How to Moisturize the Skin From the Inside

Add moisture in your body to quench dry skin.

Your skin is the largest organ of your body. It receives nourishment from what you put in your body and what you put on it. Daily and nightly applications of lotions, moisturizers and heavy creams only take care of the outer problems, adding or temporarily trapping moisture in skin cells. To moisturize your skin effectively, you must take in enough water and nutrients to help your skin maintain a natural balance.

Things You'll Need

• Omega-3 fatty acids
• Safflower oil
• Corn oil
• Soybean oil

Instructions

1. Drink 64 to 80 oz. of water every day. Water in the body means moisture for your skin. In addition, limit your intake of caffeine that can dehydrate your body and your skin.

2. Add omega-3 fatty acids to your diet. Normally associated with fish and fish oil, these powerful antioxidants help moisturize the skin and protect it from UV damage. However, you don’t have to swallow another pill or eat fish every day to have health skin. Instead, eat 20 almonds a day as a healthy afternoon snack.

3. Learn to cook with safflower, corn or soybean oil. When added to your diet, these oils have been proven to allow greater penetration of water through the cell walls, keeping skin hydrated and supple. These powerful internal moisturizers may even help the severely dry skin associated with eczema.

4. Limit or avoid salty foods. When you eat salty foods, they make you thirsty because the salt is pulling moisture from you body. The same goes for your skin.

5. Eat healthy. The way you eat not only affects your waistline but also your skin. The more fruits and vegetables you eat the more moisture and nutrients your skin will receive.

6. Take time for yourself and relax. Stress causes hormonal imbalances in the body that can lead to decreased oil production and dry skin. Yoga, meditation or just turning off the phone and curling up with your favorite movie can help you achieve healthier skin.

Tips & Warnings

• Consult your physician if changes in your diet and skin care regimen do not improve your dry skin. Sometimes dry skin is the result of more serious conditions such as eczema or psoriasis.

References

• "Women's Health": Healthy Skin From the Inside Out
• Women to Women: Holistic Skin Care — Healthy Skin from the Inside Out
• "Prevention": Best Supplements for Women: Skin Health
• Mayo Clinic: Dry Skin