Understanding Skin Hydration

Hydration and Anti-ageing; What is the link?

Next to oxygen, water is the most crucial element required to sustain life. Correct hydration levels contribute to healthy regulation of necessary biological functions. Conversely, dehydration impairs and degrades physiological function thus contributing to and accelerating the ageing process. Hydration allows for the healthy absorption of vital nutrients and effective elimination of waste products. Dehydration can create imbalance. It can release histamine and increase stress hormones which in turn trigger inflammation. It can disturb pH levels, interfere with critical brain chemicals, disturb digestion, create skin rashes and more.

What Causes and Contributes to Dehydration

Dietary: A lack of adequate water intake is a key factor in dehydration. Nutritional imbalances and a diet lacking fresh whole foods in correct quantities also contributes to dehydration significantly.

Stressors: Stress comes from a wide variety of sources. Physical stress, emotional stress, mental stress and environmental stress all take a similar toll from a biological standpoint. This is due to the way which stress initiates the flight or fight response which puts into motion a full range of innate strategies. When Stress occurs for prolonged periods of time these natural responses can compound to create negative consequences.

*No Guilt!: Eliminating stress from one’s life is impossible and feeling guilty about stress is counterproductive. Accepting that stress is part of life is a critical component in forming creative and effective strategies for its management. These can take many forms, even in just the simple choice to keep a water bottle with you all day.

Aesthetic Related Effects of Dehydration

inflammation – bloating – changes to hair texture – alopecia – brittle nails

Symptoms of Dehydrated Skin

itchiness – redness – blotchy & uneven skin tone – acne breakouts – eczema & psoriasis – irritation around eyes – dryness of tissue – rough surface – slowed wound healing – dullness

How to Create and Maintain Skin Hydration

In order to sustain the required hydration it is wise to be proactive in incorporating interventions which will aid in this goal. These could include:

Psychosocial Support: A healthy support system can help defeat the negative effects of stress through changing our responses, expanding our skill set, and processing our experiences. A robust support system can include partners, family, and friends, gym buddies, parent support groups, counselling professionals, faith-based organizations and more.

Nutritional Support: Intentional intake of adequate water will support the body. Amounts should shift to reflect that physical exertion, temperature etc. Healthy fats and essential oils as well as whole foods which don’t spike blood sugars can have a positive impact on maintaining cellular hydration. Limiting stimulants, sugars, and alcohol can be rewarding, and similarly eliminating inflammatory foods and supporting a healthy gut microbiome.

Aesthetic Intervention: Many anti-ageing aesthetic treatments are built around delivering and maintaining hydration within cells. These can serve to boost and enhance other efforts and help mitigate dehydration related ageing!

HA Skin Boosters: These injectables deliver Hyaluronic Acid (HA) deep within dermal layers to attract and retain moisture naturally. For more detail, please click here.

IV Skin Brightening – While the power of a ‘drip’ to rehydrate during illness is well known and depended on, IV treatments can now be employed electively. Clients can discuss nutritional and skin concerns with Dr Clark and then have a specially formulated deeply hydrating IV treatment in relaxing comfort at SAI. Learn more here &/ go directly to the IV September Specials.

Topical Homecare – The correct moisturising homecare product works to preserve, supplement, and protect moisture levels within the dermis. Product choice should be appropriate for skin type and the environmental season. For professional assessment of what will deliver results for you; contact SAI’s helpful Staff. Shop our Online Store. For more on how Homecare Moisturizers work, you can click here to learn more.

Restoration of Skin Hydration

Has your skin been affected by less than optimal moisture levels? Regardless of what has contributed to skin dehydration, you can take action to rehydrate your skin, restore moisture, and arrest the ageing process. The treatments detailed above can all be employed to restore balance and moisture. Depending on your aesthetic goals it may be beneficial to combine or package multiple treatment series. This allows for the skin to be fully supported during the restoration process. It also allows for powerful targeting and effectively addressing more significant dehydration issues. Adequate treatment will work to corrects signs of visible ageing but even more importantly, it will build the platform for improved cellular function. Correct moisture levels will serve not only your skin but total body wellness.

Visit our SAI Specials Page for superb savings on the ultimate hydrating treatments.

September Special:  Save 10% on Individual IV Skin Brightening or Save 20% on IV Packages Series.

• Shop Dr Clark’s curated collection of professional products from the convenience of home; here at our SAI Online Store. *Free deliveries on orders over R750!

Contact SAI today on 011 883 3116 / 060 718 2178 to book your appointment. Our trained Staff will answer any questions

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