep wrinkles, crow's feet, and blemishes on the face.
The biggest myth about drinking water and skin
One myth that will never go away is the story that "drinking a lot of water will eliminate wrinkles, shrink pores, and even control aging." However, dermatologists do not accept this story at all.
Elizabeth Damstetter, MD, a dermatologist at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, says: "Everyone is looking for quick fixes to improve their skin. But unless you are extremely dehydrated , simply drinking water is not going to make your skin look plump or smooth. But water is essential for good health. If you are healthy, your skin will be in good condition, even if it is not as youthful as it was when you were young."
Simply put, drinking water is good, but it's not a magic wrinkle remover.
How is our skin made?
To understand this a little better, let's learn a little about the structure of our skin. Our skin has three main layers.
- The layer underneath: This is called the subcutaneous fat layer .
- Middle layer: The layer above it is the dermis .
- The top layer: The top layer that we see and can touch is the epidermis ( epidermis ) .
The very thin layer on top of the epidermis is called the stratum corneum . This is our protective shield. It prevents harmful substances from entering the body. It also helps to retain skin hydration by preventing water from evaporating from the body.
According to Cleveland Clinic dermatologist Alok Vij, MD, the cells in this layer can absorb water. "But that doesn't mean you can sit in a tank of water and absorb water, or that you can stop aging by drinking water," he says.
Skin 'Bounce Back'
But, if you don't have enough water in your body, that is, if you're dehydrated , the cells in that top layer (the stratum corneum) don't get enough water. Then if you press your skin a little with your finger and let it go, it doesn't bounce back as quickly. That's why we say it doesn't 'bounce back'. But when you drink enough water again and rehydrate, your skin bounces back as quickly as it used to. This just shows that dehydration affects the elasticity of the skin.
What does science say about this?
To be honest, there's very little scientific research on the relationship between drinking water and controlling skin aging. One small study had people drink 2.25 liters of water (about 9-10 glasses) a day for 4 weeks. It found that people who drank less water than usual before the study had slightly increased skin thickness, but the results were not clear.
In fact, as we age, the two proteins in our skin called collagen and elastin break down. These are what give the skin its strength and elasticity. When they are lost, the skin becomes thinner, sags, and wrinkles form. So, drinking water cannot stop this loss of collagen and elastin.
However, drinking water is extremely important during hot weather, as the chances of dehydration are high. Dehydration can be a very dangerous condition for your health.
So what is really good for the skin?
If drinking water alone can't make your skin beautiful, what can we really do? According to medical experts, healthy skin is a combination of several factors. Let's look at this in a table.
| Myths | What Actually Helps |
|---|---|
| Drinking lots of water helps to reduce wrinkles. | Using a good moisturizer daily. |
| Drinking water can help reduce skin pores. | Apply sunscreen daily (even on cloudy days). |
| Drinking only water makes you look younger. | Avoid smoking and excessive alcohol consumption . |
| Water is the solution to all skin problems. | Eating a balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables . |
Follow these things for healthy skin
1. Use moisturizers: A moisturizer helps to keep your skin hydrated and prevents it from drying out. They hydrate the top layer of your skin and make it smooth. Choose a good moisturizer that suits your skin type and isn't too expensive.
2. Sunscreen is a must: The harmful ultraviolet rays (UV rays) in the sun are the main factor that accelerates skin aging. This is a major cause of wrinkles and blemishes. Therefore, using sunscreen every time you go out, whether it's a rainy day or a day at home, is a must.
3. Healthy lifestyle: Smoking and excessive alcohol consumption are very harmful to the skin. These habits destroy collagen and cause the skin to sag quickly.
4. Take care of your nutrition: Your skin reflects what you eat. Even doctors say that people who eat a good diet of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, healthy fats, and lean proteins can see amazing changes in their skin.
Take-Home Message
- Just drinking lots of water won't get rid of wrinkles or stop aging. That's a big myth.
- Water is essential for overall health and to prevent dehydration. A healthy body leads to healthy skin.
- If you really want to improve your skin health, use a good moisturizer and sunscreen daily.
- Avoid smoking and excessive alcohol consumption. Eat a balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables.
- If you have a specific skin concern, don't just believe what you read on the internet, but consult a qualified dermatologist for proper advice.
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