Happy Hydration, Happy Skin

Understanding the Link Between Hydration and Skin Health

Staying well-hydrated is essential for healthy skin. Water helps maintain moisture levels, supports skin elasticity, and ensures your skin is functioning at its best. Proper hydration supports skin barrier function, protecting it from environmental stressors like pollutants, UV radiation, and harsh weather.

How This Can Present on Skin

• Barrier Function: A well-hydrated skin barrier retains moisture and protects against irritants and pollutants, helping to minimise dermatitis (eczema), allergies, and flare-ups.

• Dryness and Tightness: Lack of hydration can lead to tight, dry, and flaky skin, making it more vulnerable to irritation and environmental damage.

• Fine Lines: Dehydrated skin can appear less firm, causing fine lines, or making existing ones more noticeable. The lack of moisture can create the appearance of reduced elasticity such as sagging.

• Sensitive Skin: Insufficient hydration can make the skin more prone to redness, irritation, and sensitivity.

• Healing: Dehydrated skin may take longer to repair damage or wounds.

• Oil Balance: Dehydrated skin can lead to overproduction of sebum, causing breakouts or clogged pores

Tips for Better Hydration and Healthier Skin

Drink Smart: Aim for 6–8 glasses of water daily. Add lemon or cucumber for flavour if needed.

Limit Dehydrating Drinks: alcohol, caffeine, and sugary drinks, which can dehydrate the skin.

(Explore more in [Happy Gut, Happy Skin].)

Watch Water Quality: If hard water irritates your skin, use a filter or rinse with soft water.

(Explore more in [Happy Home, Happy Skin].)

Eat Your Water!: Incorporate water-rich foods like cucumbers, watermelon, and leafy greens.

Protect your skin barrier: Choose skincare that mimics the skin’s natural structure to help retain water without being occlusive or heavy.

(Explore more in [Happy Skincare, Happy Skin].)

Hydrate Topically: Use serums or creams with humectants like hyaluronic acid, aloe vera, or glycerine to lock in moisture, but ensure they are free from common allergens and irritants to maintain skin comfort and health.

Avoid Over-Exfoliation: Harsh and excessive exfoliation can increase Transepidermal Water Loss (TEWL) and damage the skin’s ability to retain moisture, leading to dryness and sensitivity.

Need help?

Staying hydrated is about building good habits. If you’re unsure how to start, try keeping a water tracker or researching hydration tips online for inspiration.

Is There Public National Guidance on the Effect of Hydration on Skin Health?

Not really. While some affiliated NHS resources, such as Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust and NHS Somerset, acknowledge that hydration supports skin health, this messaging isn’t part of official national NHS guidance. Their public leaflets mention that drinking enough water can help maintain skin elasticity and softness, and may help prevent some skin-related issues, but these insights aren’t reflected in broader public health campaigns.

So what about the rest of us?

There is currently no public-facing guidance that clearly links hydration - either from drinking water or topical skincare - with skin health as a recognised benefit. The evidence is there, but it hasn’t yet made its way into national messaging or everyday advice. Curious? You can check the official NHS list of dehydration symptoms here. Notice anything missing?

The Skin Well™ believes this matters. Because when skin is left out of hydration conversations, the public is left without the full picture.

Trusted Sources (Not a Complete Catalogue)

Here are a few official UK resources on hydration - some include references to skin health, particularly in local or affiliated NHS materials:

• NHS – Water, Drinks and Nutrition
  https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/food-guidelines-and-food-labels/water-drinks-nutrition/
  Explains the importance of staying hydrated for overall health, but does not currently highlight benefits for skin.

• British Dietetic Association – Skin Health
  https://www.bda.uk.com/resource/skin-health.html
  Clearly states that healthy skin needs good hydration and advises drinking enough fluid as part of skin care.

• British Nutrition Foundation
  https://www.nutrition.org.uk
  Focuses on hydration’s role in key body functions such as cognition and temperature regulation, without referencing skin health.

• Healthy Hydration – Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust
  Hydration-leaflet.pdf
  An NHS-affiliated resource that specifically mentions water’s role in keeping skin soft and elastic.