Does Drinking Water Really Help Acne?

We all know the feeling - You wake up day after day, and the pimples just won’t seem to go away. As one heals, another appears. No matter how many times you wash your face or how many products you use, you just can’t seem to gain control over your acne. Even more frustrating is repeatedly being told to drink more water - but that doesn’t seem to work either. You wonder, “Does drinking water really help acne?”

Here, we’ll show you how dehydration impacts your skin health and why you can’t just drink water every day to get better skin. Plus, you’ll learn how the right oral rehydration solution can help fight the dehydration that dries out your skin and lead to more breakouts.

What Causes Acne?

Acne occurs when hair follicles and glands in your skin become blocked. Your body produces natural oils — known as sebum — to keep hair follicles lubricated. Sometimes, the glands that produce sebum secrete too much of it. This extra sebum combines with dead skin cells and toxins and clogs pores, leading to acne breakouts.

Your skin may produce excess oil if you eat an unhealthy diet, live in an area with high pollution, don’t cleanse your skin, or simply due to genetics. Acne can also occur after using certain medications, cosmetics, or skincare products. In addition, weight loss and changes in hormones — like puberty and pregnancy — can lead to breakouts. If you suffer from severe acne, get medical advice from a dermatology expert. They can offer treatment options like salicylic acid and recommend cleansers and moisturizers that can support clear skin.

How Proper Hydration Can Help Your Skin

The good news is that proper hydration can help remove toxins that can affect skin conditions like acne. In your body’s natural detox system, your kidneys and liver remove toxins and other wastes. Water is an essential component of this waste removal system. By making sure you get enough water and electrolytes to stay hydrated, your kidneys and liver can remove any toxins that may clog in your pores and cause acne.

Your body also eliminates toxins through sweat. In fact, research shows that sweating may actually benefit your skin by removing bacteria that can cause pimples and blemishes. Sweat can also contain antimicrobial peptides like dermcidin, which fight bacteria and prevent it from clogging your pores.

However, when you sweat, your body also secretes water and electrolytes like sodium to the surface of your skin. Your body needs these minerals and fluids to remove waste products and carry out essential functions like muscle movement. If you don’t replace these lost fluids and electrolytes quickly, this is when dehydration sets in.

Does Drinking Water Help Acne?

If drinking water was a sure-fire way to clear up acne and banish it for good, everyone would do it. The truth of the matter is, it isn’t that simple. Drinking enough water can result in minor improvements in the look of your skin, but it won’t eliminate acne completely.

However, it’s still no secret that hydration plays a role in skin health. In fact, most skin experts and dermatologists recommend two key skincare techniques: using sunscreen and drinking plenty of water. Even though the answer to “does drinking water help acne” isn’t a resounding yes, hydration is incredibly important for skin health. While drinking water won’t cure acne, it can help improve the overall appearance of your skin.

Electrolytes and Your Skin

Your skin is the largest organ in your body, and it’s made up of 64% water. But the fluid in your skin also contains charged minerals known as electrolytes. These include calcium, potassium, and sodium. These minerals are essential for healthy skin as they help support skin hydration and elasticity.

Because water doesn't contain many electrolytes, water alone is not the best choice for tackling conditions like dehydration, which can exacerbate acne and other skin conditions.

Electrolytes like sodium boost water retention, helping to reduce dryness and excess oil production that can cause acne breakouts. Potassium also helps to lubricate the skin, reducing the risk of breakouts. Electrolytes also play a role in pH balance. Studies show that high pH levels correlate with an increased incidence of acne breakouts. By staying hydrated, you can ensure your body has the right amount of electrolytes and fluids to protect and support healthy skin.

Fight Skin-Aggravating Dehydration With DripDrop

While drinking a few glasses of water can be part of a hydrating routine and help to remove toxins, it can’t cure your acne. That’s because acne can be caused by a host of factors, including genetics, which water intake alone can’t solve.

However, you can support overall skin health by making sure you stay properly hydrated with the use of water and an oral rehydration solution.

DripDrop provides medically relevant electrolytes that your body needs to tackle dehydration, which can impact your skin. The patented formula provides medically relevant electrolyte levels, improving on the World Health Organization’s Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS) standards.

For cases of mild to moderate dehydration that can affect your skin’s health, DripDrop is a fast, effective, and great-tasting remedy. The convenient packaging allows you to have DripDrop when you need it, where you need it. Add the packets and a water bottle to your purse, work bag, or gym kit to have a high-quality dehydration protocol on hand wherever you go.

Get started with our most popular multi-flavor pouch for dehydration relief fast. Or, learn more about how you can save up to 25% on every purchase when you subscribe.