Popular drinks could affect your skin's health

From coffee to soda, things you drink can show on your skin

MIAMI – It's been said you are what you eat, but what you drink can have an impact on both your health and your skin.

From coffee to soda, the things you drink can show on your skin, according to dermatologist Dr. Heather Woolery-Lloyd.

The first sign of dehydration in our skin is on our lips. If your lips are feeling dry, that means you're not drinking enough water, which is vital for keeping skin soft.

"When you're dehydrated, the skin looks dull, it feels dull, it's not as supple as you would like," said Woolery-Lloyd.

When it comes to robbing moisture from your skin, alcohol is a prime offender. For every 200 ml of alcohol that you drink, you lose 320 ml of water.

"If you're drinking a lot of alcohol, it's especially important the next day, you have to hydrate, hydrate, hydrate," said Woolery-Lloyd. "You have to make up for all the lost liquid you lost from the alcohol."

While milk may do a body good, it can be problematic for people prone to acne.

"Multiple studies show the more milk you drink, the more acne you're likely to have and the more severe that acne is," said Woolery-Lloyd.

Instead of cow's milk, consider alternatives like soy, rice or almond milk. Sugary drinks, like soda, can also cause breakouts.

"Sugary drinks are problematic because they significantly raise your insulin levels, and when your insulin levels go up, so does a hormone associated with acne," said Woolery-Lloyd.

On the positive side, caffeinated coffee can pack a powerful punch.

"In one study, drinking three cups of coffee a day reduced your risk of skin cancer by 21 percent, and this is likely due to the antioxidants we have in coffee," said Woolery-Lloyd.

Green tea is another beverage rich in antioxidants, and while it's unclear whether drinking it will help your skin, a study did show that using a topical cream and taking a supplement with green tea extract increased skin elasticity.