Water makes up about 60% of your body weight and is involved in many essential functions. Every cell, tissue, and organ in your body needs water to function properly. Every system in your body needs water to function and survive.

Getting enough water is essential in maintaining overall good health.

Benefits of Drinking Water:

• It regulates your body temperature
• It helps produce saliva
• It lubricates your tissues, spinal cord and joints
• Protects body organs and tissues
• Transports nutrients and oxygen to cells
• Dissolves minerals and nutrients to make them available to your body
• Helps remove waste products through sweating, urination and defaecation
• Improves sleep quality, mood and cognition
• It aids digestion
• Helps prevent constipation
• It helps prevent infections and diseases
• It helps boost energy
• It helps normalize blood pressure
• Helps maximize physical performance
• It helps you to lose weight

How much should you drink?

It is commonly recommended to drink 8 glasses of water a day. However, individual needs vary from person to person. Generally, most healthy people can stay well hydrated by drinking water whenever they feel thirsty. For most people, four to six glasses of water daily may be enough. Factors such as hot weather, high altitude, exercise, and intake of caffeine, alcohol, salty, spicy or sugary foods would increase your fluid needs. You would also need more water in conditions such as pregnancy and diabetes.

The US National Academies of Medicine recommends that men take in 15.5 cups (3.7 litres) of fluid daily and women 11.5 cups (2.7 litres) of fluid daily. 20% of daily fluid intake is derived from the food you eat. The rest is from drinking water and water-based beverages such as fruit juice, milk and tea.

You lose water every day through breathing, sweating, urine and bowel movements. That is why it is necessary to replenish your body’s water supply by drinking adequate water and taking in beverages and foods that contain water.

Signs of Dehydration

Not getting enough water may cause dehydration. Factors that increase your fluid needs such as hot, dry weather, high-intensity exercise, medical conditions like kidney stones, diabetes and medications like diuretics can contribute to dehydration.

The signs of dehydration differ by age group. Signs and symptoms of dehydration in babies and young children include irritability, lethargy, no tears when crying, dry mouth and tongue, sunken eyes, dry diapers for as little as three hours and shrinking of the soft spot on top of the head.

For adults, observing the colour of your urine as soon as you wake up in the morning can be an indicator if you are dehydrated. Pale or light-coloured urine is a sign of adequate hydration whereas dark-coloured urine like apple juice is a sign of dehydration. Other signs of dehydration include headache, fatigue, dizziness, confusion, dry mouth, dry skin, decreased urination and extreme thirst.

Older adults may not feel thirsty but can still be dehydrated because signals for thirst to the brain decrease as one ages.

Ways to Stay Hydrated

Drinking water is the best way to stay hydrated. Here are some tips to help you stay hydrated:

• Drink a glass of water as soon as you wake up, even before tea or coffee
• Carry a bottle of water with you during the day and drink gradually throughout the day
• If you don’t like the taste of water, add lemon or orange slices to enhance the flavour
• Set goals for yourself. For example, drink water when you wake up, at breakfast, lunch, dinner and before you go to bed. Or drink some water every 2 hours
• Drink water before, during and after exercise
• Drink water when you are feeling hungry. Sometimes thirst is confused with hunger. Drinking water can help you feel full.
• Avoid sugary beverages to reduce empty calories

Keeping skin well hydrated can be challenging during dry, cold weather conditions such as harmattan. Cold weather can irritate and cause skin to lose moisture worsening dry skin. If you have dry skin, you need to use a moisturizer formulated with your skin’s needs in mind to reduce irritation, restore your skin barrier and protect your skin from harsh weather conditions.

When choosing a moisturizer for dry skin, you must choose a moisturizer with emollients which soften the skin, occlusives which protect the skin and humectants which draw moisture into the skin.

This article discusses our top picks of the best moisturizers for your specific skin needs.

CeraVe Moisturizing Cream

One of our top picks for dry skin is CeraVe Moisturizing Cream. CeraVe Moisturizing Cream was formulated by dermatologists to heal a compromised skin barrier. It is a rich, non-greasy, fragrance-free moisturizer that contains hyaluronic acid and ceramides that help to heal the skin’s barrier. Ceramides are lipids that occur naturally in the skin but start to deplete when we start ageing. This leads to dry, wrinkled skin. CeraVe Moisturizing Cream contains three types of ceramides that help the skin retain moisture and help prevent dehydration.

CeraVe Moisturizing Cream also contains hyaluronic acid and petrolatum and features MVE delivery technology that works by releasing moisturizing ingredients continually for long-lasting hydration. This fast-absorbing moisturizer is gentle on even the most sensitive skin. It is often recommended for people who have eczema and psoriasis.

Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream- Dry to Very Dry, Sensitive Skin

This dermatologist-recommended product is one of the best moisturizers for dry to very dry, sensitive skin. It defends against five signs of sensitive skin including a weakened skin barrier, irritation, roughness, tightness and dryness. Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream enriched with humectants and emollients is clinically proven to provide lasting hydration for 48 hours. It soothes, hydrates, repairs skin and improves the resilience of sensitive skin thanks to a dermatologist-recommended blend of niacinamide, panthenol and hydrating glycerine.

Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream is fragrance-free, paraben-free, hypoallergenic and noncomedogenic, so it won’t clog pores. This non-greasy cream enriched with sweet almond oil can be applied daily to the face and body.

Nivea Soft Moisturizing Cream

Nivea Soft Moisturizing Cream is a gentle moisturizer for dry skin. It is suitable for people with sensitive skin and rosacea. It is a dermatologically approved, intensive moisturizing cream that is quickly absorbed into the skin leaving the skin soft and supple. The key ingredients in this product are jojoba oil, vitamin E and glycerine. Jojoba oil is a humectant ingredient. It moisturizes the skin by attracting water to the top layer of the skin, keeping it hydrated. An added benefit of jojoba oil is that it is noncomedogenic. It works by regulating the body’s sebum production. This helps prevent acne or less severe acne.

Vitamin E helps prevent dry skin by hydrating the skin. Glycerin works by binding moisture to the skin. Nivea Soft Moisturizing Cream can be used on the face, hands and body.

Shea Butter

Shea Butter is nature’s formula for dry, irritated skin. Raw Shea Butter is deeply hydrating and rich in vitamins and nutrients such as vitamins A & E, oleic acid and stearic acid. It is a must-have for people with eczema, very dry, cracked skin, rough, scaly patches and chapped lips. Shea Butter relieves skin dryness, and irritation and prevents cell damage.

It has a high concentration of fatty acids which restores lipids and maintains skin hydration. Its anti-inflammatory properties reduce swelling and redness in the skin, easing irritation. Research shows that Shea Butter significantly reduces eczema symptoms. It also reduces wrinkles and crepey skin. Shea butter contains antioxidants, vitamins A & E which prevent cell damage and promote anti-aging effects.

Shea Butter can be applied to the face, lips and body. It is suitable for all skin types. For soft, smooth, supple, youthful skin which is well hydrated, get some Shea Butter.

 Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion

Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion is rich in emollients and colloidal oatmeal which soothes and relieves dry, itchy skin. It is best for dry, eczema-prone, sensitive skin. The soothing colloidal oatmeal relieves red, irritated skin, itching and increases moisture. It also cools razor burns. Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion is also enriched with glycerine, petrolatum, isopropyl palmitate and dimethicone which work to hydrate the skin.

Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion nourishes and helps restore the skin’s moisture barrier. It has been clinically proven to moisturize skin for up to 24 hours. This product is fragrance-free, non-greasy and noncomedogenic. This formula is suitable for dry skin in men. It can be applied to the face and the body.

 Vaseline Intensive Care Cocoa Radiant Body Lotion

One of our favourite moisturizers is Vaseline Intensive Care Cocoa Radiant Body Lotion. It has a mix of emollients, humectants and occlusives. It contains three occlusives: cocoa butter, shea butter and tiny microdroplets of Vaseline jelly. This non-greasy, fast-absorbing combination hydrates, nourishes and smoothens skin from head to toe. The key ingredients in this product, ultra-hydrating lipids replenish moisture and reinforce the skin barrier; cocoa butter and shea butter nourish, hydrate and make the skin feel smoother.

Vaseline Intensive Care Cocoa Radiant Body Lotion is dermatologist-tested and clinically proven to provide 48 hours of moisture and leaves a long-lasting radiant glow. Apply daily for best results and preferably right after showering while your skin is still damp.

Top-Up Pharmacy has renovated the Female Ward of the Police Hospital in the Greater Accra Region. The company was motivated to renovate the ward as part of our commitment to improving the working environment for staff of the facility as well as creating an ambient care environment for patients of the ward.

Speaking at the inauguration of the renovated facility, the Chief Executive Officer of Top-up Pharmacy, Dr Richard K. Odor said that as a responsible stakeholder in the healthcare industry, the company strongly believes in supporting the healthcare infrastructure of the communities in which they operate in.

He explained that they focused on enhancing the functionality and aesthetics of the ward, adding new windows and air-conditioners, and improving lighting and ventilation among others. The various rooms of the wards including the doctor’s office, nurses’ station, and restrooms were neatly labelled for easy identification by patients. The works also included repainting and incorporation of artwork with soothing colours to create a calming atmosphere for users of the facility.

Dr Odor was optimistic that the renovated ward would provide a more welcoming and comfortable environment for patients during their stay at the Police Hospital, stressing that it would also create a positive impact on the morale of the medical staff, as they work in a well-designed space to carry out their duties efficiently.

”Top-Up Pharmacy is committed to continually supporting healthcare facilities and initiatives. We are actively exploring the possibility of partnering with other hospitals and medical institutions in improving their development and service delivery,” he said. This renovation project is one example of our commitment to improving the healthcare infrastructure and patient experience in healthcare institutions like the police hospital,” he added.

The Medical Director of the Police Hospital DCOP Dr Samuel Otu-Nyarko commended Top-up Pharmacy for the intervention, adding that before the renovation was done, it was difficult working in the facility and that the beautiful renovation carried out would offer staff a conducive environment to work in and the client a good atmosphere to heal in.

We aim to contribute to the holistic approach to healthcare delivery and support healthcare professionals in delivering high-quality care to patients.