Feeling drier than the Sahara but still breaking out like crazy? Dehydration could be the culprit! You already know that staying hydrated is essential for your overall health, but did you know that dehydration can be a major contributing factor to acne, especially on a cellular level?
When our bodies lack sufficient hydration, it affects our skin in unexpected ways. Dehydration disrupts the flow of essential minerals needed to nourish our cells, leaving your skin more susceptible to acne and other skin conditions. Follow our guide to learn more about the benefits of prop hydration, things to avoid, and easy tips to incorporate into your daily routine to keep your skin healthy and hydrated.
How Dehydration Leads to Acne
When your skin isn't properly hydrated, it struggles to regulate oil production. This imbalance can lead to clogged pores and bacterial growth, both key contributors to acne. On a cellular level, dehydration impairs the function of our body's cells, exacerbating skin issues, including acne.
Additionally, when dehydrated, your body tries to compensate by retaining water, resulting in higher levels of proteins like albumin. This imbalance can trigger ongoing health problems, including stubborn breakouts.
Dehydration can also disrupt your hormonal balance, increase cortisol levels, and leave your skin looking dry, dull, and lifeless --there's a difference between dehydrated skin and dry skin.
Benefits of Proper Hydration
While staying hydrated helps with acne, there are numerous other benefits of proper hydration, including improved digestion as water aids in breaking down food and absorbing nutrients, helping to prevent constipation and promote a healthy digestive system, and enhanced brain function including memory, focus, and overall mental clarity. It can also help reduce the risk of headaches!
Other benefits include:
- Increased Energy Levels: Staying hydrated helps maintain energy levels and can prevent feelings of fatigue and sluggishness.
- Better Physical Performance: Hydration is crucial for muscle function and joint lubrication, enhancing athletic performance and reducing the risk of muscle cramps and strains.
- Detoxification: Water helps flush toxins out of the body through urine and sweat, supporting kidney function and overall detoxification.
- Healthy Heart: Proper hydration helps maintain blood volume and pressure, reducing the strain on the heart and supporting cardiovascular health.
- Temperature Regulation: Water is essential for regulating body temperature through sweating and respiration, helping to prevent overheating.
- Immune Support: Staying hydrated ensures that your body's cells function optimally, which is crucial for maintaining a strong immune system.
- Joint Health: Adequate hydration helps maintain joint lubrication and cushioning, reducing the risk of joint pain and conditions like arthritis.
- Mood Stability: Dehydration can negatively impact mood and increase stress levels. Staying hydrated helps maintain emotional balance and reduces irritability.
8 Tips to Staying Hydrated
So, how much water should you drink? We recommend consuming 60% of your body weight in ounces.
Start your day with water to help kickstart your hydration (bonus points if you include fresh lemon and a pinch of sea salt!), aiming to drink at least 8 glasses of filtered water daily. You can keep a cute reusable water bottle to remind yourself to sip throughout the day. And yes, filtered water is best!
Here are other ways to stay properly hydrated. It's easier than you think!
- Eat Water-Dense Foods: Include fruits and vegetables with high water content in your diet. Great choices include cucumbers, watermelons, oranges, strawberries, and celery.
- Limit Caffeine: Anything that speeds you up can cause breakouts; this goes for coffee. Caffeine without adequate hydration raises cortisol and testosterone levels. Swap caffeine intake with matcha, black tea, or green tea for your afternoon pick-me-up! It's a great way to hydrate and take advantage of their health benefits.
- Avoid Alcohol: Alcohol can dehydrate your body and mess with sleep, which negatively affects your hormones. Plus, it's high in sugar, inhibits vitamin absorption, and halts any healing in the skin. Always hydrate with water before and after consuming alcohol.
- Coconut Water: Coconut water is a natural electrolyte drink that can help maintain hydration levels, especially after exercise.
- Regular Water Sipping: Instead of gulping all your water in one sitting, try sipping water regularly throughout the day to keep your hydration levels in check.
- Set Reminders: Use phone apps or set alarms to remind yourself to drink water regularly, especially if you have a busy schedule. Be your own cheerleader and use encouraging messages throughout the day like "You got this, 4 more glasses" or "hydrated skin = healthy skin" to support your progress.
- Hydrating Supplements: Consider supplements that support hydration, like electrolyte tablets, especially if you're active. An easy way to understand if dehydration is sabotaging your skin is with the Acne Lab Test, a customized blood test with personalized results, guidance, and recommendations from industry-leading acne specialists.
Unlocking Clearer Skin Through Hydration
Hydration is more than just quenching your thirst—it's a vital component of your skin health and overall well-being. By maintaining proper hydration, you can help regulate oil production, reduce breakouts, and enjoy numerous other health benefits. If you’re struggling with stubborn acne, consider taking the Clearstem Acne Lab Test to uncover the root causes and receive personalized recommendations.
