Bringing moisture back to dull and dry skin

 We’ve all heard that drinking eight glasses of water every day keeps the |skin hydrated. But while that statement seems logical – our skin needs water, |and drinking a lot of water should hydrate the skin, but there isn’t enough scientific evidence to support this hypothesis. 

The reality is that not drinking enough water can leave your body, as well as your skin, dehydrated. Drinking extra water, however, has not been proven to add moisture to the skin. 

Thirsty skin needs more than just water. Many factors are required to keep the skin from getting dehydrated, among them proper nutrition, plenty of sleep, outdoor exercise, and drinking enough fluids.

Just drinking water will not always keep your body hydrated, as electrolytes are also needed to carry the water into the cells. The best way to ensure electrolytes balance is to eat plenty of fruits and vegetables.

In addition to fruits and vegetables, your skin also needs fat. Those on a low-fat or fat-free diet for a prolonged period of time might notice their skin becoming dry. Not getting enough fat can deprive our bodies of skin-friendly Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs), which can protect against water loss within cells and through the skin, helping to prevent dryness and keeping skin supple and hydrated.

To hydrate the skin, you need two approaches – inside out, and outside in. 

From the inside out, you can maintain healthy skin by eating good food to ensure the skin gets the nutrients it needs. Flavonoids, for instance, are essential for the skin, since they slow down the destruction of collagen, preventing loss of skin elasticity. Vitamin C is involved in the production of collagen, while vitamin E helps protect cell membranes and guards your skin against UV damage. 

From the outside in, you can replenish the skin by using a moisturiser. An effective moisturiser must be able to penetrate the skin’s outer layer to |reach the cell-creating layers beneath. |Look for hydrating ingredients such as chamomille, rosehip, and aloe vera. 

Other beneficial ingredients include lactic acid, linolenic acid, flaxseed, evening primrose, safflower and borage oils.

Dry and dull skin doesn’t always lack only water. Other causes include collagen and elastin depletion, build-up of dirt and make-up residues, lack of sleep, and stress. Seeking help from an experienced dermatologist is vital to determining the cause and planning solutions.

You might want to consider using technology to plump up the skin, such as E-smooth. E-smooth stimulates the production of collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid of the skin, making |it look hydrated, full, and fresh. 

It delivers fractional radiofrequency (RF) through micro needles to heat up the skin.

The volumetric deep dermal heating reaches the collagen fibres causing an immediate and long-term tightening effect. 

It offers effective hydration, stimulates growth of dermis, accelerates blood circulation, stimulates the growth of collagen and reduces rashes.

You can notice results after the first treatment, and they will continue to improve over a period of three months. Three sessions are recommended, and results may remain for 12-18 months. |E-smooth is a good option for those who do not want to experience pain during |the treatment, and do not want the downtime involved in other more invasive treatments. 

And by all means, if you enjoy drinking a lot of water, continue to do so. In this kind of weather, I am sure your body appreciates it. 

 

THANISORN THAMLIKITKUL MD is a member of the American Society of Cosmetic Dermatology and Aesthetic Surgery and certified in dermatological laser surgery. Send your questions for her to [email protected]