4 Unknown Reasons Water Helps Acne | Does Drinking Water Clear Skin?

When you have acne and ask for advice on how to get rid of it, people usually tell you to drink more water. And you're thinking, "But I already drink a lot of water!" So the real question is: does drinking water help acne?

Well-meaning people often suggest this because they've heard that increasing water intake flushes toxins from your body and leads to clear skin. And while there is some truth to this, flushing toxins has more to do with the kidneys than water alone.

The bigger goal for getting rid of acne is all about reducing inflammation. And water can help with this, just not in the way most people think. Water can also support a balanced microbiome, immune system, and improve skin hydration.

What Causes Acne?

There are 4 main types of acne: comedonal, inflammatory, nodulocystic, and hormonal acne.

Comedonal acne causes blackheads and whiteheads.

Inflammatory acne causes those juicy pustules that pimple poppers get all excited about and post on social media.

Nodulocystic acne causes deep, painful lesions that often lead to acne scarring.

Hormonal acne is the deep, painful nodular cysts that usually appear on the jawline and can happen to people who have never had acne breakouts before.

But the term 'hormonal acne' isn't a real medical term.

All Acne Is Hormonal Acne

All acne is hormonal because hormones act on the sebaceous glands and can make acne worse," says Dr. Muneeb Shah, Board Certified Dermatologist.

Yes, there are different types of acne and they require different acne treatments. But the one thing they all have in common is inflammation which changes normal hormone function and clogs pores. 

Acne is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder that causes clogged pores. And reducing inflammation will prevent clogged pores and breakouts.

The process goes like this.

You eat or drink something with a high glycemic index. This food triggers your body to produce hormones (like insulin) in response to a rise in blood sugar. This leads to a cascade of events with blood sugar spikes chased by insulin spikes which causes androgen levels to rise, which leads to thick, sticky sebum, acne, and inflammation.

Sebum

Your body produces a natural oil called sebum. Normally, it is thin and watery and moves freely out of the pores of your skin to keep your skin clean and healthy. When your body is inflamed, certain hormones in your body change the consistency of sebum and it becomes thick and sticky.

Bacteria

Thick and sticky sebum clogs pores. Then these clogged pores attract an overgrowth of the acne-causing bacteria P. acnes and C. acnes which end up infecting pores and making acne worse. As your skin sheds dead skin cells, this only adds to the problem. Your body responds by pumping out more sebum in an attempt to clear out pores, but this only clogs pores even more and the cycle continues.

Acne Skin Care Routine

Topical acne products, like salicylic acid and azelaic acid, are great for getting down deep into pores and hair follicles and breaking up thick sebum. Healthy skin needs a good acne skincare routine and a good acne diet. But preventing clogged pores in the first place is all about what you eat and drink.

Food

An acne diet has low GI foods which prevent the cascade of events that led to hormonal changes, clogged pores, and acne. It should also have foods that support the microbiome and vitamins needed for skin health like Vitamin D. Water can replace sugary drinks and curb cravings for high GI foods.

Does Drinking Water Help Acne?

No, not directly. There is no research to support the idea that drinking water helps acne directly. Indirectly, water promotes a steady blood sugar when part of a low GI acne diet, plays a role in a healthy microbiome, improves skin hydration, and supports normal kidney function. 

As part of a low GI acne diet, water helps acne by promoting steady blood sugar levels, and a healthy microbiome improves skin hydration and supports normal kidney function.

Water Promotes Steady Blood Sugar

If you want to get rid of acne, get control over your blood sugar. While it used to be a hot topic of debate among Dermatologists, it is now widely accepted that maintaining steady blood sugar levels reduces acne.

A study from the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition shows that following a low glycemic index (low GI) diet improves acne vulgaris.

The best way to help acne is by not eating foods that cause a quick elevation in your blood sugar levels. Avoiding these blood sugar spikes is the best thing you can do for skin health, get rid of acne, and prevent breakouts.

Here's how it works.

Hormones and Blood Sugar

Your blood sugar goes up when you eat foods that have a high glycemic index (high GI). These are foods with white sugar, white flour, processed foods, and sugary drinks. Your body responds to this sudden spike in blood sugar by producing more insulin (a hormone) to bring it back to normal.

When this happens a lot, your other hormones end up being triggered and a cycle of inflammation begins. This leads to a change in the sebum in your pores. It goes from thin and watery to thick and sticky. Instead of moving freely out of your pores, it clogs them up which attracts acne-causing bacteria and you end up with severe acne.

Water Supports Insulin Function

Water can help by improving hydration which researchers have linked to normal insulin function. And when you replace sugary drinks with water as part of an acne diet you will reduce inflammation.

To help you understand more about how to eat to get rid of acne, check out this free 7 day acne diet meal plan and get an in-depth explanation of how to use food as an acne treatment.

Water Supports Your Skin's Microbiome

Water supports your immune system which improves your microbiome and reduces inflammation. Your microbiome is a complex ecosystem of good and bad bacteria, fungi, and yeast. They work in harmony to keep the largest organ in your body healthy.

Studies show that a normally occurring strain of bacteria called Cutibacterium acnes (C. acnes) is involved in the development of acne breakouts. Drinking water can help protect against an overgrowth of C. acnes and P. acnes by improving immune function.

Eating foods rich in probiotics and taking a probiotic supplement will improve the number of good bacteria and keep a good balance.

Water Keeps Your Skin Hydrated

Drinking water keeps your skin hydrated which can improve the overall appearance of your skin. Dry skin has more wrinkles and many people develop dry patches. Studies show it can also trigger your skin to produce more oil which can end up clogging pores.

Use Moisturizer To Trap Water

Drinking water helps keep your skin hydrated which improves the moisture barrier and overall skin health. But it's important to use a good moisturizer. Moisturizer helps reduce what is called transepidermal water loss. This is a natural process of water loss from the skin's surface as it evaporates.

"Drinking water is not likely to profoundly change your acne. However, if you are severely dehydrated, drinking water will improve the overall appearance of your skin," says Dr. Andrea Suarez, Board Certified Dermatologist. "Using moisturizers with occlusive ingredients that seal moisture into the skin, humectants that pull water into the top layer of skin, and emollients that soften and smooth skin cells."

Dr. Suarez recommends Vanicream, CeraVe with SPF, and Aquation because they have occlusive ingredients, humectants, and emollients. They are all inexpensive and have everything your skin needs to lock in moisture.

Water Supports Normal Kidney Function

The primary role of your kidneys is to flush toxins from your body. They filter your blood and remove unwanted toxins through urine. But they need water to do their job well. Staying hydrated helps your kidneys by giving them the water they need to function normally.

Final Thoughts

Drinking water is important for overall skin health and helps get rid of acne. While it doesn't get rid of breakouts directly, it does play an important indirect role. The best thing you can do for your skin is to reduce inflammation in your body because acne is an inflammatory skin condition. Your skin health will improve by eating a low GI acne diet focused on avoiding foods that cause spikes in blood sugar and adding in foods that will improve your microbiota.