Can Drinking Alkaline Water Help Treat Acne?

Have you ever felt like your acne breakouts come at the worst times? Whether you're jetting off to work, have mask-acne, or you're traveling for vacation, pesky pimples can make you want to take charge to provide some relief. Many beauty experts suggest focusing on your skincare routine to help prevent acne flare-ups, points out Good Housekeeping. This includes gently washing your face, using an acne-spot treatment (if needed), and following up with a lightweight moisturizer and sunscreen. While these external tips help promote a healthy, glowy complexion, are there other ways to support your skin internally? We're talking about you, water.

The benefits of drinking water and skin health have long been debated. Healthline shares that water helps hydrate the skin, supports the immune system and encourages the body's natural detoxification system. It also helps maintain healthy blood sugar and insulin levels which, in response, may influence oil production and that may contribute to fewer breakouts. In addition, the Harley Street Dermatology Clinic explains that water helps maintain tight, supple, and glowy-looking skin. However, more research is needed to confirm this.

Now that we've looked into the health benefits of drinking water and skin health, what happens if you want to take drinking water a step further and lower the pH levels? Let's take alkaline water, for example. Can drinking alkaline water up the health benefits of acne treatment?

Water is made up of two types of molecules — hydrogen and oxygen. It carries a pH level that ranges from 0 to 14, indicating if the water is acidic, neutral, or alkaline, explains WebMD. "Acidic" water has a pH of 6 or below, while "alkaline" water is 8 on the pH scale or higher. Anything with a pH of 7 indicates that the water is neutral.

So can alkaline water treat an acne breakout? In short, the answer is still unclear, and more research is needed. There are some claims that drinking alkaline water fights acne because the water is chock full of antioxidants and helps remove unwanted toxins (via Better Choice Beverage Co.). One 2021 case report published in Medical Science Pulse studied how alkaline water affected a 21-year-old woman's oily and acne-prone skin. What the researchers found was after a series of alkaline water treatments, the participant experienced a drastic reduction of skin eruptions (i.e. whiteheads, blackheads, and pustules) and sebum secretions. It's important to note that the participant did not drink alkaline water.

While the research is up in the air, it's still completely safe to add alkaline water to your diet (except for those who have kidney issues), shares WebMD. Just know that it may have a bitter taste and it's a bit pricier when compared to your usual tap water.