Water is needed by all organs, tissues and cells of the body to keep them functioning. So your largest organ, the skin, also needs water. It’s actually a very simple science: skin cells are made up of water, and it is important that these cells are adequately supplied with water.
Replace all drinks with water.
Avoid ALL soft drinks. So not ONLY sugary sodas. Especially light sodas. Artificial sweeteners are not good for your skin. This is because these diet drinks are bad for your gut and therefore trigger skin conditions such as acne or rosacea, which develop as a result of inflammation.
Sugary drinks cause cortisol, the body’s stress hormone, to skyrocket. This triggers inflammation, which can cause a variety of inflammation-related skin conditions from acne to eczema.*
So this doesn’t mean you can only drink water. It means drink water as a base. (Read more in step 2).
Drinking ONLY water can be boring. Adding 1 super ingredient to your water will not only make it delicious, but will also help you fight acne. Here are some ideas for superfoods:
Water with 1 slice of lemon, half a litre a day max.
Hot tea with a slice of ginger, maximum half a litre per day.
Water with 2 strawberries for flavour.
Water with a handful of crushed blackberries.
Hot tea with green tea, max. 1 cup per day.
Not drinking enough water leads to dehydrated skin and clogged pores.
By keeping your skin hydrated, you help it flush out unpleasant toxins on your skin and in your body. Drinking at least 4 litres of water a day is one of the best ways to flush toxins from the body that cause acne. It also helps to keep the skin hydrated.
Well hydrated skin allows the skin to maintain healthy skin cell rejuvenation and collagen production. This helps heal acne and reduce inflammation from acne pimples and acne scars on the skin.
Increasing water intake to at least 4 litres per day also helps to lower blood sugar levels. As mentioned earlier, high sugar consumption can lead to acne. Balancing blood sugar levels through proper water consumption also helps detoxify the skin.
PS: Don’t drink too much water! It is bad for your skin and your health if you drink too much water.
Alcohol directly affects your skin by causing dehydration and inflammation. Alcohol has several side effects that increase the risk of acne, including hormone changes, suppression of the immune system and increased stress. The sugar in some alcoholic drinks increases the risk of skin damage and skin infections.
What to do. Replace water-depriving foods with foods that contain lots of water. Think bok choy, cucumbers, tomatoes and lettuce.
Despite its many benefits, drinking water is not a panacea for acne. It is just one of the many things you need to do to beat acne for good.
Sources:
2018 study published in the Journal of Pediatrics. https://www.jpeds.com/article/S0022-3476%2818%2931208-3/fulltext
