Water is the most important nutrient for skin health and general wellbeing. Our bodies are made up of 45-55% by weight of water and this water needs to be continuously replenished.

Our bodies constantly lose water. On average one and a half large glasses per day are lost through our breath, while our bowel and kidneys excrete six glasses of water every day and, depending on the temperature, at least two glasses of water are lost through our skin.

Our bodies aim to maintain fluid balance. This means that fluid output must equal fluid intake. The main way the body can regulate this is to alter the amount of water excreted from the kidneys. So if you don’t drink enough water, your body will compensate by reducing the quantity of urine you produce, which impacts on the amount of waste able to leave your body. We need to ensure that we drink enough to enable our body to constantly replace and refresh the water it contains.

If our intake of water is too low, dehydration will occur. Despite every effort, our body cannot compensate for this imbalance, as some output (loss) of fluid will occur as long as life continues. Dehydration or lack of water causes the chemical reactions in our cells to become sluggish, cells can no longer rebuild tissue, toxic products accumulate in our bloodstream, enzyme action is inhibited and we can feel weak and tired.

On the other hand, it’s just as important not to drink too much water. This can overtax our kidneys and risk flushing out important water-soluble vitamins and minerals.

So other than promoting good health, what does water do for our skin?
Our dermis, the lower layer of our skin, is very reliant on water. It is made up of a jelly, which is made up of a large amount of water (80%) in which our collagen and elastin fibres are embedded. Correct water levels are crucial in maintaining the moisture and flexibility of these fibres.

Water is also crucial for the upper layers of our skin (epidermis). Enzymes naturally found within the epidermis are reliant on water in order for them to remain active. Without adequate water levels, enzyme action is inhibited and the skin begins to suffer.

Considering all of the health benefits of water, there is no doubt that this is one of our best beauty aids – taken both internally and externally. And it’s a relatively inexpensive way to have healthier, more radiant skin!