8 Best Drinks for Dry Skin

Water, fruit-infused water and unsweetened herbal tea are practical first choices for dry skin because they help you stay hydrated without relying on added sugar. Drinking enough matters for overall health, but no drink is a proven cure for dry skin. For related approaches, browse natural remedies by health goal.

What are the 8 best drinks for dry skin?

These drinks are ranked mainly for hydration and everyday practicality, not because trials have shown that each one improves dry skin. If you already drink enough, adding more fluid may make little difference: dry skin can also result from moisture loss through the skin barrier, irritation or an underlying condition.

1. Water

Water is the simplest way to replace the fluid your body loses throughout the day. Adequate hydration supports normal body function, including the skin, but drinking extra water is not a substitute for moisturizing.

Keep water available at meals and between them, and drink in response to thirst unless your clinician has given you a different plan. Evidence: A 2018 systematic review of six studies found that extra water might slightly increase skin hydration, particularly in people who previously drank less. The authors described the evidence as weak, and the results do not establish that extra water treats dry skin.

2. Fruit-infused water

Fruit-infused water provides hydration with flavor, which may make plain water easier to drink regularly. Its potential benefit for dry skin comes primarily from the water, not from a demonstrated skin-cleansing effect of the fruit.

Choose combinations you enjoy, such as cucumber or berries, and refrigerate the prepared drink. See detox water for dry skin for ideas. Evidence: The review on water intake provides limited indirect support for hydration; it did not establish that fruit-infused water works better than plain water for dry skin.

3. Unsweetened herbal tea

Unsweetened herbal tea is another way to get fluid, particularly if you prefer a warm drink. It can count toward your daily water intake, but adding herbs does not make the drink a proven treatment for dry skin.

Choose a mild tea you tolerate and let it cool to a comfortable drinking temperature. The guide to the best tea for dry skin covers more options. Evidence: Research has not established that herbal tea improves dry skin; any expected hydration benefit is based on its fluid content.

4. Plain milk

Plain milk supplies fluid along with protein and other nutrients as part of a balanced diet. Those nutrients support normal body functions, but drinking milk has not been shown by the listed evidence to repair dry skin.

Have it with a meal or as a snack if you enjoy it and tolerate dairy. Lactose-free milk can be an option for people with lactose intolerance; it is not appropriate for someone with a milk allergy. Evidence: There is no direct evidence in the listed studies that plain milk treats dry skin.

5. Unsweetened fortified soy milk

Unsweetened fortified soy milk offers fluid and protein to people who prefer a plant-based drink. Fortification varies, so check the label if you want a product that also provides nutrients such as calcium and vitamin D.

Use it as a drink or add it to a smoothie. Avoid soy milk if you have a soy allergy, and choose a drink that suits your dietary needs instead. Evidence: Its role here is as a source of fluid and nutrition; the listed studies do not show that soy milk improves dry skin.

6. Fruit-and-vegetable smoothie

A smoothie can contribute fluid and provide nutrients from its ingredients. Blending whole produce also retains fiber, although the nutritional value depends on what goes into the drink. A smoothie is food as well as a drink, not a concentrated remedy for dry skin.

Choose fruit and vegetables you enjoy, and use water, plain milk or unsweetened soy milk as a base. Explore smoothies for dry skin and the best foods for dry skin for ingredient ideas. Evidence: The studies we found do not test whether smoothies treat dry skin.

7. Unsweetened fruit or vegetable juice

Juice supplies fluid and can provide nutrients, but it is not more effective than water for treating dry skin. Juice may contain considerable natural sugar, and it generally has less fiber than whole fruit or vegetables.

If you enjoy juice, choose a variety without added sugar and consider having it with a meal rather than using it as your main source of fluid. The guide to the best juices for dry skin summarizes options. Evidence: There is no direct evidence in the listed studies that ordinary juice improves dry skin.

8. Coffee

Coffee contributes fluid, and compounds in coffee called polyphenols have been studied for possible effects on the skin. That does not mean coffee is a reliable treatment for dry skin, or that more coffee will provide a greater benefit.

If you already enjoy coffee, drink it in a way that suits your caffeine tolerance and avoid relying on heavily sweetened versions. Evidence: In a 2017 randomized controlled trial, a beverage containing a specified amount of coffee polyphenols improved measured cheek scaliness compared with a placebo after four weeks. The study tested a particular polyphenol beverage, so its findings cannot be assumed to apply to every cup of coffee.

Which drinks should you limit for dry skin?

Limit alcohol, especially if it leaves you feeling dehydrated. Alcohol is not a skin-hydrating remedy, and replacing it with water or another unsweetened drink can support your overall fluid intake.

Sugary drinks are not necessary for hydration. You can enjoy them occasionally, but water and other unsweetened choices are more practical everyday options. Caffeinated drinks such as coffee still contribute fluid; the reason to moderate them is your caffeine tolerance and overall health, not a claim that every cup causes dehydration.

No drink needs to “flush toxins” to help your skin. The liver and kidneys do most of the body's detoxification, while the lungs and gut help eliminate waste; sweat removes only trace amounts. Drinking enough supports normal organ function.

How much should you drink for dry skin?

There is no proven fluid target specifically for dry skin. General adequate-intake estimates for healthy adults are about 2.7 liters of total water a day for women and 3.7 liters for men. These estimates include water from food and all drinks, not just plain water, and individual needs vary.

If you are unsure what to make of symptoms accompanying dry skin, the ai symptom analyzer can help you organize them; it cannot diagnose a condition or replace medical care.

For many people, drinking regularly with meals and when thirsty is a practical starting point. You may need more fluid in hot weather or during activity, but forcing large amounts of water is not necessary and can be dangerous. If you have kidney disease or heart failure, take a diuretic, or have been told to restrict fluids, ask your clinician what amount is appropriate for you.

When should you see a doctor about dry skin?

See a clinician if dry skin is persistent, widespread, very itchy or painful, or if it cracks and bleeds despite gentle care. A clinician can check for causes such as eczema or medication effects without assuming that the problem is dehydration. Do not stop a prescribed medication because of dry skin without discussing it with the prescriber.

Seek prompt medical attention for signs of infection, such as spreading redness, warmth, pus or fever. Urgent care is also appropriate if you have confusion, fainting or are unable to keep fluids down.

Pregnant or breastfeeding people should check with a clinician about herbal blends and caffeine, and parents should ask a pediatric clinician about persistent dry skin or drinking concerns in a child. Alongside suitable fluid intake, gentle bathing and a fragrance-free moisturizer can help reduce moisture loss; see these home remedies for dry skin for practical options.