Does the Amount of Water You Drink Affect Your Eczema? – National Eczema Association

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By Angela Ballard, RN

Published On: Feb 1, 2024

Last Updated On: Feb 1, 2024

Dry skin is a common eczema trigger. If skin gets too dry, it can easily become brittle, scaly, rough or tight, which can lead to an eczema flare. This is why moisturizing with eczema-friendly ointments and creams is a key component of daily eczema management.

But what about drinking a lot of water? Can water consumption help reduce eczema symptoms? Does the amount of water you drink increase the amount of moisture on your skin? Is there a connection between hydration on the inside of your body and the moisture of your skin on the outside?

While these might seem like relatively logical assumptions, experts we spoke with indicated there isnt scientific data to back up the idea that increasing internal hydration beyond normal levels leads to more hydrated skin and fewer eczema symptoms.

The effectiveness of adequate water intake as a measure to treat dry skin is still under debate, said Dr. Paul Yamauchi, a cosmetic, medical and surgical dermatologist in private practice at the Dermatology Institute & Skin Care Center in Santa Monica, California.

In a 2023 study on atopic dermatitis and optimum water intake, researchers found that among people with lower than normal water intake, additional water intake did increase hydration in the top layers of the skin.1 But, for those already consuming the recommended fluids, there is very little data to suggest an added benefit to drinking more, and there is no published data on the effects of fluid intake and skin hydration in children.

Whether you have eczema or not, you should drink the recommended amount of water determined by the Institute of Medicine, part of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, said Dr. Yamauchi, who is also a clinical assistant professor of dermatology at the University of California, Los Angeles. However, dont over consume water, he added. You will simply urinate it out, and excessive consumption could lead to a [potentially dangerous] imbalance of electrolytes. The best and proven way to hydrate your skin is applying a good moisturizer every day, after showering or bathing.

The Institute of Medicine of the National Academies indicates that the average adult should consume about 3 liters of water per day through fluids and hydrating foods.2 Thats 2.7 liters for women and 3.7 liters for men, with increased amounts needed in hot weather or to replenish excess exercise-induced sweating.2

Another simple way to figure out how much water you should drink is to take your weight in pounds and divide it by two, and thats the amount of water in ounces that you should aim to consume per day, said Victoria Garcia-Albea, a dermatology nurse practitioner at Lahey Clinic Dermatology in Burlington, Massachusetts. Even coffee and tea count, but avoid excess amounts of sugary drinks and alcohol, which can increase inflammation. If you consume the recommended amounts, there is no solid evidence that drinking more will help your eczema or even that drinking less will make your eczema worse.

Wondering if youre getting enough water? Check your urine. When youre hydrated, your urine should be clear or very light in color, according to the Urology Care Foundation.3

References:

1. Douladiris N, Vakirlis E, Vassilopoulou E. Atopic Dermatitis and Water: Is There an Optimum Water Intake Level for Improving Atopic Skin?. Children (Basel). 2023;10(2):273. Published 2023 Jan 31. doi:10.3390/children10020273

2. Report Sets Dietary Intake Levels for Water, Salt, and Potassium To Maintain Health and Reduce Chronic Disease Risk. National Academies Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. https://www.nationalacademies.org/news/2004/02/report-sets-dietary-intake-levels-for-water-salt-and-potassium-to-maintain-health-and-reduce-chronic-disease-risk. Published February 11, 2004. Accessed January 17, 2024.

3. Urology Care Foundation. The Meaning Behind the Color of Urine. https://www.urologyhealth.org/healthy-living/care-blog/2018/the-meaning-behind-the-color-of-urine. Published August 22, 2018. Accessed January 17, 2024.

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Does the Amount of Water You Drink Affect Your Eczema? - National Eczema Association