Water. Water and healthy skin care - Research Paper Example

?Water Introduction Water is a very wonderful element of life. Water has a lot of facts, figures, beliefs, ideas, concepts and phenomenon surroundingit. Indeed, water is present and necessary in almost every aspect of human existence. Water is classified as a natural creation, which means that it was created through an act of nature. Scientific, geographic and religious debates would give different interpretations as to where and how water came about but one thing seem to be clear among all three sections of debaters and that is, water was not first created by man. Religiously, water was created by God. Scientifically, water was created by the combination of chemical substances known as oxygen and hydrogen. Geographically, water is a liquid that covers two thirds of the universe. Apart from the origin of water, almost all sections of academics and schools of thought agree with some fundamental characteristics of water. For instance it is generally agreed that water is odorless and tasteless and that water has a bluish tint that can be seen in very deep layers (African Water Organization, 2001). Some other facts about water that are undeniable include the fact that water contributes greatly to the survival of humankind. To this end, water is commonly said to be life. In the contest of this essay, for water to be referred to be life would be viewed from the angle where water has a role to play in skin care, where water needs to be regulated in the right amounts and proportion and where water must be treated to be devoid of any forms of infection. Water and Healthy Skin Care The skin is an important part of the human body. It is the largest layer of the body and it is the most visibly outstanding part of the human body. Because of this, the need to take care of the skin of a person is very crucial. The need to take care of the skin comes with a lot of added advantages. For instance “good skin care and healthy lifestyle choices can help delay the natural aging process and prevent many skin problems” (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 2009). The question then is; how can healthy skin care be achieved? Healthy skin care can be achieved through several means including the use of water as a therapy. In the first place, Yong (2011) posits that “in alternative medicine, good skin is a reflection of a good digestive system.” This means that keeping a good digestive system is a way of achieving health skin care. Hitherto, the consumption of enough water helps in speeding up digestion and preventing constipation. This is because “water bathes cells and eliminates waste products, preventing constipation” (Yong, 2011). In consuming water however, one is advised to consume clean and healthy water. The Georgia Water Science Centre (2011) gives a clue of the kind of water we need to consume stating that “pure water is colorless, odorless, and tasteless.” Apart from the internal use of water to ensure health skin care through the avoidance of constipation, there is what may be prescribed as a more traditional way to skin care using water and that is the washing of the skin with water. Washing the skin with water to ensure healthy skin is not something that can be underestimated in any way. This is because the practice of washing the skin with water succeeds in keeping disease causing pathogens from the skin (Gardener, 2006). Regular baths in a day is therefore advised for keeping the body clean. For children, bathing is good if not instituted on a routine basis but as and when it is seemed necessary: for instance any time after hours of play. Apart from taking a body bath, it is advised that we give the hand regular wash with water because the hand may contain germs that can be carried to other parts of the skin to cause skin diseases (Kids Health, 2011). When washing the hand or body with skin as a simple way of ensuring clean and healthy skin, it is advised that warm water be used, soap be used, and clean towel be also used. Indeed, a good application of water on the skin can help in preventing skin diseases such as eczema, psoriasis, rosacea and ring worm. Regularity Both the earth as an element and the human body as a system need water in regular supply. This is because considering the earth and the human body, water forms the greatest proportions of these two. Considering the human body alone, we are told that “up to 60% of the human body is water, the brain is composed of 70% water, and the lungs are nearly 90% water (Georgia Water Science Centre, 2011). This tells of the need for regularity in the supply of water in the human body. Water may however be regularly available to humankind only if efforts are made to conserve water. Water conservation has been linked to regularity of water because “water conservation is the most cost-effective and environmentally sound way to reduce our demand for water” (Moon Lake, 2011). When well conserved, water will always be available and in abundance for human consumption. There are several ways by which we can conserve water. Domestically, we are advised against wasting water. For whatever need we have water for, we must fetch just enough water as we need. Excesses must be avoided. At the community level, the practice of planting all trees that are fallen must be embarked on. This will help in ensuring that the earth’s temperature does not rise to promote the drying of water bodies. Again, practices such as sand winning in water bodies and felling of trees around water bodies must be stopped. In fact, if we make water regularly available, we shall have enough of it for al other purposes including bowel regularity as “bowel regularity is an excellent way to improve physical health and aid weight loss” (Bush, 2011). Infection Water has generally being described as a friend but it may not be a friend to all people at all times especially people who do not use water the right way (McLean, 2009). Water can be infectious and bring about several diseases if not treated with caution. Painfully, most of the diseases that are associated with water infections can be very deadly. Cholera, typhoid and diarrhea may be some of the readily available names of some deadly water related diseases. On diarrhea, the World Health Organization (2011) notes that “diarrhea occurs world-wide and causes 4% of all deaths and 5% of health loss to disability.” This is a shocking statistics and calls for the need to prevent water related infections. With cholera, the World Health Organization once again notes that the germ that causes it “has a short incubation period, from less than one day to five days, and produces an enterotoxin that causes a copious, painless, watery diarrhoea that can quickly lead to severe dehydration and death if treatment is not promptly given.” Such is the devastating manner in which unsafe water can get a person. On typhoid, the National Health Service (2011) educates that “drinking liquids that have been handled by a carrier of the S. typhi bacteria who has not washed their hands properly after going to the toilet”. Once infected also, there can be complications that includes “pneumonia, or to the lining of the brain (meningitis), the bones (osteomyelitis), the heart valves (endocarditis), the kidneys (glomerulitis), the genital or urinary tract, or the muscles” (Canoe Health, 2011). It therefore very important to think of a global action that seeks to stop water infections. Since we are all at risk, we can best prevent water infections by practicing the higher forms of water hygiene. Water hygiene should be an issue that should be trumpeted in all spheres of human life. This is because water is supposed to be used in its purest state and once it is pure, water will cause no infections or diseases. In the home, water left over for a long time should not be drunk. We must not drink any water of which we do not know the source. Boiled, distilled or refrigerated water should be the best choice of water for drinking. We must wash our hands with soap before and after eating and drinking. We must wash our hands with soap before and after visiting the lavatory. When the options of well, rain water, running water and pipe borne water exists, we must drink pipe borne water instead of the other sources of water. At the community level also, there is so much that can be done to reduce or prevent water infections. For instance we must keep water bodies clean. This is very important because in most communities, it is water running though natural water collections such as rivers, streams, ponds and lagoons that is tapped and treated for domestic use. It must be noted that the cleaner the water are from their natural sources, the safer it will be for use and drinking when it finally gets to our homes. Conclusion Water is a whole experience of its own. It has its surprising characteristics, incredible benefits and on the other hand, its devastating effects. To conclude, it is suggested that water continued to be explored further. The exploration of water, its composition, uses and infections should be introduced in school curriculums so that children who are at their formative years of life will appreciate the importance of water, the need to conserve water and above how, how to use water safely without contracting any of the deadly and harmful diseases associated with water. At the national level also, governments are tasked to seek the provision and conservation of water as a crucial national policy that should be tackled with all the urgency it deserves. Water is life and must be treated as such! REFERENCE LIST African Water Organisation, “The Water Page.” 9th April, 2001. 23rd October, 2011 Bush Joseph, R. “Best Ways to Improve Bowel Regularity Naturally.” 2011. 23rd October, 2011 Canoe Health. “Typhoid, Causes, Symptoms, Treatment, Diagnosis.” 2011. 24 October, 2011 Gardener, Douglas. A. Clean body composition: the role of water. London: Sage Printing House, 2006. Georgia Water Science Centre. “Water for Schools.” 10th June, 2011. 23rd October 2011 Georgia Water Science Centre. “Water in you.” 2011. 23th October, 2011 Kids Health, “Taking Care of your Skin.” 2011. 24th October, 2011 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, “Skin care: 5 tips for healthy skin.” 6th May, 2009. 24th October, 2011 McLean, Frank. T. The other side of water. Toronto: PrintMark Group Limited, 2009. Moon Lake. “Water Conservation.” 8th August, 2011. 24th October, 2011 National Health Service. “Typhoid Fever.” 2011. 23th October, 2011 World Health Organisation. “Cholera.” 2011. 23th October, 2011 World Health Organisation. “Water-related diseases.” 2011. 23th October, 2011 Yong C. “5 Tips for Natural Skin Care.” 23th March, 2011. 24th October, 2011 Read More