At present, there are more products than ever geared toward female hygiene found on drugstore shelves – though not all are necessary or beneficial to health.
Douching can upset the natural balance of bacteria in your body and lead to irritation, so use a panty liner daily as an absorbent to absorb discharge and stay fresh.
Avoid regular soap bars and shower gels in the vaginal area as these may irritate its delicate skin. Instead, look for a pH-balanced wash specifically designed to address vaginal needs.
Wash Your Hands
Handwashing is an essential component of personal hygiene. It removes dirt and germs that might spread disease, as well as being important for food preparation, coughing and sniffling, touching door handles or blowing your nose into them. Washing is especially essential before handling food products that might contain raw or undercooked ingredients as well as after touching them during coughing fits or blowing nose.
Apply antimicrobial soap and rub your hands together vigorously for at least 20 seconds, lathering the backs, between fingers, and under the nails of both hands. Rinse well and dry off your hands thoroughly afterwards.
Wash Your Face
Cleansing your face regularly is an integral component of good hygiene. Doing so removes sweat, oil, dirt and pollutants that accumulate over time – including sweat from perspiration as well as pollutants like smoke.
Face washing helps lower the risk of infections caused by germs like bacteria that clog up pores or lead to blemishes. A good face wash should cleanse without stripping skin or causing irritation, followed by moisturizer to seal in moisture for lasting hydration and should be used regularly.
Wash Your Hair
Hair washing is an integral component of personal hygiene, as it removes dirt, pollutants, dandruff-causing bacteria and other impurities that could potentially make you smell unpleasant. You should aim to wash your hair once or more per week or month depending on your lifestyle and personal preferences; and make sure it dries properly so as to not trap moisture that could lead to mold growth in the form of fungus growth.
Personal hygiene involves many other elements, such as using deodorant, washing your feet regularly, covering coughs and sneezes when coughing or sneezing and practicing good infant feeding hygiene to lessen risk of illness.
Wash Your Nails
Handwashing nails is an integral component of personal hygiene. Everyday you come into contact with millions of outside germs that could linger on your skin and lead to illnesses. Without regular fingernail cleanings, fingernails may harbor dirt and grime accumulating under their nail beds – and this grime could then transfer from hands onto eyes and skin which could result in infections like styes.
Change Your Towels
No doubt about it – towels can become breeding grounds for bacteria ranging from microscopic fecal particles to medication-resistant germs, so regular towel launderings – at least weekly and even more frequently if there are signs of physical damage like frayed edges, thinner fabric or visible holes – are vital.
Change your towel if you have experienced injuries or skin conditions that compromise the natural skin barrier, such as cuts, scrapes, rashes or abscesses; doing so could prevent infections from developing and speed up recovery time.
Wash Your Underwear
Washing your underwear regularly is an integral part of intimate hygiene, as it removes bacteria that could otherwise lead to symptoms such as vaginal odor, itchy sensations or even vulvodynia.
One study discovered that women who adhered to healthy underwear rules, such as wearing cotton bras and pants frequently changed, no douching, and using panty liners daily experienced less BV and Vulvodynia symptoms than those who did not follow these tips.
Silk fabrics should always be hand washed for optimal care; however, you can also use your washing machine – just ensure to use cold water and mild detergent.
Wash Your Private Area
Cleaning your private area regularly is an integral component of personal hygiene and can help prevent infections such as bacterial vaginosis.
Clean with mild soap and avoid using sponges or loofahs that could transmit bacteria from your anus into your vulva.
Be careful to not overwash, as overdoing it could remove healthy bacteria. Experts recommend washing your genital area once per day with unscented soap or water for optimal health.
