Beauty

#MythNoMore: Does Drinking Water Actually Help Your Skin?

Nidhi Kavle  |  Sep 6, 2017
#MythNoMore: Does Drinking Water Actually Help Your Skin?

We’ve all heard everyone go gaga about the beauty benefits of drinking *lots* of water for healthy skin that’s supple and happy along with all the quotes on water consumption that encourages us to believe in the benefits of water. But why do all the models and celebrities swear by it? Does it really work, you wonder? Myth or Fact? Let’s dive in!

 

Also Read 11 Amazing benefits of Drinking water

Here’s what happened when I tripled my daily intake of water for 10 days.

Day 1: Of course, I was peeing a *lot*. So ensure that when you’re guzzling those gallons you easy have access to a washroom at all times.

Day 2: I didn’t notice any real difference. I was just annoyed by the amount of water I was drinking and the number of times I needed to get up to pee.

Day 3: On the third day, my body was craving water. If I skipped my usual hourly glass of water, I was thirsty!  

Day 4: Drinking all that water didn’t seem like a chore anymore, my body got used to the increased water intake and the frequency of those washroom visits reduced. I was getting naturally inclined towards drinking more water.

Day 5: I realized that I wasn’t as hungry anymore. I was eating lesser and I wasn’t craving that mid-day sugar either.

Day 6: My skin looked healthy, and for the first time in a very long time I was actually having a good skin day.

Day 7: I felt my digestion improve, as a person who’s always riddled with digestive issues, I felt the change in my body.

Day 8: I lost 1 kg – doing absolutely nothing! I couldn’t believe the scale, I went over to the gym and weighed myself again! I finally started to realize that the ‘2 bottles of water a day concept’ I believed to be enough, were actually not. My body seemed to be dehydrated, causing water retention – which was the 1 kg I lost, while I was on this myth-busting experiment.   

Day 9: I felt great, my skin looked better and I had more energy. I wasn’t wearing makeup and noticed I didn’t need to conceal those 6 month old blemishes that always peek through. They actually appeared to have gotten lighter! This came as a surprise to me, because over the past few months I tried multiple home remedies and store bought treatments to lighten those blemishes on my cheek, nothing seemed to work.

Day 10: While I was twirling over my new found love for this ‘new’ skin, I realized that I didn’t break out, not a single pimple, ALL WEEK! Seemed unreal, I couldn’t remember the last time I went to bed without using a heavy duty overnight pimple zapping treatment! And to think I spent 2 years, and an obscene amount of money trying out a bunch of different products to get my skin to look happy, glowy and healthy!

To  be able to give you an unbiased review I didn’t change anything about my diet, fitness or skincare routine for these 10 days. I washed my face morning and night using my Avene Clenance Gel and followed it up with my Sebamed clear face gel. I followed the same routine I’ve been on for months.

Also Read How Much Water Should You Drink Every Day In Marathi

Buy the Avene Clenance Gel here for Rs. 1400 and the Sebamed Clear Face Gel here for Rs. 500

The Results:

After almost 2 years of battling angry skin, I was finally happy with the way my skin looked, I had no complaints. My skin was plump, glowy and on it’s way to healing. Who’d have thought the solution to all your problems would be something so simple and inexpensive? I am definitely going to keep up this increased water intake routine!

If you want to try to up your daily water intake, these easy tips might help

  1. Start slow, add one extra bottle/glass per day.
  2. Don’t go overboard. Drinking TOO much water is not recommended.
  3. If regular water is too boring, try infused water. Think lime, apples, oranges, apples, anything that will make you WANT to drink more water!
  4. Buy yourself a cute bottle or a big sippy cup. Motivation is key!
  5. If you have the memory of a goldfish, download an app to help you remember to have a glass of water every hour! I use the Daily Water – Drink Tracker and Reminder App.

Expert Speak:

I asked dermatologists to weigh in and give us their views. Here’s what they had to say…

 

“Skin contains 64%  water. It can get dehydrated due to lack of hydration, A/Cs, cold climates, creams containing retinol or glycolic acid, hypothyroidism and even hot showers. Drinking about 2 to 3 litres of water definitely helps the skin stay hydrated , supple and radiant. Water also helps flush toxins out.” – Dr.Jaishree Sharad, Skinfinity, Mumbai 

“It’s true. Drinking water is really good for the skin. Water hydrates your body and skin. Drinking less water leads your body to dehydration, this reflects on the skin. It looks dull, parched and loses its radiance. Dehydrated skin is more prone to skin problems and sun damage. Drinking water also maintains our metabolism and adds a natural glow to the skin.” – Dr. Chiranjiv Chhabra, Skin Alive, New Delhi

The Verdict:

As I said, my skin has never looked better. As someone who has been battling with adult acne (and losing!), the fact that I haven’t gotten a single zit in the last 10 days says a lot. Drinking a good amount of water every single day should be a way of life, it’s great for your skin as well as your overall health, but of course you still need to take good care of your complexion along with upping your intake of H20!

Read this post to find out how! 

Internal Images: Shutterstock

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