Skin hydration is essential for many reasons beyond looking healthy and well-rested. In fact, hydrating the skin from the inside out is key to nourishing and feeling healthy and radiant. When the skin is properly hydrated, it can automatically function to block any external and harsh elements naturally.
Still, the best defense against dehydration is prevention. That said, below are the tips to keep the skin hydrated and healthy:
Drink more water
While many people understandably assume that drinking lots of water will keep skin hydrated, many variables can impact skin hydration. The skin is also affected by diet, lifestyle, environment, and skincare routine. Drinking more water can be good, but make sure to alter and improve the other variables to legit rehydrate the skin and keep it that way.
Use Hydrating Skincare Products
Water-based products are recommended for dehydrated skin since they penetrate and deliver water that is vital to the skin. The products containing hydrating agents like glycerin, hyaluronic acid, urea, and ammonium lactate can preserve skin hydration.
Look for the following hydrating ingredients:
- Hyaluronic Acid. This plays an essential role in hydrating the skin and maintaining its elasticity. Hyaluronic acid’s water-binding properties help replenish the skin and prevent early aging signs.
- Glycerin. One famous ingredient has hydrating properties to relieve the skin from feeling dry and itchy.
- Urea. A widely used ingredient that loosens and breaks down hardened protein, relieving the skin of roughness and itchiness.
- Ceramides. These are skin-replenishing ingredients, like the cement that supports the bricks of a building. They make up and repair the skin’s barrier, preventing water loss and retaining moisture.
- Panthenol. This ingredient penetrates through the skin and imparts moisture to the cells. It also prevents trans-epidermal water loss, which improves skin barrier functions by stimulating cells that boost the same.
Protect the skin from the sun
To protect the skin also means to protect it from the sun. Too much skin exposure can cause wrinkles, age spots, and other skin problems like skin cancer risk. To completely protect the skin from the sun, below are helpful tips:
- Use sunscreen. A broad-spectrum sunscreen (SPF of at least 15) can help protect the skin when outside. It is also best to generously apply sunscreen and reapply every two hours or more when swimming or sweating.
- Seek shade. Ensure to avoid the sun at its strongest hours between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
- Wear protective clothing. Cover the skin with tightly woven long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and wide-brimmed hats specifically designed to block ultraviolet rays.
Eat a healthy diet
A healthy diet can significantly help a person look and feel best. Hence, some foods below are acknowledged to be skin-healthy.
- Tomatoes have skin cancer-prevention benefits, which decrease skin cancer development by 50 percent after UV light exposure.
- Mangoes have antioxidant properties, and the compounds found in mangoes help protect skin components, such as collagen.
- Olive oil helps lower the risk of severe facial photoaging, including dark spots, wrinkles, and discoloration resulting from too much exposure to the sun.
- Cocoa flavanols are found in dark chocolate that may improve skin structure and function. In fact, scientists discovered that this food increases hydration, decreases skin roughness and scaling, and protects against damage from UV rays.
- Green tea compounds called polyphenols rejuvenate dying skin cells and may be helpful for healing wounds or certain skin conditions.
- White tea has anti-aging and anti-cancer properties. In fact, some of the white tea’s ingredients may protect the skin from oxidative stress and immune cell damage, as indicated by one study.
- Kale is one best source of zeaxanthin and lutein. These two may protect against light-induced skin damage, especially UV rays.
- Omega-3 found in walnuts, oily fish, and pumpkin seeds or oils like linseed oil and corn oil may prevent skin’s dryness and scale.
- Soy is best known to improve crow’s feet skin wrinkles that appear at the outer corner of the eyes in menopausal women.
Avoid very hot and long showers.
Although the feeling of a long and hot shower sounds relaxing, bathing for long hours can eradicate the skin’s barriers. This may result in moisture content loss and necessary oils that can dehydrate the skin. Instead, using lukewarm water while bathing is ideal.
Get a beauty sleep
Beauty sleep is free, which also helps diminish dark circles around the eyes and improve skin tone. In fact, the recommended speed for adults should be in between 7 and 9 hours daily. When the amount of time is less than the required hours, it could affect the health detrimentally, particularly the skin.
While sleep quality may also significantly impact skin function and aging, chronic sleep deprivation may also be linked with diabetes, immune deficiency, cancer, and obesity. On the other hand, those poor sleepers may be affected by increased signs of premature skin aging and a decreased ability for their skin to repair itself at night from environmental stressors. The body enters repair mode during deep sleep and regenerates skin, muscles, blood, and brain cells.
Exfoliate weekly
Periodically, sloughing off dead skin cells helps ensure the moisturizers absorb better—once or twice a week should suffice. More frequent mechanical exfoliation can ruin the skin barrier and cause increased dryness and irritation. Also, it is best to exfoliate with a humectant ingredient that reduces moisture loss, like glycolic or lactic acid.
Manage stress
Stress that is uncontrolled can make the skin more sensitive and trigger acne breakouts and other skin problems. To encourage healthy skin and a healthy state of mind, take steps to manage the stress. To address the stress, it is best to get enough sleep, set reasonable limits, scale back the to-do list and make time to do the things that are enjoyed the most.
Final Thoughts
The skin needs to be appropriately cared for in order to remain hydrated. Having good skincare and healthy lifestyle choices can help delay natural aging and prevent various skin problems. Enhance Medical Aesthetics offers Skin Boosters, a safe and effective procedure designed to avoid premature skin aging, restore skin density and maintain skin glow.
