Style Skincare Does Drinking Water Actually Hydrate Dry Skin? Is it possible to tackle dry skin from within? We ask the experts. By Angelika Pokovba Angelika Pokovba Instagram Angelika Pokovba is a lifestyle writer who lives part-time in a corner of the Mayan jungle. She speaks six languages, writes in four of them, and focuses on conscious living and travel. Follow her on Instagram for more barefoot exploring in Latin America and beyond. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines and Elizabeth Graves Elizabeth Graves Elizabeth Graves is the editor-in-chief of Martha Stewart Living. She is a magazine veteran with nearly three decades of experience. Highlights: * Associate editor at Allure * Beauty news editor at Self * Senior editor at Real Simple * Editorial director of beauty, health and fitness at Martha Stewart Living * Beauty and health director at Real Simple * Editor-in-chief at Martha Stewart Living Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on May 26, 2023 Medically reviewed by Hadley King, MD Medically reviewed by Hadley King, MD Hadley King, MD is a board-certified dermatologist who specializes in medical and cosmetic dermatology. She is also a Clinical Instructor of Dermatology at the Weill Medical College of Cornell University.Dr. King is a highly sought after dermatologist in New York City, where she has been treating patients for almost twenty years. She has won numerous awards including Castle Connolly Regional Top Doctor, Top Doctors New York Metro Area, New Beauty Top Beauty Doctor, and RealSelf Top Doctor. Learn More Fact checked by Danielle Slauter Fact checked by Danielle Slauter Highlights: * Has worked as a fact checker for Real Simple since 2022 * Worked as a staff writer for Mochi Magazine * Currently runs and operates the United States blog for Student Beans Our Fact-Checking Process Share Tweet Pin Email In This Article View All In This Article Dispelling the Myth of 'Thirsty' Skin For Better Water Retention, Develop a Skincare Routine Healthy Hydration Practices Environmental Factors Affecting Your Skin Many people, including certain celebrities we will not name here, often claim that the secret to their poreless skin lies in drinking copious amounts of water. Don't get us wrong―there are so many great reasons to drink H2O. It's refreshing, helps your brain function, maintains energy levels, aids in digestion, and ultimately keeps your body healthy. (You couldn't survive more than a few days without a sip.) But is maintaining hydrated skin one of them? Just drinking water does not moisturize skin, according to dermatologists. While hydration is absolutely essential for our body to function properly, oral hydration has no direct link to your skin's hydration. Dispelling the Myth of 'Thirsty' Skin "It is a complete myth that we should drink a lot of water to maintain hydrated skin," says Joshua Zeichner, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City. "Water, first and foremost, enters the bloodstream and is then filtered by the kidneys. There is no data to show that drinking more or less water leads to the skin's quality." (In fact, there's even evidence that shows it's possible to drink too much water.) However, it is true that your skin gets "thirsty." Much like the rest of our body, skin is made of cells, which are largely made of water. Cells lose water throughout the day through things like physical activity, environmental pollution, and just generally living life. This will result in a flaky and dry texture, making your skin more prone to fine lines, aging, and other skin conditions. For Better Water Retention, Develop a Skincare Routine "Your skin's water retention is a function of TEWL, or transepidermal water loss," explains skin expert Charlotte Palermino. "If you have dry skin, your barrier is likely weak or impaired. This means that you don't have enough oil or lipids in your skin to hold on to the water that you have. At that point, no amount of water is going to replenish your skin―you're going to need a cream for that." "The solution is topical rather than internal," agrees Dr. Zeichner. "Rather than drinking water, applying a moisturizer is a far more effective way of addressing dry skin." Stick to the essential steps of skincare, which dermatologists say are cleansing and moisturizing (brands like Malin+Goetz have made entire lines dedicated to the two-step routine). Healthy Hydration Practices When it comes to choosing a moisturizer, the three key ingredients to look for are stearic acid (a type of fatty acid), emollient ceramides, and cholesterol. Yes, cholesterol. "Topically applied, it won't affect your body's cholesterol levels," says Leslie Baumann, MD, a professor of dermatology at the University of Miami in Florida. (In fact, if you're on a cholesterol-lowering medication, which can cause skin dryness, a cream rich in the ingredient may help.) It's also important to find a formulation that contains a combination of humectants to hydrate the skin, emollients to support the skin barrier, and occlusives to lock in moisture. In order to truly lock in moisture, it's advised to apply hydrating cream when the skin is slightly wet, especially after a shower. If your skin needs some extra hydration help, you can go beyond moisturizer by employing targeted serums. That being said, your body (and your skin) still needs water to function properly. "Maintaining adequate hydration is important for our general health, as extreme dehydration can have significant impacts on the functioning of our hearts and kidneys," notes Dr. Zeichner. Environmental Factors Affecting Your Skin Minimizing your exposure to depleting elements―low humidity, harsh winds, dry heat, high altitude, sun, alcohol, long baths―and avoiding stripping soaps can also prevent the loss of natural oils. "Diet can play a role in strengthening your skin's ability to maintain moisture, too," adds Dr. Baumann. Foods rich in the essential fatty acids found in walnuts, flaxseed, salmon, and olive oil can help skin cells stay hydrated. A study by the Institute of Experimental Dermatology in Germany also revealed that women who took flaxseed—or borage—oil supplements (2.2 grams a day) for 12 weeks experienced a significant increase in skin moisture and a reduction in roughness. A healthy diet with three to five servings a week of fatty acids will suffice for the average person, says Dr. Baumann. In short, dry skin is a result of both genetic and environmental factors that cannot be fixed solely by oral hydration. Perfecting skin's hydration is dependent on a multitude of factors working together, in addition to drinking water, to make sure that the rest of your body functions well. Katie Rodan, MD, a dermatologist in the San Francisco Bay area and coauthor of Write Your Skin a Prescription for Change, says it best: "Humans aren't like plants. Our skin doesn't perk up when we consume water." A quarter-size dollop of lotion will do much more for your skin than drinking a gallon. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit Sources Real Simple is committed to using high-quality, reputable sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts in our articles. Read our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we fact check our content for accuracy. Liska D, Mah E, Brisbois T, et al. Narrative review of hydration and selected health outcomes in the general population. Nutrients. 2019;11(1):70. doi:10.3390/nu11010070 Lee JJ, Kilonzo K, Nistico A, Yeates K. Management of hyponatremia. CMAJ. 2014;186(8):E281-E286. doi:10.1503/cmaj.120887 Purnamawati S, Indrastuti N, Danarti R, et al. The role of moisturizers in addressing various kinds of dermatitis: A review. Clin Med Res. 2017;15(3-4):75-87. doi:10.3121/cmr.2017.1363 Neukam K, De Spirt S, Stahl W, et al. Supplementation of flaxseed oil diminishes skin sensitivity and improves skin barrier function and condition. Skin Pharmacol Physiol. 2011;24(2):67-74. doi:10.1159/000321442