HEALTH

COMMON HYGIENE YOU SHOULDN’T OVERLOOK

Have you ever experienced morning rush, and after you struggled to get a sit in a bus only to be sitting next to a smelling body, be it male or female? Not only is he/she sitting next to you, but tries to open a conversation with you and you see yourself looking the other way. The only thing you pray for is to get to your destination as fast as possible. Well, I have experienced that many times.

Personal hygiene is very necessary, but it’s always overlooked all in the name of being in a hurry to work, or I’m so busy syndrome. Our opinion is that you have to brush your teeth and work to eliminate body odor each and every day. Here are some basic hygiene you should observe:

KEEP YOUR BREATH FRESH: Many people have bad breath. Sometimes it is only for a short period, but with others it is persistent (always). In most cases, bad breaths are caused by the gums and tongue; not the teeth. Bad breath is one thing that you might not notice yourself, and no one finds it easy to tell you. If you brush your mouth before going to bed, the early morning smelly mouth will not be too bad; in fact, some people don't smell at all. Therefore, it is important that you look out for yourself every morning before you step out.

A simple test you can do yourself is to lick the inside of your wrist and wait for the saliva to dry. If the area you licked smells unpleasant, it is likely that your breath does too. You can get a very good friend to be absolutely honest, but do make sure it’s a true friend.

GET RID OF THOSE UNDER HAIRS: We live in a tropical region of the world. It’s hot and humid. Male or female, why on earth would you allow your armpit hair grow out? Do you not know that hair in closed places trap bacteria and build up gunk that will smell? There are no health risks to shaving all of your hair off, as long as you do it hygienically, use a new razor, use an anti-septic after shaving and don't cut yourself. With or without antiperspirants, shave your armpit hair. I know some guys that will say, “no-o, it’s manly to have hair in your pits”. But that’s a fallacy.

USE A DEODORANT: Don’t even come with that excuse about not being able to afford body sprays. There are very cheap ones if you don’t have enough money. Some go for as little as 150 Naira. No excuses! Buy them and use, I’d rather chill with a local person smelling good-cheap than a classy person smelling like rotten egg. Though it can be embarrassing, sweating, even a lot of sweating is normal. This is true not only when you exercise or get hot, but also when you're feeling some emotions, like anger or nervousness. Some of the glands, such as those in the armpits, also start to make a strange new odor.

Your best bet is to take a bath or shower every day and after exercising or getting hot. Try to find a deodorant or a deodorant-antiperspirant combination that works well for you. It can help to wear clothes made of natural fibers, like cotton. Dressing in layers helps too. That way, if you start to feel hot, you can cool down easily and hopefully avoid sweating.

In rare cases, there are medical reasons for lots of sweating. If you notice that you are sweating when resting, when you are sleeping, or if your hands or feet sweat a lot, tell your doctor. In fact, it can help to speak with your doctor anyway; there may be something he or she can do.

MAINTAIN NEAT AND WELL-GROOMED NAILS:  Shorter nails look neater, but if you have longer nails, keep them always clean and in good condition. Girls can paint them if they wish. There is nothing as awful as dirty finger nails.

DON’T REPEAT DIRTY CLOTHES AND UNDER-WEARS: Dirty clothes, especially under-wears and socks, can harbor microorganisms. Re-wearing dirty clothes many times or sharing dirty sweaty clothes can lead to skin infection. Unpleasant body odour can also arise from bacteria that accumulate on stains. 

Shoe hygiene is also important. Feet have lots of sweat glands, so closed shoes in particular can provide warm, moist and dark environments where bacteria and fungi can thrive and cause bad smells and conditions such as athlete’s foot.

Wearing leather shoes and cotton socks allows your feet to breathe more than materials such as vinyl. If you have been wearing a pair of shoes all day at work or school, take them off when you get home to try and give them a chance to dry out overnight. Some of your shoes may also be washable.

SHAMPOO YOUR HAIR AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE: For the ladies that keep long hair or fix weave-on, you may need to wash your hair biweekly to avoid smell from accumulated hair cream and heat. Please, note that you don’t have to wash your hair every other day as frequent washing can dry out your hair and strip them of important nutrients. For the guys, you have no excuse, so wash at any bath. Whatever you do, just try to appear neat so as not to discomfit someone next to you.

By: Okoye Chizoba