As the weather gets a little chillier, you may find your skin getting drier, flakier and more prone to itchiness. While slathering on toners, serums and moisturisers are key to bolstering skin health, hydrating and moisturising your skin from the inside-out is key too. The skin needs nutrients to help heal and repair itself, and these work on a cellular level to keep your skin smooth and supple.
The skin’s natural moisturising factor (NMF) is a protective barrier that protects your skin and seals the moisture in it. Eating right can help rebuild this barrier keep your skin hydrated from within. “The skin, being the largest organ is your first barrier against any infection. So it’s important to maintain its integrity. The skin is made up of collagen, and the lipid layer holds onto the moisture. Eating food items rich in good fats, protein and vitamins helps maintain this barrier and hydrate the skin from within,” says Mumbai-based medical doctor and nutritionist Dr Vishakha Shivdasani. “Moisturisers can help prevent transepidermal water loss, but if your moisture barrier is weak, fixing that first is important,” says dermatologist Dr Madhuri Agarwal, founder, Yavana Aesthetics Clinic, Mumbai. Here’s how you can take a 360 degree approach to hydration.