You can apply all the lotions and creams that you like to keep your skin moisturized. However, it’s still important to hydrate your skin from the inside out if you want to fend off dryness as well as itchiness and flaking.

Other than drinking plenty of fluids every single day, you should also include certain foods in your diet that are known to provide moisture on a cellular level, allowing your skin to become supple of soft.

Below are some of the foods that you should regularly eat if your skin is prone to dryness, proving that it’s not just what you apply on the outside that matters, but also what you put in your mouth every meal time!

Fish

What makes fish very good at hydrating your skin from within is its omega-3 fatty acid content. According to scientists, omega-3 fatty acids work by managing conditions that can leave the skin cells parched.

There are a variety of skin problems that can cause excessive dryness, and some of them include psoriasis and dermatitis. If you have any of them, you will benefit tremendously from regularly adding fish to your diet.

By the way, some of the best sources of omega-3 fatty acids are the oiliest fish that you can think of. Some examples include salmon, trout, herring, sardines, tuna and mackerel.

Nuts

If you are a vegetarian, having fish added to your diet is clearly not an option. Do not worry because it’s still possible for you to supply your body with good amounts of those skin-hydrating omega-3 fatty acids.

Are you aware that nuts are excellent sources of omega-3 fatty acids, too? So if you are prone to excessive skin dryness, regularly snack on almonds, cashews, pistachios, walnuts, pecans, macadamia, hazelnuts and Brazil nuts.

You can also supply your skin with omega-3 fatty acids by consuming non-dairy milk products that are out of nuts, which are highly popular among individuals who are vegetarians as well as lactose intolerant.

Seeds

Can’t have fish because you are a vegetarian and can’t have nuts, too, because you are allergic to them? No, you are not doomed to have dry skin forever thinking you cannot consume any omega-3 fatty acid food source.

What you need to do is simply include seeds into your diet. Seeds may be tiny, but they contain phenomenal amounts of omega-3 fatty acids. Consuming them can make a world of difference when it comes to your skin’s hydration.

On a regular basis, try to sprinkle flax seeds, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds or sesame seeds on your oatmeal, yogurt and salad. If you’re into baking, use them to make your masterpieces more amazing.

Avocado

You can also obtain high amounts of omega-3 fatty acids from avocados. It’s for this reason why they are commonly added to a number of homemade masks and creams that you can easily find on the web.

There is another nutrient in avocado that makes it a superb hydrator of the skin, and that’s vitamin E. An antioxidant, vitamin E reduces inflammation and oxidative stress, both of which can damage and age your skin.

And are you aware that avocados can help shield your skin from the sun’s UV rays just by having them added to your diet? However, they should not take the place of sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30.

Cucumber

Everyone knows that placing cucumber slices on the eyes is an excellent way to get rid of puffiness as well as dark circles. But did you know that cucumber is also a superb hydrator of the skin cells?

Since it is very rich in water, adding cucumber to your diet on a regular basis helps ensure that you skin is hydrated on a cellular level, something that no pricey lotion or cream on the market today can pull off.

By the way, cucumber is also very rich in vitamin C, a nutrient that helps slow down the aging of the skin. So by consuming cucumbers regularly, you can keep your skin moisturized and young-looking, too!