How to Stay Hydrated this Winter
By: Aakriti Ramayani, Dr. Poonam Desai
Dry Skin? What to do this winter? Here are Dr. Desai’s 3 tips to keeping your skin hydrate
“You must drink at least 8 glasses of water a day” – frequently mentioned by medical professionals all around the world. Ofcourse, water is essential for life, and is crucial for proper functioning of organ systems – but how important is water REALLY for our skin?
Keeping our skin hydrated has been repeatedly proven to prevent aging. Essentially, adequate hydration allows for increased elasticity of skin, preventing the formation of wrinkles, and loosening of skin.
Stay Hydrated
- Drink enough water! So how much is enough? Most people need about four to six cups of water each day. The daily four-to-six cup rule is generally for healthy people. How much water you should drink also depends on your age, if you’re pregnant, exercise, or live in a warmer climate, and much more.You may have heard that you should aim to drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day. How much you should actually drink is more individualized than you might think.
Hydrate Skin Products
- Hyaluronic Acid (HA)! – So are you moisturizing your skin in at attemp to keep it hydrated? Well here is my little tip → Hyaluronic acid is the key molecule found in the layers of the skin that keeps skin hydrated! With its unique capacity to retain water, hyaluronic acid is frequently associated with maintaining skin hydration and preventing skin aging. Interestingly, as we get older studies have shown a marked reduction in the epidermal (outermost layer of the skin) hyaluronic acid content, leading to loss of moisture and increased susceptibility to UV radiation. So, what can you do to help? Adding a moisturizer or serum with hyaluronic acid to your skincare routine may help maintain levels of HA, and decrease the progression of skin damage that occurs with aging.
Best Way to Hydrate your Skin
- The magic 3-minute window – moisturize away!- We all know the importance of keeping our skin moisturized. But, did you know the importance of WHEN!? Believe it or not, there is an optimal time frame you should follow when moisturizing. According to dermatology and allergy guidelines, moisturizers should be applied on the skin within 3 min after bathing or showering. Yes, that is correct – just 3 minutes! When you moisturize while your skin is still damp, the moisturizer is better able to lock in the water on your skin, elongating the effects of the moisturizer. So, make sure to keep a bottle of lotion handy near your shower!
Diet and how it affects hydration
- Last but not the least – modify your diet! – Incorporating the right foods into your diet can make a significant difference in the appearance of your skin. Particularly, water-rich foods can help hydrate your skin when topical treatments are falling short. It is said that food moisture accounts for over 30% of total water intake (TWI). Therefore, it is imperative to know which foods have a high water content, so you can start adding them to your diet today! Some common examples of water-rich foods (and their water content percentage) include:
Fruits:
- Watermelon – 92%
- Strawberries – 91%
- Cantaloupe – 90%
- Peaches – 89%
- Oranges – 88%
- Tomatoes – 94%
- Grapefruit – 88%
Vegetables:
- Cucumbers – 95%
- Lettuce – 96%
- Zucchini – 94%
- Celery – 95%
- Bell peppers – 92%
- Cauliflower – 92%
- Cabbage – 92%
Taking care of your skin this winter could not be any easier! These are just some quick ways to ensure your skin is getting the moisture it needs. You can start making these changes as quickly as today – so why wait?!