Does drinking water really help your skin?

To remain healthy, moist and supple, your skin needs plenty of hydration. Drinking water is one of the best and easiest things you can do to help keep your skin in top shape. Here are some of the ways that water can benefit your skin.

Your body is almost seventy percent water; it's the main ingredient in lymph, blood, mucus and other fluids in your body. Proper hydration is essential to the free circulation of bodily fluids, and water serves a variety of functions in the body. Not only does it assist in circulation, it helps flush toxins from the body, it helps in digestion and the absorption of nutrients, and it ensures that those nutrients reach the body's cells.

Your skin also needs water to retain its elasticity and health. Skin cells are layered, and a lipid barrier fills the gaps in order to keep fungi, bacteria and germs out. With no water, that lipid barrier dries up, resulting in cracked skin and increased risk of infection.

One of the earliest symptoms of dehydration is dry skin. Most people need between 6 and eight glasses of water per day, but those living in dry or hot climates, and those who are active, will need more. Drinking water maintains the lipid barrier between skin cells, and it increases blood flow to the skin so that it gets all the nutrients it needs to function at its peak.

Dry skin looks flaky and dull, so drinking water is an easy way to keep it looking healthy and youthful. Dry skin can over time lead to a suppressed immune system, because cracks can allow viruses, fungi and bacteria into the body. Over a period of time, the decreased immune function can inhibit the skin's ability to self-exfoliate, and dull, lifeless skin can result.

Drinking water regularly can minimize acne breakouts, and it supports kidney function and aids in the removal of toxins. Make sure you drink enough water, and your body will be more efficient at flushing those toxins, resulting in fewer clogged pores and healthier skin.