Skin Hydration: Why Is It So Important. By:cznurse1

Hydration of body and skin go hand and hand.  The cheapest and best way that one can make sure that their body and skin is hydrated is: to drink 6 to 8 glasses of water ( fluids without caffeine daily: caffeine acts a natural diuretic taking fluid away from skin).  Yet, as the years of exposure to the elements of nature wear down our skins leaving the feet of crows behind and wrinkles; and in our youth into our thirties our skin is left with oil and acne: hydration of the skin is important. Yes, no matter what a persons age or skin type skin hydration is important.

Those with oily skin may say that I am crazy.  I am not.  Oily skin and hydration are two different things.  Just because skin is oily does not mean it does not need hydration. Many people with cystic acne have dry skin in places. Many times those with acne using oil drying products to control break out are in the most need of hydration using topical product, since many times the drying products treating the oily/acne skin dry out the skin so much; that the skin glands start to produce more oil.  This happen in teens and young adults (sometimes into the thirties) often.  The individual uses the anti acne drying products, and the skin gland defend the skin by producing more oil.  Why does the skin produce more oil as one uses product to decrease oil, because oily skin attracts moisture and poorly hydrated skin is not good for the skin health. The body's defense mechanism for the skin is: as product removes oil, moisture is depleted in the skin, and if skin  moisture is not replaced by a topical moisturizer then the skin gland will produce increased oil.  The skin reacts to the oil, which hold moisture, being removed from the skin by producing more oil.  To prevent this in a skin system for oily acne prone skin, a moisturizer must be included.

As we grow older, skin that has been hydrated from the inside with water( 6 to 8 glasses a day) and moisturized daily: will do better than skin that has not been.  With the oily skin of the teenage years, young adult years, and thirties for many; the skin gland have the defense mechanism of producing more oil which bring more moisture to the skin. As we grow older our skin does not regulate our fluid balance as much and eventually not at all.  As we grow old and these defense mechanism go down (the skin gland no longer kick in oil keeping moisture in our skin) the natural elements our skin is exposed to (wind, rain, cold, heat, etc); start to wear down the skin.

How should all type of skin hydrate their skin for a life time.  All types of skin should drink 6 to 8 glasses of water a day. All types of skin should use a moisturizer.  Many companies have moisturizers that are made of specific type of skin, since the moisturizing needs for a teen with oily skin are different from those of a 40 years old woman who's moisturizing defense system may be compromised. This should be taken into consideration when a moisturizing and skin care program is used/purchased. Moisturizing alone will not prevent wrinkles and crow feet, age will come no matter how much one moisturizes; but skin will look healthier with a smooth and moist look; instead of a dry, scaly, blotchy, and unhealthy looking skin.  To prevent and fill in wrinkles or to rid one of acne scares; other products will have to be uses.  Yet,a good moisturizer will help to keep ones skin healthy; but will only slow down the process of aging:other products will have to be used that specialize in getting rid of wrinkles to reverse/prevent the signs of aging (crow feet, wrinkles).  As good hydration of the body(6 to 8 glasses of fluid a day), will slow down the signs of aging in skin as it matures.