Words of Wellness

Summer is here and it’s here to stay!...at least for a little while. You’ve got your beach day’s picked out and you're ready to lounge about, but is your skin ready? Practicing healthy skin care this Summer can lead to happy, moisturized, glowing skin. Let’s explore hydration versus moisturizing.

To understand water in the skin, it’s important to understand the skin’s main functions. Skin serves as a barrier between us and the outside world, preventing infections, barricading pathogens, and helping us to survive. When the body is hydrated, skin cells contain approximately 30% water, enabling them to remain more flexible and resilient and provide more protection. A simple way to determine hydration in the skin is to gently pinch the skin on the back of your hand or lower abdomen and observe how quickly - or slowly- it returns to its normal shape. If it returns to its state rather quickly, you are hydrated, though if it takes some time, this could be an indicator that you are dehydrated. Hydration can thicken the skin, meaning that it functions better as a protective barrier when adequately hydrated. The skin also provides other functions such as temperature regulation, immune defense, vitamin production and general sensation.

The skin's ability to maintain itself is hindered when it produces insufficient natural oils, causing dry skin. Dehydrated skin is caused directly by an insufficient amount of hydration going into the body.

Whereas hydration begins in the body, moisturization begins outside. Moisturizing is a preventative act to help the skin maintain its hydration and aid in water retention that passes through the skin by adding and locking in moisture. Moisturizing regularly helps strengthen your skin's barrier, creating a strong protective barrier against external stress. One of the best ingredients to look for in a moisturizer is hyaluronic acid which is able to draw water like a sponge, holding up to 1000 times its weight resulting in plumped skin.

Dehydration in the skin can pose major complications for your body's ability to optimally function. According to Harvard Health, a healthy person should be consuming between 4-6 cups of water a day, though there really is no one-size-fits-all answer. In times of dehydration, the body slows down important functioning processes so that enough water is available for vital ones. Someone who is dehydrated may feel lethargic, irritated, or even confused as the brain functions slow and concentration is impeded.

Other symptoms of dehydration include…

• Extreme thirst

• Dry lips, mouth or skin

• Drowsiness

• Feeling unbalanced or dizzy

• Loss of appetite

• Mild to moderately less frequent urination

• Chills

• Decreased ability to sweat

Did you know that your skin is actually your biggest organ? Better known as the epidermis and functioning as such, it is so crucial to take proper care of it through various steps to keep it healthy and happy. Proper moisturizing, eating nutritious meals, and monitoring your skin for changes in appearance all contribute to maintaining your skin’s health.

Aside from aiming to achieve your daily water intake, there are a few other things you can do to help eliminate dry skin AND improve your skin's overall hydration.

• Avoid aggressively hot showers. As cozy and comforting that they might be, too hot may be stripping your skin of its moisture. Opt for a cold bath or lukewarm shower when you can.

• We all love a good exfoliation but too much of anything is never good. Over-exfoliating can increase your risk of dehydration as well as it strips away the skin's natural barrier. Be sure to stick to a routine of exfoliating no more than 2-3 times a week.

• Vitamins, vitamins and more vitamins, especially vitamin D!

• Treat your skin like the queen it is by using a high-quality moisturizer. You can enhance the appearance and hydration of your skin by using a quality hyaluronic acid

• Limit how much alcohol you consume

• Avoid over-eating foods with high sodium contents

• Balance your coffee intake

• Eat a balanced diet rich with essential fatty acids like avocados

• Eat foods high in water content such as coconuts, cucumbers and celery

• Enjoy a humidifier in your home

• Avoid smoking

• Use fragrance-free products when available

• Drink fluids frequently with your meals

After the infamous words of Baz Luhrmann, Everyone is Free to Wear Sunscreen…and they should! To help your skin maintain that cheeky glow this summer, you won’t want to skip that SPF either. Sunscreen Guide - Rated by Scientists | EWG. SPF also plays a vital role in protecting your skin under the harshest conditions of the summer’s UV rays.

In addition to your skincare routine, massage therapy can improve the health of your skin as well. A good massage helps reduce tension in your skin and connective tissues to allow the blood to flow more freely and flushes out toxins from your body. By increasing circulation during a massage, nourishment and hydration are delivered to your skin, making the epidermis feel softer and supplier. A Himalayan Salt Stone treatment is a soothing way to encourage circulation which can improve wrinkles and increase blood flow. You will get the added benefits of a gentle exfoliation from the Himalayan salt stones and topical transfer of the 84 minerals contained in the stones.

Finding out how your skin likes to drink will help you achieve the best results. Hydrated skin IS healthy skin. Once you nail down your body's preferred hydration routine you’ll praise yourself on the lack of wrinkles, improved elasticity, overall glow and just general better feeling skin. In an ideal routine, hydration and moisture should be combined to feel infinitely more energized and ready to go this summer. Then it’s time to hit the beach!