Wash your hands.
Washing your hands
before preparing or eating food, after going to the bathroom, after coughing or
sneezing, and after handling garbage, goes a long way toward preventing the
spread of bacteria and viruses. Keep a hygiene product, like an alcohol-based
sanitizing gel, handy for when soap and water isn’t available.
Bathe daily
A daily shower is a must whether you feel grungy or not. A
regular bath (every morning and after all athletic activities) helps in keeping
you clean, fresh and odour free. Cleaning your body is also important to ensure
your skin rejuvenates itself, as the scrubbing of your arms, legs, and torso
will slough off dead, dry skin and help your skin stay healthy and refreshed,
and will prevent acne, blemishes and other skin eruptions. Also, do not share
your towel and wash them on a regular basis.
Body Odour
Keep your underarms and groin area clean and dry to
discourage bacteria. Change out of sweaty clothes as soon as possible after
exercising or perspiring. Trim or shave your underarm and pubic hair so there
is less surface area allowing for the accumulation of sweat and bacteria. Cut
back on alcohol and foods that may contribute to body odour, including curry,
spicy food, onion, and garlic.
Clean your ears
Clean your ears with
your fingers while having a bath. The daily cleaning of all hearing devices is
essential to remove germs that can be introduced into the ear. Earrings should
be kept clean, and should be removed daily so the piercing can be attended to. The
use of hair products can build-up on the ear and should be washed off when
possible to avoid irritation to the skin of the ear.
Personal hygiene for
women
The vagina is able to clean itself, no special care is needed
other than washing the external genitals. Do not put anything like douches into
the vagina, as the delicate skin can be damaged. Here are some personal hygiene
suggestions for women:
Menstruation - wash your body, including your
genital area, in the same way as you always do. Change tampons and sanitary
napkins regularly, at least four to five times a day. Always wash your hands
before and after handling a tampon or pad.
Cystitis - is an infection of the bladder.
This is a common condition for sexually active young women. Urinating after
sexual intercourse can help to flush out any bacteria that may be in the
urethra and bladder.
Thrush - some soaps and detergents can
irritate the skin of the vagina, and make thrush infections more likely. Some
people find that they often get thrush when they use antibiotics. Use mild soap
and un-perfumed toilet paper. Avoid tight, synthetic underwear. Try cotton
underwear, and change regularly. There is medical treatment for thrush, so talk
to your doctor or pharmacist.
Personal hygiene for
men
A build-up of secretions called smegma can form under the foreskin
of uncircumcised men. If you are uncircumcised, gently pull back the foreskin
when you have a shower and clean with water. You can use soap if you like, but
make sure you rinse it off well.
Trim your nails
Keeping your finger and toenails trimmed and in good shape
will prevent problems such as hang nails (when a loose strip of dead skin hangs
from the edge of a fingernail) and infected nail beds.
If possible, trim them weekly and brush them daily with soap
so that no dirt or residue remains beneath the nail.
Fingernails should be trimmed straight across and slightly
rounded at the top, whereas toenails should be trimmed straight across.
The best time to cut your nails is after bathing when they
are soft and easy to trim.
It's also a good idea to moisturize nails and cuticles
regularly.
By Umaru Maryam Hadejia
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