Water is essential to the human body. It lubricates joints, keeps tissues healthy, maintains digestion, and aids in keeping people healthy overall. When a person is not taking in enough water, it can have negative effects throughout the body and can lead to significant health problems. Some signs of dehydration are noticeable right away, so a person can focus on drinking more water and reversing these 9 common signs of dehydration:
- Feeling thirsty – Being thirsty may seem like an obvious sign of dehydration, but it’s one that many people ignore, allowing the problem to worsen. Individuals should plan on drinking their prescribed 6 – 8 glasses of water each day, or sipping water throughout the day to keep from feeling parched.
- Tightness – Hydrated skin feels like it can move freely and has a soft and supple quality to it, whereas when a person is dehydrated, it can feel stiff or tight. This is especially noticeable on the face, hands, and lips.
- Rash outbreaks – Conditions like eczema and psoriasis are worsened when an individual is dehydrated, and acne can be worse as oil production goes into overdrive to compensate for a lack of moisture. Without water, toxins are not flushed through the body and rashes occur more often.
- Dryness – Dehydrated skin will look just as dry as it feels. If a white or lighter color mark is left when it is scratched, it’s a good indication that a person hasn’t been drinking enough water. Water will hydrate from the inside out, and applying a rich moisturizer is a good short term treatment.
- Dry mouth and eyes – Adequate levels of water keep all the tissues of the body hydrated, including those in the mouth and eyes. A dry, sticky mouth or irritated eyes are both good indicators of dehydration.
- Fatigue – Water is required to survive and even in mild cases of dehydration, a person will begin to feel listless and over-tired. Individuals can help fight fatigue by increasing their water intake as a first line of care.
- Urine is dark – This is an immediate sign of dehydration that’s easy to identify. When urine is dark yellow or a person feels a decreased need to urinate, there is a good chance they are dehydrated.
- Chronic headache – Being dehydrated can cause anything from a mild, chronic headache to a full-fledged migraine headache. Staying well hydrated is an important way for keep headaches at bay and ensure that all of the tissues in the brain are well lubricated.
- Reduced elasticity – To determine if the skin needs treatment for dehydration, individuals in Walnut Creek can pinch a small area on the back of the hand and see how well the it bounces back. When dehydrated, it will stay in the pinched position before gradually regaining normal shape because it lacks the elasticity that comes with being properly hydrated.
Disclaimer: We are unable to guarantee any result, even though most of our patients do see success. The results of our services will vary greatly to each patient’s level of commitment and compliance with the program.