Wellness – EsBella

7 Ways Drinking Water Helps Improve Skin

Many people underestimate the power of drinking water and the positive affects it can have on your skin and your overall health. Your skin is the largest organ in your body, protecting you, storing lipids and water, preventing fluid loss and serving as thermoregulation. Drinking more water is the most natural way to get that beaming, glowing and healthy skin we all want.

Let’s take a look at 7 ways drinking water helps improve skin.

#1. Sagging Skin

Rapid shedding of fat or extreme weight loss may cause sagging skin. Many people tighten their skin by water fasting, but this is an unhealthy method and can actually do grave damage to your skin. By drinking ample amounts of water day-in and day-out, you can slowly tighten your skin and maintain a healthy glow.

#2. pH Balance

It is important to maintain a good pH balance in your skin. The pH of any substance ranges from 0-14 with 14 containing the most alkaline and 0 being highly acidic. A pH value of 7 is neutral and is the exact pH value of pure water. The reason you need to drink more water is to ensure that your pH value is balanced, giving you healthy skin. The reason it is important to wash your skin thoroughly with water after using face wash is to maintain the correct pH balance.

#3. Flush Toxins

Drinking water will flush out the toxins in your body, especially the harmful toxins that can take a toll on your overall health. By increasing your water intake, you can flush out the toxins in your body to improve the health of your skin and your body. Many people go on juice diets in order to flush out toxins, but maintaining a healthy diet and drinking water will help flush out toxins just the same.

#4. Reduces Wrinkles

Water keeps your body hydrated and refreshed and helps maintain your skin’s elasticity. People who drink large amounts of water are less likely to suffer from scars, wrinkles, and soft lines and they won’t show as many signs of aging as those who drink little amounts of water. As you grow older, it is tougher for your body to retain water, so by inputting more water into your system, you are helping your body and your skin stay hydrated.

#5. Prevents Pimples and Acne

Certain kinds of toxins will clog your small pores on your epidermis and can cause issues like acne and pimples. By drinking more water, you ensure that you won’t suffer from severe pimples and acne. The more hydrated your skin, the less your pores will clog.

#6. Moisturize

Not only should you drink a lot of water, eight glasses a day to be exact, but you should also use it to clean your skin thoroughly. It may not seem ideal to take a bath or shower every day, especially during the colder months, but it is great for your skin to cleanse your body with water to clear our and unclog pores to keep your skin moist and healthy.

#7. Elasticity

If you have a lack of elasticity in your skin, it may be that you are dehydrated. To check your skin’s elasticity, gently pinch your skin and see if it bounces back. If it doesn’t bounce back, you need to drink more water to hydrate yourself and to plump up your cells. Areas such as the skin under your eyes can become dark if you lost elasticity and are not hydrated.

How much water should you be drinking a day?

The amount of water you should drink in a day depends on metabolism, weight, height and your daily routine. Generally, adults should drink between 5 and 8 glasses of water everyday, and even more if needed. Always make sure you are drinking at least six glasses a day to stay hydrated and healthy.

From helping your skin maintain elasticity, to reducing wrinkles and fine lines, water can do amazing things for your skin and for your overall health. At Pure Luxe Medical Spa we offer skin treatments such as the honey enzyme facial, fire and ice facial and exfoliating clear skin facial, along with clinical peels, microdermabrasion and so much more. We also offer a wide array of medical grade skin care products to keep your skin looking youthful, healthy and beautiful.

Skin Care Wellness

The Anti-Acne Diet: What to Eat (And Not Eat) for Clear Skin

It’s no secret that the food we eat affects our health, but did you know that our diet can also impact our skin? We hate to be the bearer of bad news, but some of the yummy things you’ve been eating may be triggering acne (gasp).

To learn more about this, we chatted with a dermatologist and holistic nutritionist. Keep reading to learn how exactly diet affects the skin and acne and what foods to indulge in and what foods to avoid in an anti-acne diet to keep your skin clear and glowy.

How diet affects skin and acne

Acne is typically caused by pores that become clogged with dirt, bacteria, and dead skin cells. The clogged pores then lead to inflammation and cause pimples. So how does food come into play? Our bodies need to break down and digest the food we eat, absorb nutrients from it, and then eliminate it (yes, we’re talking about poop). When you consume healthy foods, it’s easy for the body to go through that process. Junk food, however, is another story.

“The body cannot break down ‘fake’ foods or foods that have preservatives and artificial ingredients,” says holistic nutritionist Sally Pansing Kravich, MS, CNHP. “Since the skin is considered the largest organ, foods that do not break down often will not eliminate through the elimination channels of the bowel and kidneys, and instead create an overload and come out in the skin.” So if your body can’t eliminate the food properly, it will eliminate it through the skin as breakouts.

3 foods that cause acne

1. Dairy

Now that you’re clued in on how food affects acne, let’s talk about what particular foods to avoid if you have acne-prone skin. Diary, sadly, is at the top of the list of foods to avoid. Sorry cereal lovers!

Here’s why: “Dairy is a mucus former, and most people eat dairy products with a starch,” Kravich says. “This combination creates hardened mucus which comes out through the skin. [Furthermore], many people are missing an enzyme that helps digest dairy products, which is especially true as we age. If we are missing the enzyme that helps to digest milk proteins, they can solidify and come out via the skin.”

Unfortunately, this means that it’s advised to avoid foods with dairy such as bagels and cream cheese and pizza (sigh) for optimal skin health. However, there is some wiggle room. Kravich says having organic plain yogurt with equal size fruit like blueberries and papaya or a limited amount of hard cheese in combination with fruit or veggies is cool to consume.

According to board-certified dermatologist Tsippora Shainhouse, MD, FAAD, of SkinSafe Dermatology and Skin Care, the link between dairy consumption and acne is likely due to the added growth hormones in the milk that trigger oil glands to go into overdrive, which then triggers acne. Even organic milk and milk products without added growth hormones still contain natural hormones that can lead to increased acne.

2. Sugar

“High-glycemic foods can trigger spikes in one’s blood sugar, which may increase inflammation in the body and in turn can trigger acne flares in people who have an underlying predisposition to this type of acne,” Dr. Shainhouse says. “Blood sugar spikes may also increase sebum production by the oil glands, which could trigger a breakout in acne-prone pores.”

In other words, according to studies, eating less sugary foods results in less acne. So staying away from cupcakes and candy might be a good idea for both your health and your skin.

Wine

3. Alcohol

There’s nothing wrong with Netflixing with a glass a wine (or two), but if you struggle with acne rosacea, you may want to think twice. Dr. Shainhouse says women with acne rosacea may notice their skin get red and develops acne lesions when they drink alcohol. Also, she notes that drinking alcohol can also dehydrate your skin, making it more prone to acne breakouts.

If you have an inkling that dairy, sugar, or alcohol may be the culprits behind your breakouts, Dr. Shainhouse suggests avoiding them for a month or two to see if it reduces acne flares. You can also keep a food diary and share it with your doctor or dermatologist who can help create an anti-acne diet plan specific for you.

Sweet potatoes

Foods that are good for acne-prone skin

Now let’s dive into what foods you can freely indulge in. We’ll preface this by saying that there isn’t much research that demonstrates which foods can or can not combat or prevent acne. Generally speaking, though, foods that are healthy and easy for your body to digest are typically what is best. Specifically, Kravich recommends filling up your anti-acne diet with lots of fruits and veggies.
“Vegetables build vibrant health and healthy cells while fruits are cleansers and antioxidants,” Kravich says. In particular, she recommends stocking your grocery cart with celery, cucumber, carrots, sweet potatoes, blueberries, acai (hello, antioxidants!), lemon, papaya, and apples to help keep your skin clear.

The takeaway

So there you have it. Your anti-acne diet includes lots of fruits and veggies and less inflammatory foods such as dairy, sugar, and alcohol. With that said, it’s not a one-size fits all approach. So be sure to consult with your dermatologist and keep a food diary to help you pinpoint what foods may be contributing to flare ups.