Stratum Corneum is the outermost layer of skin in the epidermis layer. Moisture content in this layer can be crucial for overall skin health and texture. Balancing of cellular fluids depends on the level of hydration in the inner layers of skin like the dermis and subcutis.
Hydrating properties of skin can determine the balancing of moisture levels. Perspiration is one of the major causes of water loss from the skin layers. When you swat more, your body naturally demands higher intake of water and fluids.
If you are able to substitute for the dehydration with sufficient intake of fluids, the hydration levels will be automatically balanced.
One of the typical ways in which skin hydration can happen is by attracting moisture from the air molecules surrounding the skin and retaining it. Presence of phospholipids in the skin layers can do the trick.
Phospholipids are lost from skin layers due to many reasons. Sun, pollution, skin cleansers, detergents and other forms of chemicals strip the skin off phospholipids. It results in the inability of skin layers to hold moisture content. When such condition persists, no matter how much of water you intake the skin will not be able to retain it.
The top layer of skin cells will not be able to replace the lost phospholipids by themselves. So the primary task of hydration is to restore these lipids. For this your skin needs emulsifiers. They can be obtained by consumption of nuts and berries. Green leafy vegetables also contain natural emulsifiers. They get onto the outermost layer of skin called the Stratum Corneum. They perform the task of restoring phospholipids in this layer.
Skin Hydration Treatment
Apart from restoring the phospholipids for retaining moisture, your skin needs consistent supply of moisture to its layers. This can be accomplished in two distinct ways, namely external and internal channels.
Most of the external channels are through applying natural moisturizers like Aloe vera, moisturizing fluids, creams and lotions. They can provide moisture to the external layers of skin.
Most important internal sources of moisture are water, fruits and veggies. That means your diet plays an important role in balancing the hydration levels of your skin internally.
- By applying Aloe Vera gel on your skin surface regularly you will be able to provide moisture content.
- Consumption of watery fruits like watermelon can help to great extent.
- Drinking 4 to 5 litres of pure water, starting with 1 litre in empty stomach in the morning can dramatically increase the level of skin hydration without having to depend too much on external sources.
- Cleansing the large intestine through hydrotherapy can lead to Detox of body and skin. The treatment can enable the skin to hold more moisture content as the toxic elements are cleaned up.
- Antioxidants can help in retaining water content within skin cells by preventing it from drying. One of the typical reasons for dry skin is the oxidation of skin cells by free radicals. These radials are generated from sun’s UV radiations and other artificial sources. They start penetrating the skin cells and removing the water molecules from them. The cells start drying out, aging prematurely. Tightness of intra cellular bonding also gets reduced leading to formation f wrinkles and aging lines.
- Vitamin C and other types of vitamin serum is used by dermatologists to restore the skin moisture. Some of the important ingredients of these serums are listed below.
Ingredients for Skin Hydration
Brown Algae
Brown algae have the natural properties of moisturizing your skin from the Stratum Corneum layer till the dermis layer. They contain rich sources of starch, sugar, sodium, calcium and vitamins (A and C).
These ingredients are helpful in building of collagen within the cell layers which tighten the intra cellular bonding between cells and tissues. Once this process is initiated the wrinkles on skin go away, leading to enhanced elasticity.
Moreover brown algae help in removal of dead skin cells and formation of new cells, leading to new skin layer formation at the Stratum Corneum. This process is helpful in delaying the aging of skin to considerable extent.
Tourmaline
Tourmaline is a natural mineral that helps in balancing the skin oil content. It removes excess of oil generated by sebum during oxidation process. It makes way for retention of moisture and water content within the skin cells for relatively longer period of time.
Neem
Neem oil is extensively used for the purpose of hydrating the skin layers from the Subcutis region till the Stratum Corneum. Neem helps in the process of Detox. Many of the bacteria, virus and other infectious elements are eliminated from the skin due to regular usage of neem.
Dryness of skin is not just an external process due to heat and humidity alone. Liver, pancreas, intestine and blood vessels play important roles in balancing the water content of skin.
When any of these organs start accumulating toxic wastes generated from the body, the result can be directly experienced by the skin. It starts drying out leading to many skin complications including infections and blisters.
As you are aware dry skin is more prone to formation of blisters than moisturized skin. Heels, toe gaps, toe nails, feet and legs are most prone to blisters formation. Neem oil extract helps in protecting the outer layers of skin and preventing drying. It also helps the cells to retain the water molecules leading to consistent moisturizing.
Neem helps in hydration of muscle layer just blow the skin layers. It ensures adequate supply of water to the skin cells and prevents cracking of skin at the surface. Once this process is initiated it prevents formation of skin blisters.