Water is essential for all of life and your skin is no exception. Drinking water benefits your skin at any age but aging skin requires more water since it loses fluid as you get older. Your skin protects you from the environment as well as allowing you to feel sensations such as hot and cold. Drinking plenty of water can help keep your aging skin at its best.
Water
The average adult body is made up of 55 to 65 percent water. The brain consists of almost 70 percent water. Water is essential for hydrating your organs, lubricating your joints and carrying oxygen and nutrients throughout your bloodstream. It is considered to be a universal solvent, according to the U.S. Geological Survey website, which gives it the ability to transport chemicals, minerals and nutrients with it and distribute them throughout the body.
Skin
Skin is the body's largest organ, weighing in at around 8 lbs. for the average adult. The skin has three layers which help to waterproof, insulate and guard against extreme temperatures, damaging sunlight and harmful chemicals, according to the National Geographic website. The outer layer of the skin is called the epidermis and is made of the protein keratin. The middle layer, the dermis, provides the skin with its strength and elasticity, as well as housing the sweat and sebaceous glands. The innermost layer acts as a cushion and insulation.
Aging Skin
When your skin ages, the outer layer of skin becomes thinner, paler and translucent, according to Medline Plus. It loses its ability to retain moisture and large pigmented spots, often called age spots, may also appear. Changes occur in the connective tissues which reduce your skin's elasticity and strength. The blood vessels underneath the skin become more visible and fragile. The sebaceous glands produce less oil and the sweat glands produce less sweat, causing dry and broken skin. Aging skin injures easily, takes longer to heal, will often sport wrinkles and becomes very dry.
Significance
A gradual loss of extracellular and intracellular fluids occurs in the normal aging process, according to the Heart Spring website. The percentage of water in the body declines as you age. This decline in water contributes to the visual appearance of aging skin. Inadequate amounts of water intake can intensify and accelerate the loss of water in the body's tissues. This can cause the skin to age more quickly. Dehydration also increases the risk for skin injury and problems. Aging skin is often dry, which can lead to itchy skin that feels rough and scaly.
Considerations
Aging skin can benefit from other factors as well. Humidifiers add moisture to the air, which can help dry skin that is associated with aging. Prevention of aging skin symptoms is possible but lifelong. Limit your time in the sun, use sunscreen, wear protective clothing, avoid tanning and always supply your body with adequate amounts of water.
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