5 Ways To Keep Your Skin Hydrated

While there are non-negotiable reasons to get your daily dosage of H2O, a surprising fact is that hydration has a lot more to do with everything else than just water itself. “If you pinch the skin on the back of your hand and pull it upwards your skin should snap back rapidly when you let it go. If it doesn’t and takes a few seconds to return to normal, you might be dehydrated,” says Dr Jaishree Sharad, a Mumbai-based celebrity dermatologist and author of Skin Rules. The goal, then, is not just to drink litres of water a day but to make sure it gets inside your cells. “Hydration refers to the water content within the cells that leads them to swell and be plump and bouncy, thus reflecting light well. If water flows out of the cells and the cells are dehydrated they can become shrivelled, which leads to lustreless skin and accelerated ageing process,” explains Dr Pankaj Chaturvedi, MD director, consultant dermatologist, and specialist hair transplant surgeon at MedLinks, Delhi.

Here are five ways to achieve true hydration: 

1. EAT YOUR WATER

To fight cellular dehydration,  the first job is to build better, stronger cells with highly functional membranes. When it comes to macro membranes, the intake of fibre and electrolytes is paramount. Fibre helps absorb and manage water better, and plenty of fruits and vegetables contain other valuable micronutrients such as silica, which assists in proper hydration. “Fruits and vegetables that have a water content of at least 70 percent—like watermelon, apple, orange, avocado, lettuce, spinach, tomato, celery, zucchini, radish, and broccoli among others— should be a part of your diet,” says Dr Sharad.

2. ESSENTIAL EXTRAS

Electrolytes such as sodium, chloride, potassium, magnesium, and calcium help in building the electrical charge that is necessary for proper hydration. The more electrolytes you have in your body, the better it absorbs water. Natural coconut water is a great choice, for instance. However, it’s important that you switch between plain water and the electrolyte-rich option without sticking to one.

3. FLUID OPTIONS

Instead of drinking plain water shift to drinking gel water, also known as structured water. Due to its density, it is able to conduct electricity in the body far more efficiently than plain water, therefore assisting in cell hydration. A simple way to make it is to add lime juice and Himalayan salt to water—the electrolytes help produce gel water. Other delicious alternatives are water with chia seeds, aloe vera juice, smoothies, and bone broth.

4. SKIN RENEW

Our skin has the ability to produce its own hyaluronic acid, a superstar hydrator that can hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water. But the efficiency decreases as we age and it leads to visible signs of ageing. What work are moisturisers with water-attracting nano-hyaluronic acid. According to a study by The National Center for Biotechnology Information, Maryland, USA using nano-hyaluronic acid for eight weeks showed up to 40 percent decrease in depth of wrinkles, and 96 percent increase in the skin hydration level; skin firmness and elasticity were also enhanced up to 55 percent.

5. HYDROTHERAPY

If you’re looking to hydrate your body quickly, seek help from your trusted dermatologist. Dr Geetika Mittal Gupta, founder and medical director at ISAAC Luxe, Delhi recommends these treatments:

Reviv's Hydromax IV Therapy: It is a correction therapy that restores hydration, rebalances body salts, flushes out build-up of lactic acid, and detoxifies the body by delivering minerals, antioxidants, and electrolytes.

The Water Shine Glow Treatment: The hyaluronic acid filler promises improved skin tone, better elasticity, firmer and lifted skin, and hydrated cells.

Deesse Pro Led Phototherapy: This works by recharging and energising cells by using three light wavelengths together. LED Red has powerful anti-ageing and anti-inflammatory effects on the skin, Blue normalises oil production and purifies and decongests acne, and Near Infra-Red is for pigmentation and scar reduction.