If like me, you've fallen deep down the rabbit hole of taking celebrity interviews all too seriously, you’ll be familiar with the gospel of drinking eight glasses of water a day for that coveted hydrated, glowing skin. I even went so far as to download an app to remind me to sip on H20 every hour—guilty as charged! But here's the burning question: Is water alone enough to reach our #SkinGoals? Let's dive into the truth with dermatologist extraordinaire, Dr Kiran Sethi.
The Good & Bad News: Drinking water is like a magic potion for your health—it keeps your organs humming along and wards off dehydration. According to Dr Kiran, aiming for 2-3 litres daily is vital for optimal body function. As soon as you gulp down this elixir of life, your cells eagerly absorb it and shuttle it to your vital organs and skin. But here's the catch: your skin can only take in so much. Downing gallons won't transform you into a glowing goddess because the excess gets booted out by your kidneys. So, those countless trips to the water cooler might not be the skin saviour you hoped for.
Both internal and external foes—think weather, pollution, booze, cigarettes, and a dodgy diet—can still zap your skin's hydration, regardless of your water intake. Water alone won't cut it if your skin feels lacklustre, itchy, sensitive, or shows signs of pigmentation and ageing.
How Do You Keep Your Skin Hydrated? Dr Kiran's golden rule: Don't rely solely on water. Pair up your hydration game with some heavy-duty creams. Look out for heroes like hyaluronic acid and glycerine—they're the dynamic duo that locks in moisture, leaving your skin plump and happy. Trust me, your skin will thank you for this moisture-packed upgrade.